Open Door Policy??

What exactly does it mean when a trucking company says they have an 'Open Door Policy'? I've seen it on a few pages and got curious. Does it mean they accept a wider variety of drivers or something?

Probably depends on the company but at Prime it means our in house people sit at cubicles and we are free to walk in at any time and talk to dispatch, claims, safety, or other departments. The owner of our company plays indoor basketball every noon til two with the employees. We know where to find him. We have safety meetings every Friday with free breakfast and the video is transmitted to all terminals and all phone apps. We have the right to question and the right to make suggestions. Not one person has ever told me "I don't have time for you right now". I might wait a couple minutes. But I'm never forced into an appt

Rainy nailed it. It simply means that management doesn't separate themselves from the rest of the corporation. Theoretically you're free to walk in and talk to management the same way you would any other employee. In fact, if a company promotes themselves as having an open door policy then they're actually encouraging people to come to them with questions or concerns.

Believe it or not there are quite a few trucking companies whose management and administration operate behind locked doors and even bulletproof glass! I'm totally serious. There have been drivers that have gotten so angry they've driven to the terminal to confront the office personnel, and have even Gone Postal a couple of times and injured or killed people.

So it's no small thing for a trucking company to try to operate with an open door policy. In fact, anyone who knows the typical trucker knows it can be pretty risky.

I think one of the cool things about it is when you meet someone face to face and chat, you just networked and found someone you can call in a jam or with questions.

There's a woman in safety that anytime I have a question about procedures or issues, I know I can call her. And guess what? I'm not a truck number...she knows me by name.

Have an issue with a recvr who says the product was short when I know it wasn't? ...I know I can call another woman in the claims Dept to give me straight answers. AND they know my truck number and will message me from time to time to see how I'm doing. Its kinda cool actually....does make it seem more like family.

Even the mechanics I can stop by or call with issues. Either with the tractor or the trailers. And never treated like "a dumb woman".

Seriously, bulletproof glass?! That's insane! I was looking at Knight and they say that they have an 'open door policy'. I've heard some good things about that company and they can hire me with only 3 months experience. I don't remember where else I've seen the 'open door policy' thing but I knew I wanted to find out exactly what that meant. Still though, that's pretty cool that I can go in and actually talk to my DM. Makes it a bit more personal that just talking to them over the phone or sending a message.

Seriously, bulletproof glass?! That's insane! I was looking at Knight and they say that they have an 'open door policy'. I've heard some good things about that company and they can hire me with only 3 months experience. I don't remember where else I've seen the 'open door policy' thing but I knew I wanted to find out exactly what that meant. Still though, that's pretty cool that I can go in and actually talk to my DM. Makes it a bit more personal that just talking to them over the phone or sending a message.

Yup, some guys lose it and sadly kill someone. On a good note, being able to walk in is nice. Most swift terminals are locked up, including mine in Albuquerque but I can peak my head in from the dispatch window and say hi to my driver manager haha. The only terminal that is open door that I been to is Lathrop, California. It's nice to be able to walk in and talk to a planner. I have gotten to know the head planner there by doing this.

Brett:

There have been drivers that have gotten so angry they've driven to the terminal to confront the office personnel, and have even Gone Postal a couple of times and injured or killed people.

Chelsea P:

Seriously, bulletproof glass?! That's insane! I was looking at Knight...

Knight would be one of those companies that Brett was speaking of...

Two Dead in Shooting at Knight Transportation Building in Katy, Texas

A fired Texas trucking company worker bent on revenge returned to the office and fatally shot a supervisor with a shotgun before he killed himself.

Wow, really? But they still have the policy listed here. Do you think they still have it going? I would be based out of the Atlanta terminal.

Wow, really? But they still have the policy listed here. Do you think they still have it going?

Chelsea, I am employed by Knight and I can assure you that they are still practicing the "open door" policy. This is a company that was built on a foundation of strong family values. I don't see them changing the way they are doing some things, and that policy has served them well in their recruiting efforts. From the top down they have tried hard to create a certain type of culture among their employees and that open door policy is a central part of their original purpose and plans. Of course they are publicly traded now days, and the days of the original four partners calling all the shots are gone, but for now they still provide easy access into the office areas for the drivers.

I was in the Katy terminal recently and they are remodeling the whole thing. They may be increasing some of the security there, I do not know. I think it is more of just putting a new face on the interior of the place to help those who work in there every day to deal with the horrific memories they have of that fateful day.

They employ approximately 5,000 drivers, but when I walk into the Gulfport, MS terminal they all know and call me by my name.

This as opposed to the Distribution Center open door policy which requires you leave a door open on the way out for inspection. 😀