Help me PLEASE!! Turning around a trucking business

I've seen many guy drivers smaller than that lol!

 

It is good to have a company policy or handbook. It doesn't need to be anything fancy, but you need to lay out in black and white what is expected of your drivers and what they should expect from you. Have them read the policy and make sure they sign it.

If fuel mileage is low then some of your drivers are most likely selling your fuel. I would make sure to prosecute anyone who steals from you. It will usually only take once or twice to let them know that you are not to be taken lightly. It will also help the next company that they apply to when they find that they have a criminal record for stealing from their employer. I would have strict guidelines about whom I would hire. No more than 3 jobs in 2 years, for instance. I would also require good mvr's and csa scores. If you get good drivers with clean records your insurance rates should drop and you should have fewer problems with them.

You can be friendly, but not overly friendly with your drivers. They are your employees, not your family. I have always treated drivers well, but no matter how well you treat them, some will try to take advantage. You don't need to be mean, but firm. You are the boss. You make the rules. If your drivers don't want to follow YOUR rules, then they need to find other employment. Make sure that you document everything when you talk to drivers about their work. It could help you later.

I pay percentage. I don't pay drivers until I receive ALL of the paperwork for the load. That includes the bill of lading, fuel receipts, miles by state for IFTA and any receipts for maintenance done on the road. If a truck breaks down make sure the vendor faxes you a copy of the work order and then the invoice before paying him. No driver should be allowed to have work done on your truck without your permission. I would make sure that the driver involved would send the original with his paperwork before paying him. If he blows a tire, make sure to have him bring the casing back to you. I keep a spare on my trucks to save money when a tire blows. But, I still want to have the casing back. Drivers have been known to sell tires off their trucks.

As others have suggested, it would be good if you could find someone to help run your business. You will need to pay them fairly well to get someone who knows what they are doing. You may even offer them a percentage of the PROFITS as an incentive. I will send you a friend's name who owns hoppers. He should have an idea of rates.

 

People actually sell the fuel like that? right under their employers nose? I guess I shouldn't be surprised about this.. People just disgust me.

 

It is probably the most common type of thefts by drivers, but one of the easiest to catch. Some drivers even find their own loads to haul on their company trucks while the boss pays for all of the expenses. Those people don't last long with companies, but can cost employers a lot of money. I know someone who used to own trucks. She would write down mileage on the trucks when the driver came back to the yard and check it with the fuel and route. She didn't have a problem with fuel theft.

 

Some sure do it and they are lower than whale dung, some will sell anything they can off a company truck.

Sad but true.

 

I use I mileage sheet, pretty simple and it covers all state miles. When I fueled the mileage was also on the receipt as well as the fuel log.

I knew 875 miles and that was all the fuel available

 

Yeah.. there is a lot to running a trucking company. You also need to keep an eye on your trucks and write condition of each truck.

Like its been said, drivers have been know to sell tire/wheels equipment if flatbed. Fire the lazy bastids and tighten up. It can be done.

A good driving software is crucial in helping dispatch locate and route trucks. It also helps with filing ifta paperwork and making sure that inspection stickers and medical cards are up to date.

Please tell me you have a drug/alchohol consortium to drug test the drivers. Nothing has been said about this.

 

I take an inventory sheet that I go over with every new driver. When the driver leaves we take an inventory and compare it to the one when he started. If anything is missing then it comes out of his pocket. It helps, but nothing will completely stop a thief.

 

Truckers Helper makes a good software package for fleet owners and carriers. It has a number of features which will help you remain compliant. www.truckershelper.com. As I recall, it also has a check call feature to help you track shipments and trucks. It could provide documentation for any disciplinary action for drivers and help you more efficiently manage your company. It is also inexpensive for that type of program. It can do payroll for not only drivers, but other personnel. There are other programs on the market, but they are much more expensive. I think that they will allow you to download it so that you can try it for a couple of weeks or so before buying it.

 

Why not? Business is business. I think farmers have more business running a trucking business than most O/O's I see.

But I could just be biased. My operation started a single truck from a farm. Seem to be doing pretty good.

But then I am smart enough to not try an compete in a sector most of the year that has 1,000% extra capacity. Harvest time pays for that farmers truck and hopper. So you are competing with a guy who looks at off season as a way to keep someone employed year round at no cost. Only a fool would look to compete in this segment.