For fun and knowledge...

Some do. They all used to but due to the current situation with employment there is little or no need to train new drivers when their is an excess of experienced drivers. But some of the good companys still run a training program.

If they had a low turnover and #6 from my list:
6) A boss that is not a micromanaging fool and understands trucking. There would be no need for a recruiter. So obviously the companies you are representing are lacking some, if not all, of my list and therefore solicit your services.

If you noticed nothing in my list could be construed as 'benefits or perks.' It just provided a minimum list that any company should consider if they want to keep meet in the seat.

Of course, the truth is many companies do not care to keep meet in the seat. They are interested in selling trucking school, milking subsidies, and paying piece work temporary help.

To keep the flow of temporary subsidized labor and easy money training going, many companies look to hook in anyone with a pulse and convince them to invest in this career. The dishonesty that stems from that, is what provides the abundance of drivers with licenses but poor qualifications.

Glad you like your job.

True, but the churn in the trucking industry is not caused by a shortage of qualified drivers with the 'traits' necessary to do the job. The churn is the result of the industries own doing.

We can all sit here and laugh at the fool that entered trucking only to have no clue what he is getting into. We have all seen these guys, but far to much effort is gone in to characterizing the mass of truckers or potential truckers, as dregs with no work ethic. When it is the industry structure itself that encourages the training, hiring, and churn of these very same workers.

 

Let's not forget the Fleece Purchase Plan... "How many times can we sell the same truck to some sucker?"

 

A good compass doesn't hurt either...

 

5 automatic volvo

 

bathing in the sink

 

We are all different. What works for some does not work for others. Lets take Micro Management. I hate it. I do not mind it if the person who is managing is actually smarter then myself. My problem is that I have never worked for anyone smarter then myself. I have work for people who were good managers and figured out how to get the most from me. Now for example. I am pulling in the Power ownly division for USA Truck. I have ordered my own trailer so I only have about 2 weeks left with this division. Shaynon is my dispatcher. She and I have a good chemistry. She emails me my dispatch, I email her back my ETA. I email the signed bills back to the payroll division and they wire me the pay. No need to talk on the phone unless I feel the need. If I have a problem, I figure out who to call and take care of it.

Now on weekends when she is not in. If they have not given me a dispatch, I am free to find my own freight from different brokers. I use their trailer at no charge. That has only happened twice. This week, however, I delivered a load to the GM Plant in Memphis. It was suppose to be a drop and hook. The drop part worked but no hook. I called and USA truck did not have an empty within 250 miles. They didn't know exactly what to do as I do not get paid by the mile. No problem. I called a broker for a power only load. Pulled a new empty Great Dane out of the plant in Jonesboro, AR to Kansas City, KS. Only paid $630 but got me to a USA T Trailer with out having to lose money.

The point is the number one quality in anyone is problem solving skills. Because if you are not solving problems, you are the problem.

 

1. The ability to think critically. <<This one is why so many drivers get fired.
2. The ability to "roll with the punches" and have the patience of Job.
3. The ability to sleep most anywhere or place except for when behind that wheel!

I think #1 speaks for itself. However #2 can be confusing. There are always situations in every walk of life when impatience sets up a situation where you regret something. In general no matter how much hell you raise you are not going to tell that receiver or shipper to hurry up. As I was typing this out I was thinking back over my driving career. I can't ever remember a situation where I did not come to regret being impatient.

Edited to add #4 The ability to laugh at yourself and learn from your mistakes.