Starting school next week as an old timer at this game started remembering all the tricks the carriers left out. I dove trucks for 10yrs then went onto the service, its' now been 15 yrs since driving, so back to school who says can't teach an old dog new tricks Ha. I will make updates as things come back to me. To all the more inputs from other drives the better. Here is my check list modify it to fit your needs. pay per mile? 35 cents guaranteed weekly mileage 2500 more or less? home time how often? YR of equipment Average? ( this will tell you the age of there fleet ) 4 yr 6 yr 10 yr so on lay over pay? dead head pay? type of fuel card used? ( major carrier or some mom and pop ) lumper pay? ( Refrigerated specific ) you have to pay these guys at warehouses Canada fee's pay? ( crossing boarder dropping loads reentry ) toll fees? docking fee? maintenance down time and break downs how do they handle it and what are there procedures and policies? scales fee?
Per diem, forced or optional Pet/passenger policy Inverter policy Safety bonus - MPG bonus Idle policy - APU's?
What kind of benefits are offered? (Health, dental, vacation, 401K, etc.?) and how much are health benefits per week? Detention pay? Restricted toll roads? Primary running areas? Can you take the truck home?
You know those all seem like good questions but they tend to focus attention what the real issue is; How much am I going to get paid for the work I am doing for the employer. I ask: What are your hauling? Who are your customers? What am I driving? What are your Safety Stat. scores with the DOT? How do you pay? Those are all important questions and non-pointed. Virtually everything else can be deducted from just those questions. Any other questions can follow in detail or I can explain why I wouldn't work under those terms. The point being I don't want to hear a recruiter's sales pitch full of BS. I don't need a sales pitch or laundry list of talking points. If I hear that given those questions I know to end the conversation right there; they are a crap company and not worth any drivers time. Secondly, they are direct enough they throw the stupid sales pitch recruiter off. This is especially the case with the safety score question. You should hear how some stutter when that is asked.
the lists you have so far are pretty good, but It sounds like you were an O/O once upon a time...will you still be ? Think there are a different set of questions for O/O vs company drivers who don't usually have to pay dock fees, border fees, lumpers etc. So for those things I'ld ask if I had to put out the cash or do they use checks / EFS/Comdata etc. Or will you be leasing? Is there forced dispatch? I'ld find a driver with the company I chose to ask him the real lowdown. straight from the horses mouth.... What kind of trucks do they have? Do you get to choose? What accounts do they service? do you get to choose which one ? Where will I be running? How many PAID Holidays? How often do drivers get raises? Any extra stop pay? Who services PM's/oil changes etc? Truck stops or their terminals? If done at terminals, how many do they have? Where are they? (In the areas you'll be running? Who services OTR breakdowns? (TA/Petro etc don't work on Volvo & some others)
This is outstanding keep the inputs coming! I Have been out of this for 15 yrs now and a lot has changed, you all great information for other drivers the safety deal was not available when I was trucking back in the day. Now as far as the Lumper goes that still applies some trucking companies do not pay, for this some do you have to ask! The type of truck is a personal choice. That's why I did not say anything about that, when was just starting any truck was great as long as it was mine, and no was never O/O just been around the block once or twice. I am just trying to pass along some of my learning experiences, so others don't have to go through that eye opening shock so much. thank you all for information lets keep this as well rounded as possible for new drivers to make educated decisions for themselves. How long is there training period? (with driver trainer ) How long is the orientation is it paid and how much? LTL or Over the Road? Your driving record and how well it fits with the company?
one more thought, Ask what's involved in the companies DOT physical? Each company is different. Since you've been out 15yrs, how good of shape are you in? I recently passed & got a yr medical card but did not pass the company physical test . Knowing I'm not real strong I had asked the recruiter what all was involved. Turned out she did not tell me everything otherwise I would not have gone with that company knowing I would fail it. She said I just had to lift 35lbs & climb a ladder...piece of cake right? Wrong! Actually the test was to climb the ladder by first placing my foot onto the third step of the ladder & then lift myself up.(who does that? it's unsafe!) Being only 5'3" my leg didn't even stretch that far! Men's legs are longer than women's.Then tester wanted me to lift 85lbs above my head! I knew I couldn't so I said "Are you crazy?" & walked out! So now I'm here searching for a company that doesn't require any kind of physical testing cause I can't do unloading anyway. That's why I''ve been reading this thread, thanks for starting the list!
That sounds like a test just used to weed out employee's; they just did not want to hire a 5'3" woman.
