Looking for a thread full of questions.

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by bigdave63, Mar 6, 2013.

  1. bigdave63

    bigdave63 Bobtail Member

    12
    1
    Aug 10, 2012
    Knightstown, Indiana
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    New driver here. I passed my skills test two days ago, which was fun because I trained in a daycab but did the test in a sleeper.

    Anyways, I remember seeing a thread on here where somebody posted a list of questions to ask potental employers. The list was 50 to 75 questions long. Can anybody point me to that thread again?
     
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  3. Dogbreath

    Dogbreath Light Load Member

    62
    51
    Mar 6, 2013
    Eleva, Wisconsin
    0
    Taken from OOIDA (Owner-operator Independent Drivers Association) which if you drive a commercial vehicle...all should belong too. If you want to join go to http://ooida.com/ and join via their website or call them...use my membership number (160154) to receive $20 off of the normal $45 yearly membership fee.

    Anyway here is your requested information (Company drivers only...there is a different list fo Owner-operators too if you need that posted).
    http://www.ooida.com/Education&BusinessTools/Resources/Interviewing_the_Inter_CD.shtml


    Hope this helps you....need anything else..don't be afraid to ask...ok?


    Here's a list of questions that company drivers will want to ask recruiters before they decide to accept the job:
    1. Will I be:
    Hired employee___
    Contract driver___
    (A contract driver is usually paid on a percentage basis and taxes are the responsibility of the contract driver. There also must be a contract between the company and the driver. This contract is for the IRS audits and must meet their requirements. A good way to tell is to refer to form SS8).
    2. As an employee, how is my pay figured?
    Hourly____ Rate____
    By the mile____ Rate____

    3. If paid by the mile, how is mileage calculated?
    Hub miles____
    Computer program such as PCMiler, HHG, etc.____
    Dispatched miles____
    Loaded miles____
    4. Does the company hold back the first paycheck?
    Yes____ No____
    If so, how long?
    One week____ Two weeks____
    5. Is the driver responsible for loading and unloading?
    Yes____ No____

