How do I Interview You Guys?

That was the other thing I think I was feeling only wasn't really able to verbalize it in my post. The whole thing made me feel like I was being invasive. It feels intrusive when you are actually in it.

But no one was going into the other part (there were two fast food places joined to the store) it looked empty. Because that was my initial thought.. to ask them as they were sitting there eating and relaxing and i would be doing the same... I think i might feel out Burky's suggestion... just go park there and see if I can get the courage up to talk to someone as they are getting out of their truck. If not then I might go look for another kind of truckstop (something like the old-fashioned kind I used to see with real restaurants attached to them )...or maybe try going at a different tiime when its not so overwhelming and busy.

 

I had to go to the community college today to turn in some paperwork for a couple grants I am appying for for funding for school.

While I was there I was explaining to the office lady that I needed to interview a driver for one of the requirments of the scholarship (I am doing my own interviewing as well). Apparently there was a former student who had graduated from the school last Feb sitting over in the next office. He had gotten hired by Marten and was still working for them.

She hooked me up with him, and we went out into the lunchroom to talk.
It was great. He had a trailer over at Amy's Kitchen in White City (a $ith0le to work at, I used to work there).... but he couldnt pick it up till 8 tonight. So he had all day to chat. He must have spent a good two hours talking to me. I asked him a whole slew of questions and when we were done he even took me out and showed me his truck.

I was able to find out all of things from him. Even my dog was able to get in the truck all by herself! Sailed up the steps and right into the cab and back down onto the ground too...(something I was a little worried about since I sure dont want to lift her) I think she sorta liked being up there in that big truck

I will cut and paste my questions and his answers for anyone who is interested;

What is the best thing about your job?

He liked the independence and the fact that there is no forced dispatch.
He liked that he could visit his friends and family all over the US.


What is the worst thing about your job?

He said that you don’t make that much money. I asked him about that, he said he made about $1000 a week but after they took everything out it was more like $500-600. On the other hand he really liked the fact that you get a bunch of it back at the end of the year.

Do you ever feel tired?

He said not really. Its not like driving a car. Couldn’t really pinpoint why. My guess is that the seat he sits in is a great seat (7-way lumbar adjustment). He also said he keeps regular hours. Drives all day, sleeps at night and never sleeps at truck stops. He drives cross country (all 48). He only deals with dispatch every 3 days or so cuz the rest of the time he is driving. Said this is the best way. Less problems then regional.

What type of engine and horsepower are the trucks equipped with? What type of transmission are they equipped with? What speed are the trucks governed at? Are they equipped with cruise control, engine brakes, and/or other comfort and safety features?


Volvo 460 10 speed. Forgot to ask about the governing part.

How large are the sleeper berths on the trucks? Are spaces provided for televisions, coolers or refrigerators, and storage for personal items?

The sleeper is rather on the small side. Big enough for one person. The trade-off is that its easier to maneuver.
What is the average age of the trucks and trailers the company operates.

The truck looked to be no older then one to two years. The drivers seat had 7, yes that’s 7 different ways to adjust the lumbar area for your back.

Do I take the truck and trailer, if applicable, home with me for time off, or will I be expected to secure it at a terminal?

Yes, you can take it home.


If I find that at any point and time, that driving the truck would compromise the safety of myself or the general public, such as in cases of inclimate weather, and I notify dispatch of this circumstance, will I be likely in any case to be offered any resistance by dispatch in my decision to shut down until it is safe to resume travel? If I do run into a problem, is there a person or department that I can contact for assistance? Is this assistance offered on a 24 hour basis?

Not an issue, this had never been a problem.

As a person who desires to be as compliant with the rules and regulations, as much as humanly possible, will I be "punished" by the operations or dispatch departments, if I decline to commit to pre-determined schedules or loads, because doing so would place me in direct conflict with the rules and regulations as they pertain to the hours of service requirements that I am bound to adhere to? Again, is there a department or person I can contact for assistance in this matter? Is this provided on a 24 hour basis?

There is no forced-dispatch. He has never had this kind of problem.
He said that this was one of the reasons he didnt want to work for Gordon - they have forced-dispatch.

What is your average turnover rate per year, and why do you think that most drivers leave your company?


He said there was a lot of turn over. The reasons for this where as followed:

Not efficient, late all the time.
Random drug testing. If you refuse to take the test, immediate grounds for termination. Some people refuse.

Don’t take care of the equipment.

He said that they have a point system there. You are allowed 10 points per month. If you run out of gas and they have to send a truck to get it going, that’s 3 points, I suppose if you are late that is another point, things like that. You want to stay under 10 points.

He sited these things as the main reasons for the turnover.

What is the fuel purchase policy

Fuel Card used at authorized fuel stops. If you need to use a station that is not authorized, they will refund you.


Do you have personnel available 24 hours per day for any problems encountered while on the road?

Yes, always.

Do they have forced dispatch?

No.

Are their truck assigned?

Yes

Am I allowed to plan and choose the routes of my choice to get from loading to unloading points? If routing is not of my choosing, am I compensated based upon the dictated routing, and for all of those miles?

Yes they are not sticklers about this as long as its within reason. He did say that the GPS shows the route that a truck needs to take while dispatch shows the fastest way to get there which usually ends up being a couple hundred miles less. He said that’s the main thing people ##### about. On the other hand, they are flexible if you want to go visit someone who isn’t too far out of the say. He said he did go 200 miles out of his way to see someone once and the dispatcher did ##### a little then….(can’t really blame her).

Am I paid for all miles, both loaded and empty? Am I paid the same for each? If not, how much am I paid for empty miles?

Paid the same for both miles.



Is pay calculated on mileage or percentage? If mileage based, which program is used and in what mode to calculate mileage? Household Movers Guide? Rand McNally Milemaker? PC Miler? Are they calculated to reflect truck routes? Are they calculated in the shortest available route mode? Are they calculated to reflect practical routing? If I am paid percentage, am I afforded a copy of the freight billing with pay settlements , for each load that I haul? Am I allowed to step into the office and ask to see billing records for loads that I haul, if copies are not sent to me each week?

He just said that dispatch already has it pre-calculated. He wasn’t sure which system they used.

Will I be performing multiple pick-ups or drops? Is there any increased pay associated with this service? How much will I receive for extra stops?

Sometimes. They pay $20 a pick-up.

Will I be asked to perform labor for loading or unloading the trailer? Am I compensated for this service? If so, how is it calculated? Am I allowed to hire lumpers? Are there cases where this will be pre-arranged?


He said he pretty much never does this, that they don’t like drivers to unload or load.

Does your company have a detention pay policy? At what point does detention pay kick in? What rate of pay is offered for detention to the driver?

Yes, $12/hr after two hours.

He said there is one thing that some of the shippers do that’s not too cool. He mis-read the qualquam and thought a load was supposed to be there at 12:30 instead of 11:30. Decided to go to lunch with a friend, was running a half hour late getting the trailor there (thinking a half hour was no big deal) but that was a half hour in his head since he mis-read the qualqom. He was really an hour and a half late. The shipper changed him a $75.00 late fee. I am unclear as to who ended up paying for it (him or the company). I think we got off talking about something else.

Hey i think they sound like a great company to work for. I couldnt detect any dis-satisfaction from him. He trained on a reefer and thats what he pulls now. I would apply but they dont take pets. Trucks are nice, small but nice, seems like a great way to make a living. Not at all like the living hell that sometimes gets depicted here on the board...