What do experienced drivers expect from their bosses?

I don't know why you are asking this, I mean it is obvious and not complicated.

I treat my drivers as I want to be treated if I was working for me.

When owners or potential owners ask questions like this, to me and many in my position think that it is because they should not be in this business at all. Trying to one up or capture a driver and retain them is not something that is asked how to do, it should come natural to an owner who knows how to treat people right.

I said this many time before, I get a call from a broker/agent/carrier about a driver say in a load dispute, I back my driver, not the broker/agent/carrier. I have canceled a couple contracts with small carriers because of this issue, I respect those who make me and them money more than those who are running the show at the carrier.

 

When the bosses homes interior is in my video feed, okay.

When his EVERY business dealing of any sort is recorded for my scrutiny, okay.

When he’s subject to random drug tests, okay.

When I have before me his complete credit, work history, civil & criminal records, okay.

When he has to call me for permission to leave the office and go home, okay.

Do you never draw a line, hand?

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Every single driver is looking for something different but @REO6205 hit the nail on the head. Spot on.

As for benefits you won’t be able to afford or offer that starting out so make sure your pay is good and have a solid paid time off package. Each driver is different so the trick is figuring out what is important to them in the first few weeks of working together and adapt as much as you can while still being able to maintain the integrity of your program that is required to be successful.

And honestly, if their “ol lady” is happy, they will ultimately be happy even if they dont like the job. Flip side if they like their job but she ain’t happy then they’ll quit anyway. Not kidding at all. So, that considered during the interview it doesnt hurt to read between the lines and try to find out what they are looking for as a family, not just the driver themselves.

Lastly, you’ll find that guys in their 50’s to mid 60’s are by far the best. They do come with baggage though. Especially around 55 by then they are sick of working and can see retirement within reach. They become resentful of the job and still having to work so sometimes they take it out on you and are in bad moods. Next day they’ll be fine just learn to talk it out. It’s a small price to pay though for getting the best drivers on the road and IMO in their prime.

 

I've seen more than a few cranky 50-something year olds. I'd say this is spot on. I'm not even 40 and I get my nut fits from time to time.

 

Ha...you ought to see our place. I have a whole company full of 50-somethings and 60-somethings and even a couple of 70-somethings.
The lowest seniority driver is in his 40s...everybody calls him "the kid".
Our older drivers get cranky once in while and I can understand that. Sometimes our work is hard.
There's a huge difference between some chronic malcontent who snivels constantly and a guy fresh in off of a run in bad weather who had to chain up three times in one morning, tarp and untarp a load of lumber, and put up with Sacramento traffic trying to get out of town. The guy who had to chain usually gets listened to. The sniveler gets ignored.
I'm lucky we only have a couple of snivelers.

 

"What do experienced drivers expect from their bosses?"

I just expect her to send me out the door with enough good food to last me until I get back so I don't have to eat the crap from truck stops or fast food. Other than that she can do what she wants, within reason.