Help me PLEASE!! Turning around a trucking business

I recently obtained a HUGE dream of mine by being able to buy some tractors and trailers and begin a small trucking company. I wanted to make the drivers happy and I bought new equipment, gave them a huge say in everything, completely trusted them, etc...Not surprisingly, they have been taking HUGE advantage of me and I need help if I am going to be able to keep things running. It would break my heart to lose the business, PLEASE HELP!!

The guys are killing me with the amount of fuel they use..should I "nut" the trucks? At what speed would you recommend?

The guys take about 3X the time to get to their destination as what Mapquest says it should take..they don't have an answer as to what is taking them so long. Should I get GPS? Where would I buy these?

I have so many problems with guys sleeping-in, missing load times, calling in ALL OF TIME!! What can I do?!

The guys I have were all hired from word-of-mouth..where would I find good drivers (local newspapers? Craigslist?)?

I feel like I run the guys hard..they DO work a lot of hours (although they are home most nights and all weekends). I feel like I pay them a great wage, but what is a good salary for midwestern drivers? Should I pay a set rate? Percentage? PLEASE HELP!! Many of the guys have borrowed money and I doubt I will ever see it again.

I feel like they take advantage because they know I have a HUGE heart and am young...I would hate to lose everything I have worked for so hard over being too nice.
ANY SUGGESTIONS PLEASE!

 

Certainly I am not the best boss at all...I ask a lot in terms of miles driven in a day, leaving at 1am to make load times, not offering insurance..etc but overall I wanted to trust these guys. BUT mostly the fuel use is KILLING me. Many load I don't even make a profit after fuel costs. I also use a broker that I hear is terrible but don't have a clue as how to find better paying loads.

 

if they don't do the job fire a few and the rest will get the message. you've allowed them to get the upper hand, get it back

 

I don't deny that I am an idiot. I know and I was looking for help. From what I know of driver,s they have all been so kind to me. I thought it was a nice little community. They know I don't belong and I am positive they laugh at me behind my back, but they help me any way they can.

 

You don't sound like a troll but then again im a sucker at spotting them.But anyway i'll bite and answer your post.First off quit being so nice,drivers are taking full advantage of it .Also start charging them for late loads.You might wanna think about governing the trks.Have them send a check call every morning and if they don't by a certain time then charge them for no check call.Also give them a route to take and if they don't take that route charge them for the extra fuel.Hey you have to do what you have to do to stay in business.

 

Yes, I have fired two. I am just worried about finding replacements. Its hard to have trucks sitting out in the yard with no drivers. I have never advertised for drivers and we live in a tiny town. Where is a good place to find drivers? I think they know I NEED them more than they need me, you know?

 

I have always had a problem being "too nice". Do you think the best idea would be to find all new drivers (except for the 3 or 4 that are really good), fire the rest and start from scratch? Should I just get GPS trackers? Where do I get them? Qualcomm is out of my budget. Should I have one of the good drivers be in charge?

I love the industry. I love the trucks. I just no zilch in trucker "street smarts".

 

The money (my husband) got from the start-up is from our farm.

 

And we are in HUGE debt.

 

I wish I could get you to believe me or where to turn for some advice.