The 1987 group/ late-night Chauffeurs NY

In the future, if you ever see an ad that promises everything, or talk to a recruiter who promises everything...most likely it's a ploy/scam to get you in the drivers seat.

If it sounds too good to be true it probably is...

Find out the turnover rate of a company. If it's 90 to 95%, yet they promise the world and say how well they treat drivers, its a big RED FLAG that something isn't right, someone is lying. Ask yourself, why is there a 95% turnover if things are so good for drivers?

Another thing to watch for is if they say 'make good money here, be home often'. That doesn't even make sense. To make good money you have to stay out 7 days a week for weeks on end. There is no hometime. Taking hometime reduces your pay. Any company saying differently is lying.

Also, be extremely cautious of any company like Halvor Lines- that say they treat drivers good. If they are saying that most likely it's the opposite.

Beware!!

 

Mostly true. But you *can* make good money and get good home time, depending upon the company's organizational structure and your home location relative to the freight lanes.

 

I'm not really sure on what kind of help/advice you need. Are you stranded in a city without any resources or money? That's one kind of help. Do you need to collect money owed to you? That's another kind of help. Do you need help/advice finding a better job? There is help for that here. Clarify things for us, then people will be able offer better suggestions.

 

• Keep a spiral notebook when job searching
• Assign each company their own page
• Write down the name of the recruiter that you're dealing with
• What type of freight do they haul?
• Can you speak to someone from Operations?
• Do you have 24 hour dispatch/safety/ Breakdown ?
• Ask direct questions
• Demand direct answers - no answer, eliminate the company from consideration
• Demand to know what your base rate of pay will be upon hire - Do not include any bonus pay!
• How often are pay raises and cost of living increases given?
• When is pay day? Weekly, bi-weekly, twice a month....
• What is the pay for Detention time, breakdown pay, layover and extended breaks. If they do not offer any of these - move on!
• What do you need to do to qualify for bonuses?
• What disqualifies you for bonuses?
• How many miles or hours per week can they guarantee?
• Calculate your weekly gross earnings on the question above! Not enough - move on!
• When is their slow season?
• What is the home time policy?
• For hourly do they offer overtime?
• What is the work schedule?
• Do they chargeback any costs to company drivers?
• What are the disciplinary policies?
• What are the equipment specs?
• Does a driver have to pay out of pocket for any operational expenses - tolls, scale tickets, breakdowns, etc.
• Does a driver touch freight?
• Do you offer a 401K?
• Does the company contribute to the 401K?
• Rider policy?
• Pet policy?
• What about health benefits?
• What are the cost for benefits?
• What about vacation time?
• Who are your customers?
• Do they have contract/direct customers or are they running the spot market?
• When, where is orientation?
• How long is orientation?
• Do I get paid during orientation and how much?
• Do they pay for travel and lodging?
• Do I have to share a hotel room with a stranger? If yes....Move on!

These are questions that should be asked before you even fill out the application. Take notes. Eliminate them from consideration If they cannot or will not answer any of your questions. Write down the names of every person you speak with. Assign a point system. Five points for positive answers. Minus 5 points for negative! Total up the results see what you have - go from there.

 

I love it when someone has a lot of questions, it means they are serious about finding a good place of employment.

 

How did I know you would bring up Halvor in a totally unrelated thread? ESP(n)?

 

In some states a company can hold your last check for a period of time. Check to see what it is where.you live. If you need legal help/advice and cannot afford a lawyer, there is usually a state or local resource you can work with. Best of luck getting everything that is owed to you.

 

It's not worth your time. You will pay more in court costs and other expenses than you will get back. Plus time wasted.

Some shady companies have figured out a threshold to what to what they rip people off for vs them getting it back- $2500 to $4000 seems to be the range.

Chalk it up as a lesson learned and move on.

You are a professional driver and should not have any trouble finding employment in this booming economy.