    6. If not, how is the lumper issue handled?
    Company contract with lumpers____
    Advances for lumpers (deduct from paycheck)____
    Reimbursement for lumper with receipts____
    7. If driver unloads, how is payment made?
    Flat rate___
    Hourly____
    Piece____
    By weight____
    8. What is the company policy on fueling?
    Driver choice of supplier____
    Company choice of supplier____
    Fuel Card supplied____
    Driver pays & company reimburses___
    9. Does the company pay for:
    Layovers____
    Detention time____
    Canceled loads____
    Multiple drops and picks____
    Tolls____
    Truck washes____
    Trailer wash-outs____
    Scale tickets____
    Minor road repairs to equipment such as clearance lights, wiring, etc.____
    10. How many miles per week can I expect to run? ______
    11. How many days/weeks will a driver be kept out? ______
    12. What is the policy on home time? ______________________________________________________
    13. What benefits does the company offer?
    Paid vacation ____ After how long ____ How much vacation time ____
    Sick days____ After how long ____ How many sick days ____
    Health/dental care ____Is family included? Yes___ No ____
    Safety awards ____
    Retirement plans/401K ____
    Rider policy ____Company paid? Yes___ No ___ What are the age requirements? ____ Is it limited to family members only? Yes ____ No ____
    Safety bonuses____ Based on: no violations/accidents ____; Customer Service ____; Feedback/complaints from general public____; On-time ____; SO&D ____; Idle time ____; On time ____ ; Fuel Mileage ____
    14. Do you have forced dispatch? Yes____ No____
    15. What regions does the company expect you to run? _______________________________________________; Does the company run in areas that you do not want go, such as Canada, Mexico, or NY? Yes____ No____
    16. Does the company offer dedicated runs? Yes____ No ____; If yes, how do I get one? ______________________
    17. Does driver work directly with brokers (hand-offs)? Yes____ No ____
    18. What is the company policy on check calls (status for the day)? _______________________________________
    19. Does the company allow pets in the truck? Yes ____ No ____ If so, are damage deposits required? Yes ____ No____; If so, how much? _____ Deposit return policy? ____________________________________________
    20. Does company provide cell phones? Yes____ No ____
    21. What kind of truck will I be driving? Year____ Make_____ Model_____
    22. Can driver take the truck home? Yes ____ No ____
    23. What kind of transmission? _________________________________________
    24. What kind of engine? _____________________________________________
    25. What kind of sleeper? _____________________________________________
    26. Can I put my own chrome and lights on the truck? Yes ____ No ____
    27. Are speeds governed? Yes ____ No ____ If so, governed at what speed? ____________________________
    28. CB equipped? Yes ____ No ____
    29. AM/FM radio/TV? Yes _____ No ____
    30. Refrigerator? Yes ____ No ____
    31. Qualcom? Yes ____ No ____
    32. Air Ride seats? Yes ____ No _____
    33. Engine Brakes? Yes ____ No ____
    34. Opti-Idle? Yes ____ No ____
    35. How often does company purchase new equipment? _______________________________________
    36. Can I purchase my truck through the company? Yes ____ No ____ Lease/purchase plan? Yes ____ No ____ Success rate on lease/purchase? ____________________________________________________________
    37. Does the company provide training? Yes ____ No ____
    38. Is training paid by company? Yes ____ No ____
    39. If company paid, is there a penalty if I leave the company before a specified period of time? Yes ____ No ____; If penalty, how is it calculated? ________________________________________________________________
    40. What are trainer requirements? ______________________________________________________________
    41. Does the trainer receive extra pay? Yes ____ No ____
    42. As a trainer, will I be able to refuse to train a potential driver? Yes ____ No ____
    43. Is trainer responsible for actions of trainees? Yes ____ No ____
    44. What is the length of training period? _________________________________________________________
    45. Will I be assigned solo after the training period? Yes ____ No ____
    46. Are female trainers provided for female trainees upon request? Yes ____ No ____
    47. Is there a smoking/non-smoking policy? Yes ____ No ____
    48. Is an escrow, security deposit, performance bond, or any type of money held back by the company? Yes ____ No ____; If so, what is the required amount, and what is the return policy? ___________________________________
    49. Is transportation provided to orientation? Yes ____ No ____
    50. Motel/Food paid by company? Yes ____ No ____
    51. Does the company pay for orientation? Yes ____ No ____
    52. If I am disqualified or if I choose not to sign on, does the company pay for my transportation back home? Yes____ No ____
    Your personal list of interview questions may grow or shrink as you determine your own requirements, but this checklist is comprehensive enough to give you a good idea of how the company operates. Include the contact person's full name, company's name, phone number, and date on your checklist for future reference. You may even want to ask the company recruiter to sign off on it. Don't count on that happening, but I don't think this would be a problem for anyone who has answered your questions honestly ...do you?
     
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  4. Allow Me.

    Allow Me. Trucker Forum STAFF Staff Member

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    No recruiter has that much time to answer that many questions........
     
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  5. bigdave63

    bigdave63 Bobtail Member

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    Aug 10, 2012
    Knightstown, Indiana
    0
    Thank you all. That is what I was looking for. :biggrin_25514:
     
  6. chompi

    chompi Road Train Member

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    Deland, FL
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    Aaah yes and them answering truthfully is a whole other thread!
     
  7. Ghost Ryder

    Ghost Ryder Road Train Member

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    Not only that but the recruiter isn't going to know the answers to most of those questions either.
     
  8. bigdave63

    bigdave63 Bobtail Member

    12
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    Aug 10, 2012
    Knightstown, Indiana
    0
    Maybe not but out of the 52 questions, I can see at least 10 that don't really need to be asked. Also, with the different questions, a person can look over the list and maybe get it down to the top 10 questions that could be deal breakers.

    Thank you for the input.
     
  9. Ghost Ryder

    Ghost Ryder Road Train Member

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    Of those questions, I can't think of any that NEEDS to be asked.
     
  10. bigdave63

    bigdave63 Bobtail Member

    12
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    Aug 10, 2012
    Knightstown, Indiana
    0
    Just out of intrest, if you were interviewing for a job and the person you are talking to ask if you have any questions, what would you ask?
     
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