Need help with a driver survey, please

I would advise you to not take a short cut by completing these forms on-line. Go out to a truck stop or rest area near your home and actually talk to some drivers in person. While you are there, look at the conditions of the rest rooms and restaurants. Maybe even have a meal or at least a cup of coffee and observe all that you can. Pay careful attention to the drivers who are trying to rest/sleep in their trucks without A/C because their employer does not want them to waste fuel.

I am not trying to discourage you; I just want you to be fully aware of what you are getting yourself into. Just like going into the military, trucking will change every aspect of your life.

 

Three hours is hardly much time at all. It is an especially small window considering the industry you are querying.

Relax...

 

Company Name: Quality Carriers (affiliate )

Spoke to (your name): Not allowed to post this info per forum rules

Department/Position: Regional driver

Hire without experience? If no, how much is required?: No , 2 years

Dress Code: Long sleeve shirts , steel toed boots , no shorts

Physical Demands: Pass DOT physical

Entry Wage: Percentage , $.40 per mile minimum

Health Benefits (if yes, describe): Health , dental , partial payment by employer

Job Description: Regional hazmat tanker driver

List 5 negative aspects of this career:
1. Starting pay at some carriers has been moved back to 1970's rates . ($.22 -$.24 a mile )
2. Continuing decline of freight at lowest level in 7 years resulting in drivers getting less miles per week .
3. Increasing oversupply of job applicants due to carriers constantly reducing fleet size and truck driving schools exploiting desperate people , often at taxpayers' expense .
4 .CDL has no value after a few months with no driving experience . Refresher course will be required .
5. Constant turnover of drivers means a large percentage of drivers on the road never get more than 6 months experience . This has a negative effect on highway safety .

 

Company Name: "Company XYZ" we shall call it

Spoke to (your name): "Driver XYZ" we shall call me

Department/Position: Longhaul Driver

Hire without experience? If no, how much is required?: I had my Canadian class 3 license through the oilfield to drive straight trucks. I got an OTR job before I upgraded my license to a full CDL (Canadian Class 1) on condition I passed my driving test on the first shot.

Dress Code: When loading/unloading....decent jeans with no holes, steeltoed boots, decent shirt. During the week is upto my discretion but I always wear decent jeans/shirts.

Physical Demands: Flatbed work is a little more physically demanding but not by much. I still need to workout on my days off to stay in shape.

Entry Wage: 46 cents/mile Cdn (around 38 cents/mile US)

Health Benefits (if yes, describe): A skimpy plan. All Doctor visits covered, 1 tooth repair and a few cleanings per year, 250 dollars worth of massages per year, 250 dollars worth of chiropractor visits per year. 250 per year on glasses/contacts. If I go to emergency or have time in the hospital its 100% covered.

Job Description:

List 5 negative aspects of this career:
1) You are a criminal and a lowlife in everyones eyes
2) Your truck is a rolling death machine that shouldn't be around 4 wheelers in the eyes of most 4 wheelers
3) Truckstop toilets. I think I'd rather take a few bullets than have to use the can at the T/A in Sparks, NV again.
4) Away from home all the time means you have virtually no personal life at all. It's a lifestyle change for sure
5) The trucking industry has turned into an "every man for himself" venture for the most part. If you break down.....that's great for you! nobody else will care. Heck, you could be on the side of the road dying and 1 out of every 10 truckers might ask if you are okay. The 4 wheelers?....they can't wait for you to die so its one less trucker on the road.

 

Sorry to disappoint the 4 wheelers but carriers have thousands of newbies that were sent home after orientation and are waiting for an available truck .

 

I can agree with Rick on these answers,except the Entry Wage.
IMO,Every Driver must earn their worth,walking in at $.40cpm isn't right
$.30-$.32 for 1-3 year Drivers is perfectly acceptable.

 

lol, I guess it's safe to say you only wanted two surveys filled out.