Question about finding quality people

I experienced a lot of the same issues that you are. I was also driving at the same time as trying to hire drivers and it just wasn't working so I hired an acquaintance on contract that used to work for a recruitment firm. She didn't have trucking industry-specific experience, but she knew how to read resumes and what to look for, do phone interviews, reference checks, etc. Her help was invaluable and by time I had my first face-to-face with a candidate they were well vetted. So, following on that, I did all of the below...

And yes, the road test with pre-trip was vital. I weeded out quite a few "experienced" candidates that way.

 

Surely there's at least 1 driver at your company your proud to have as part of your team is'nt there?Anymore drivers just don't care.Trucking is just a job to them and explains the high turnover rate.Even the companies that have a strict hireing process has bad drivers only they don't find that out till later.How many miles are you running your drivers a week? How long do you want your drivers to stay out before they go home?Bottom line is drivers just don't wanna work but ecspect to get paid for work not performed.I don't know if there is anything you can do to get the best of the best drivers.What are your requirements?

 

I am going to throw something out here. What about searching for successful owner operators who just don't want to deal with the administrative issues anymore? Maybe you could network with some brokers and ask them to keep their ears open for candidates like that. Might even get lucky, maybe the broker will know how they maintain/clean their truck???

 

Another thought is, do you ever hire O/O's to cover some of your loads?? Maybe there is an opportunity to vett a candidate without them even knowing??? Route them to your location and check them and their truck out in person. You might find one who loves to drive but does not like running a business anymore.

With that many miles/wk , maybe you could find drivers who would like to be out two weeks and home two weeks. Two drivers per truck and slip seat. The problem with that, of course is that there may be less pride in a shared truck and less accountability.

 

I was running 3 trucks but now just one for the same reasons. I was paying 30% and thanks to the oilfield was charging a minimum of $6 a mile with 150 mile minimum. You'd think if pay were the issue that would be motivating but no. I wouldn't hire guys that pull up in trashed out rides but the way they care for their vehicles doesn't carry over. We farm as well and have the same issues with tractors. My 12 and 16 year old girls take better care of my equipment than full grown men. Unless you have a way of making them financially responsible it does not seem modern generation cares.

 

Billerd, in a nut shell, I just don't think you are going to find the answer to your question, we are in the same boat, Kansas based 8 trucks, in business over 20 years, plenty of miles, good pay, easy work, good equipment, BUT, also like you we are long haul OTR, a term that has for whatever reason, lost it's definition over the last decade.

Also, like you, I did/still do drive, so I "know" full well what it's like out there.

Bottom line is that you, like me, what to hire people like yourself, unfortunately, I am finding that those types of people are retired, dead, already at companies that offer them what you can, or are already looking to go O/O.

It is what it is, and quite frankly, I don't think it's going to get better any time soon, sorry to be so negative, just telling you what I have found.

Just my opinion from this side of the desk.

Stan

 

• Drivers don't seem to care about taking care of the equipment. The trucks come back to the yard full of trash, dirt everywhere, smells like a sewer etc. These are brand new trucks! The drivers we hired seemed to be clean cut individuals but the trucks come back a mess!

Inspect the truck regularly. Bonus to cpm for clean, dock for dirty.

• Drivers don't seem to want to run the necessary miles. We have the miles to run, but every time I turn around there is some reason why they cant make it to the destination on time. Stopping for hours during the day to take a nap, sick all the time etc.

Pay by performance, ditch seniority pay. Run lots, make lots. Run little, cut cpm.

• Drivers who lie without batting an eye. Right to my face or over the phone. Always an excuse for why something happened or didn't happen. We are all adults right? Cant we tell the truth?

Warn them once, then fire them.

• Drivers who want the OTR job but want to be home every few days. Are there not drivers out there that can still stay out for a few weeks at a time?

What part of OTR didn't they understand?

• Drivers who don't catch issues on pre and post trip inspections. These inspections, I would suspect don't get done like they are supposed to. If the truck was your way of making money, why wouldn't you want to make sure it was being properly cared for on a daily basis. You cant make money when it is broke down, and most little things can be caught before a breakdown occurs.

Again, pay by performance. When they ain't making the mileage quota because they didn't catch something, they'll start finding it.

 

We were going through the same thing. My husband also drives otr for our company, se we thought we knew what drivers want to deliver a good job. Turns out is not easy at all.
One thing that helps is to explain thoroughly your expectations before you hire. We also give some reward monthly or quarterly for the driver when he does his job well, maintain the truck well and clean, deliver on time and communicates well. On the same time we withhold from the pay if his performance is not up to the expectations. We found out that rewarding them only for a job well done doesn't produce results if you don't withold something when they make a mistake. You have to be consistent on the reward or punishment.
But sometimes even that doesn't work. Sadly many drivers are used to change companies like t-shirts, and they don't care about their job.

 

Don't forget to allow 12-18 hours per day for,

surfin the net................

 

Sounds like training a puppy...... or raising children lol.