Need Advice

Thank you for the stats latanea, very interesting, kinda hard to run from the numbers, I've seen several other industries like this, canneries, wood products value added and so forth. I ran a veneer plant for a central oregon wood products company and the turn over was at 80 days with a line at the back door waiting for some one to leave. Another is a large mailhouse that would go through 150 employees a year to cover a base of 50.

All these positions are production fast pace high stress and not at all glamorous or cool so it is sad to see the turn over rate so high in the trucking industries. Could this be due to over sales from the recuiters? Could it be that people don't know how hard it is to be away from home that long at a time?

Where's that socieoligist at that was doing some work on this site, does he have any numbers yet?

 

The 1st year really weeds out drivers for a number of factors but I see being away from home and the family pressures it brings being the main culprit. It's tough starting at the bottom of the totem pole but if a driver can persevere and have their family behind them, things get better down the road, so to speak.Getting needed experience opens new doors for jobs that offer more home time and better pay.

 

Thats what I suspect but I'd like to see some numbers or information from the industry to see if this is the case.

 

I think the important thing to remember here is that your first year is NOT going to be a lot of fun, no matter who you are with. What is important is that you get that first year under your belt.

I agree that any company that uses a driver trainer that has all of six months experience should be avoided, if possible.

What ever company you decide to go with, make a full commitment to yourself that you will stay with them for at least a year. Make a commitment to yourself that you will do everything in YOUR power to get along with your driver trainer. Yes, you can ask for a different trainer should you not be able to get along with the first one. But that is just going to raise a question in the company's mind, and probably extend your training.

Good Luck!