What IF? Taking a Poll on what drivers want...

You'd better be willing to hire trainees because I doubt many experienced drivers would leave their jobs to work for you .
You'd ask more of the drivers than most other companies ? Most other companies already ask too much .
How would you pay decent wages and have decent benefits and be able to offer rates to compete with larger carriers paying bottom feeder wages and getting lower rates for health insurance , fuel , tires , etc ?

 

Good luck hope you can start something but not too many drivers of the character you seek exist as our greed has created a hurray for me and what else will you give me attitude. Real professionals are rare now a days. My thoughts from many years as a driver.
As a driver all I ever wanted was a decent wage and a little respect and a decent truck to do my job.

 

Sooner or later the government will force you to provide health insurance . You may get some drivers covered on their spouses' policies . But keep in mind the better companies the best drivers go to offer insurance , matching 401K , etc. .

 

I understand where your going with this. I am not sure it's possible for a New company to be able to do. You say a decent wage? We all have our opinions on what a decent wage may or may not be. If I were to go to work for say a start up company that i did not start up I would have to have a salary along with a bonus based on my performance. I would also want to be able to talk directly to the owner and be able to help shape the company. May be even a stock option since I would also be taking a gamble that The new company would be able to survive against the Mega Carriers.

I would be interested in hearing how you would accomplish this new endeavor. I think it's great that people in America still have the drive to start up new Companies knowing they will be competing against the Mega Corporations.

I wish you well and do hope you're successful in your new business adventure.

 

Ya know, what you're proposing is of some interest to me.
Personally, I would take a good wage over an excellent wage if I knew I had decent equipment, that the people at the top actually gave a #### about what I think, or what I need. That if I told them 2 weeks ago that I need to be home Thursday the 23rd, that I would be home Thursday the 23rd, or the night before. That problems with the trailer or the tractor would be addressed, not blown off for 6 months. That if you tell me my region is OH, IN IL PA MI KY and WI, that I call in and you won't send me to Long Island, or Boston "because this load is hot, and you are the only one who can cover it.". That I know I can trust you to keep your promises.

Meet those requirements, and you'll have a driver who will give you 100% every day.

Where do I sign up?

 

JMHOPE85, I like the idea. Actually this is exactly why I am an O/O and haul steel. I find my own freight and only work with people who are honest. It isn't always easy, but then I never asked for easy. I've been a driver for 22+ years, the first 11 as a company driver. As an O/O I get was more appreciation than I ever did as a company driver. I've earned my awesome relationships with these agents by honesty, reliability, open and honest communication, and I am true to my word. And so are they. If I had been able to find a company like this, I would have never bought my own truck. The company I had worked for for seven years, had changed presidents, family owned and still is, but the older generation stepped down, and the son took over. Prior to his taking over, I was not receptive to his advances, and it took him over a year to get rid of me, and he was not beneath setting me up and trying to place contamination of food products on me. Thank goodness I had a wash out receipt and (at the time) my husband was with me getting his trailer washed out too.
I did lease to a company prior to hauling steel, and didn't care for the "foreign driver" back stabbing and lies to the dispatch. I would call in for the next load and be accused of not being empty. NO TIME FOR THIS CRAP. I am an honest person, and do not expect being accused of anything other than honest and will not tolerate it. I was once told " There are cheaters and there are losers", sadly I am finding out this is so true. I wish you luck with you endeavor.

 

Boy does this sound familiar. This is the exact approach that I used when I started. Highest wages, best equipment, and treat the driver with respect, how I would want to be treated. I wonted a company that drivers would be proud to be a employee of and would brag to their friends aboutI have several friends in the trucking business and they ALL said "that won't work". I basically told them that I KNOW it will work, if it didn't work for them, they did it wrong. WEll, that doesn't work and I believe that "Mr truckdriver" hit the nail on the head as to why. My brother did the same thing with similar results. The fact that you are considering this tells me that, even after your drivers screw you around, you will still continue to pay well and treat drivers with respect because it's in your dna or you wouldn't be considering it in the first place. However, don't expect it to pay in reciprocity.

 

If you are what you claim drivers will find you. If not they will find you anyways but leave quickly.

Why the "poll". Because it is not one all the talk of honor, and integrity aside. If your trying to start a business (I am curious if your family has been in it for generations why this is a new business) drivers will find good companies by word of mouth.



Recruitment is a few threads down. I believe that is the purpose of your post. Judging by location better list blow off experience as well.