Got my MC, DOT and IFTA, what the best way to look for a driver?

"The quickest way to make a million trucking is to start out with two million."

 

Thanks Hanadarko, I know sometimes it´s very hard to get some advice from forum members if you are new to the business, most of the comments are the "you-won´t-succeed" type. However I got really good advices in the past here so there is always a change to get help from people.

I just filled the Government job posting and made a Craiglist ad as well, I´ll have to be extremely careful with that though, so far I´m requesting drug screen test, criminal records and CDL history.

No one will take car of the truck like the owner though, that´s a fact I´ll have to live with

 

Dear eboosted,
When I was a fleet operator, hiring was based on 3 factors, and CDL and DAC Report was not part of that process. I would find me a bankruptcy attorney and have them help you set up a credit reporting access from one of the three major credit bureaus like EQUALFAX, Trans Union or Experien. Ones credit file tells a lot about a person, after review of ones application and credit report you can have a pretty good idea how one's are going represent your business name. Second, as required via federal law you should get a copy of most current MVR report and at same time while out doing errands stop by the Department of Public Safety and request a copy of ones last 10 years SR-13 Accident Records, most SR-13's are not shown on ones MVR file due to Privacy Act. Third, which is very important...Do not accept a "Long form physical report" from an out of town doctor, same for a drug and alcohol screening. You should set up your own location for potential employees, and say to the employee. "These costs are your responsibility, if you pass and are clear on drug and alcohol testings then I will hire you with a 30 day probation period; after 30 days the next check will have these fees applied back to you." Several reasons behind this, first the Medical Certificate belongs to the driver whether ones work for you or not, drug and alcohol reports belong to DOT; not you or the potential driver as they are required. However, I would not send a potential employee to have any physical or drug and alcohol testing until you're satisfied from the other results. It is your fault if you get an unfit driver, not the driver's fault it did not work out. Do your homework and do not let someone your leased too make those decisions, its your liability and your equipment.

 

Thats actually a really good idea. I think all of the comments here are really excellent.
If someone balks, they likely have something to hide.

Just look at all of the prospective drivers on this site asking how to get hired with failed drug screens, DUIs and felonies...

 

it is free to post help wanted ads. Just certain major cities there is now a fee.

[h=2]All craigslist postings are free, except for:[/h]1. Job postings in the San Francisco Bay Area

• The fee for posting a job in the SF Bay Area is $75. This fee pays for one job in one category.
  (One job posted in two different categories would cost $150.)

2. Job postings in the following cities:
[TABLE="width: 643"]
[TR]
[TD]Atlanta[/TD]
[TD]Kansas City[/TD]
[TD]Portland[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Austin[/TD]
[TD]Las Vegas[/TD]
[TD]Sacramento[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Boston[/TD]
[TD]Los Angeles[/TD]
[TD]St. Louis[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Chicago[/TD]
[TD]Minneapolis[/TD]
[TD]San Antonio[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Dallas[/TD]
[TD]New York[/TD]
[TD]San Diego[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Denver[/TD]
[TD]Orange County[/TD]
[TD]Seattle[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Detroit[/TD]
[TD]Orlando[/TD]
[TD]South Florida[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Houston[/TD]
[TD]Philadelphia[/TD]
[TD]Tampa[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Inland Empire[/TD]
[TD]Phoenix[/TD]
[TD]Washington DC[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

• The fee for posting a job in these cities is $25. This fee pays for one job in one category.
  (One job posted in two different categories would cost $50.)

Just use the suburbs of the major cities, I think you'll be fine.

 

Tell them join the military, last time checked they were hiring misfits...

 

Yeah, look at mine. Bankruptcy two years ago. Would you hire me?
NO?
Even tho I never had a late payment in my life till three years ago. I owned several trucks and went broke because I paid drivers too well, spent too much money buying top of the line tires, oil changes @ 12,000 miles, hotel rooms for drivers, plane tickets for drivers who needed to be home in emergencies?
The only thing my Equifax shows is that I didnt pay dozens of creditors, it doesnt tell why.
If you cant judge the quality and character of a person by looking him in the eye when you shake his hand, you aint gonna judge it by reading a credit report.

 

I agree but thats not how the businesses look at people. They see a crappy credit score and PRESUME you can't manage your finances, so how could you manage working successfully!?

I also do not like the fact that insurance looks at your credit. They feel that if you have crappy credit you're more likely
to file a claim. Oddly, statistically that's true....not sure why.

Most of the best business relationships I have had started with a handshake and eye contact. You usually get a feeling
right away. Of course I have been stung on that too though...

 

First of all bankruptcy can occur from several reasons such as divorce or family matters beyond ones control. If you bankruptcy because you over extended yourself, now you know who's fault that was. I disagree, you can tell lots about a person's habits via their credit report, much more than any wasted dollars belonging to DAC out of Tulsa. A resume is another time waster, as one can write whatever to impress a prospective employer. However, if one cannot pass a drug or alcohol test; No, I would not hire that person. I've hired drivers who has had blemish on their credit file and sometimes speeding tickets too. You made the comment "top of the line tires," I bought tires that were safe foremost, rated best mileage and longest dry time - I used to run all Michelin tires then Toyo and finally toured the Cooper Plant and was impressed. I bought Cooper tires and continue for over 8 years until I sold out, locks and stock; now, if bought because of "top of line" from ones opinion and not researched maybe that is why ones spend more than ones should. I bought over 1150 something tires each year, so saving a dollar was a lot to me in any department. On oil changes I did different than your mileage, changed ever 7500 miles at home shop, no need for hotel rooms for drivers all my Peterbilts and Kenworths were walk in sleepers, if an emergency arose with one my drivers families - I have flow ones home as far away as California. Ever driver of mine after one year employment was required to take their family on a 10 day paid vacation, which I paid up to first $1500.00 plus their pay. I furnished medical, dental and eyewear for up to 4 children for each driver, if not married I paid his/her complete package. I gave 10% of my profits to St. Judes Hospital and another 10% to Shriner Burn Center in Memphis, where I was a patient as a child. I've helped pay medical bills for ones not even employed with me, performed volunteer duties on weekends (I was not into golfing).
Judging someone from conversation as you state in shaking one's hand is like buying investment property without meeting the owner in person. A man's word is his bond, not a handshake. When you have owned a multiple million dollar business before then you would think different if you were going underwater or thought trouble was coming. You seem to think bankruptcy is the end of it all - It's not we all make mistakes. If I were still in the trucking business today - Yes I would consider your application, there are several out here that would not condone you for having a bankruptcy on your file, but how you present yourself plays very important role in getting hired by anyone. I used to know a man that I had lots of respect for his father who built a trucking business from 1939 upwards to over 300 rigs, worth several million all paid for too until he let his oldest son take over the business. His son was a compulsive gambler with horses and dogs, less than 4 years he collapsed his father's lifelong business. He too owned finest clothes, rolex watches, custome golf carts, airplanes and beautiful decked out stainless polished wheels, diamond plate boxes and all types of flashy items to several of his trucks, but guess what the freight rate stayed the same. He was spending more than the business was taking in. I felt rather bad for the kids as one of the teenagers got hurt really bad in a dirt bike accident one afternoon at a dirt track, and they could not afford him proper care away from the area where they lived. I approached Ocie and offered to have his grandson flown to Birmingham or where ever if it would help and told him call me if he needed help with the bills, as I could help him if liked. He told me, he rather I paid off one of his son's gambling debts before something happen to him; I declined.
So, if that bad character in a person then at least that person is not worried about it.

 

Oh really?