This is in response to the recent posts concerning "what does it take to get good teams to run for you", and also the other side "what do you look for in a carrier", etc. There is no big secret. The number one answer is M-O-N-E-Y. That´s what we all work for first and foremost. The recruiter has to explain to the prospective driving candidate(s), how that very important ingredient will be distributed into the drivers hands and stay there. After addressing those two things to the satisfaction of the mutual parties, you can move on to the "honesty", "deadhead projections", "home time" "days off" and whatever.
From here on, I can only speak for myself, as everyone on the road has different needs. When I used to run single (I´ve owned and driven every class of truck they make over the years)I wanted to know that when I was on the road, I would be running my alloted miles to make a decent living. I always shot for 2500-3500 a week, paid miles. In big rig all miles driven are paid. I also wanted to know that when I needed to get home an effort would be made to get me there. When my wife decided to team with me, nothing really changed, except I didn´t need to go home as often. We drove big rig for a few years together, and did well. We ran hard when we were out there, seldom went home, and took our down time in the winter. We would always, and still do take 2-3 months off in winter. It works for us doing that schedule. Several years ago we switched over to expediting, and again nothing really changed. Our revenue increased for less miles driven, but we were enjoying the road more, because we could get to more places and had more time off, and we took our time off wherever it happened, and we were able to see alot of things we would never have seen otherwise. The road is different for guys than it is for girls. In the area of personal hygiene especially, girls need more and want more. The advent of clean truckstops (Petro etc. made a big differnece on the road). Women like motels more often than men do for that reason. I can´t tell you how many times we would check into a motel,(after dispatch had said on a friday afternoon.."nothing til monday") and 30 minutes later they call you in the motel with a hot load. Frustrating. Anyone on the road knows that you need to get out of that truck once in awhile, to preserve you´re sanity. So, one of the things I would suggest to companies looking for teams, is to keep that in mind.The little considerations.
1. See to it that if your team is not home, that they get some quality time off, without a "hot call".
2. If the "hot call" can´t be avoided, pick up the cost of the motel, and pay for another when time permits.
3. An occasional "attaboy" when deserved, goes a long way with any team, or single who´s out there busting hump when called upon. Lots of companies talk the talk, about "we´re all in this together", but they don´t walk the walk. How would you like to get called away from your day off to put in 24-36 hours in the family car?. Yeah, we´re getting paid for it, but don´t forget we do it everyday.Money ain´t everything.
All you recruiters have heard the saying "when momma ain´t happy, ain´t nobody happy". Think about that.
The other part of this. What do I look for in a company? Just what I mentioned previously, about miles, and getting home when needed. Simple statements I can read, to see where my money went. ( If I wanted to be an accountant, I´d drive a pen). But you better make momma happy, or you´ll lose me. None of us out here need to have our hands held. Most of us know our job and do it well, and will go the extra mile for the cause. Companies also need to go that extra mile. Some already do. Those are the ones that have driver retention. Ask anyone.
From here on, I can only speak for myself, as everyone on the road has different needs. When I used to run single (I´ve owned and driven every class of truck they make over the years)I wanted to know that when I was on the road, I would be running my alloted miles to make a decent living. I always shot for 2500-3500 a week, paid miles. In big rig all miles driven are paid. I also wanted to know that when I needed to get home an effort would be made to get me there. When my wife decided to team with me, nothing really changed, except I didn´t need to go home as often. We drove big rig for a few years together, and did well. We ran hard when we were out there, seldom went home, and took our down time in the winter. We would always, and still do take 2-3 months off in winter. It works for us doing that schedule. Several years ago we switched over to expediting, and again nothing really changed. Our revenue increased for less miles driven, but we were enjoying the road more, because we could get to more places and had more time off, and we took our time off wherever it happened, and we were able to see alot of things we would never have seen otherwise. The road is different for guys than it is for girls. In the area of personal hygiene especially, girls need more and want more. The advent of clean truckstops (Petro etc. made a big differnece on the road). Women like motels more often than men do for that reason. I can´t tell you how many times we would check into a motel,(after dispatch had said on a friday afternoon.."nothing til monday") and 30 minutes later they call you in the motel with a hot load. Frustrating. Anyone on the road knows that you need to get out of that truck once in awhile, to preserve you´re sanity. So, one of the things I would suggest to companies looking for teams, is to keep that in mind.The little considerations.
1. See to it that if your team is not home, that they get some quality time off, without a "hot call".
2. If the "hot call" can´t be avoided, pick up the cost of the motel, and pay for another when time permits.
3. An occasional "attaboy" when deserved, goes a long way with any team, or single who´s out there busting hump when called upon. Lots of companies talk the talk, about "we´re all in this together", but they don´t walk the walk. How would you like to get called away from your day off to put in 24-36 hours in the family car?. Yeah, we´re getting paid for it, but don´t forget we do it everyday.Money ain´t everything.
All you recruiters have heard the saying "when momma ain´t happy, ain´t nobody happy". Think about that.
The other part of this. What do I look for in a company? Just what I mentioned previously, about miles, and getting home when needed. Simple statements I can read, to see where my money went. ( If I wanted to be an accountant, I´d drive a pen). But you better make momma happy, or you´ll lose me. None of us out here need to have our hands held. Most of us know our job and do it well, and will go the extra mile for the cause. Companies also need to go that extra mile. Some already do. Those are the ones that have driver retention. Ask anyone.
