Podcast #13: Three Problems Rookie Drivers Struggle To Overcome

I've been driving 10 months now and I totally disagree with your take on preferential miles should go to the top performers.

Terry, top performers in this business get the best miles. It isn't even up for debate. You can disagree all you want, but it is the reality of the free market. It gives incentive to those who understand that getting things done in this business has little to do with the speed of your truck. Now you may not think it's fair, and that is all fine and good, but why would the company keep giving critical loads to a fellow who consistently has problems with getting it done on time? It isn't any kind of a matter of favoritism or discrimination. In sports, when you are down to the wire and you need to score in the final seconds of the game to win, what do you do? You get the ball to the guy who is most likely to make it happen. You give it to the person who is most likely to succeed. It doesn't matter if all the guys are wearing the same size sneakers, or that they can all run just as fast as each other.

Here's a real life example from my experiences just recently...

I'm in a specialized fleet of about fifteen drivers on a dedicated account. This past week one of our drivers complained to our dispatcher that it was unfair the way he was giving preferential treatment to three of us. He wasn't satisfied with the response he got so he escalated his complaint and made a call to the terminal manager. Here's the response he got from the top brass... "Of course those drivers are getting the best loads. Twice we gave those loads to you and you tried to drive through the Northeast during the middle of the day and then got caught up in the traffic and ran out of hours. Those three guys understand that to get that load in there on time you will have to drive all night for that last leg of the trip. They consistently get it done, while you have dropped the ball both times we gave you the chance! What other choice do we have? This is a critical customer that we cannot afford to lose, and as a matter of fact that customer made the request that we not send you up there again!"

I've addressed this issue with my company of 10 months and seem to be changing this poisonous culture of "feeding".

So, here you are a total green horn rookie, and you have got your company just taking all the great wisdom you are offering to them and they are changing the whole culture of an entire industry at their company? Do you really expect a bunch of experienced drivers to believe this?

Terry, it is amusing, but very far from reality. You have just gotten started in this career, concentrate your efforts on making yourself better at it, and leave the management of assigning loads to those who will notice if you are one of those critically dependable drivers or not. I'm hoping you are, but time has a way of settling that score.

Hi Brett I am about to be graduating from school and heading into OTR. I am very comfortable alone and often times dont see family and friends for weeks and sometimes months. Yeah the occasional phone calls but I have to many interest and most people have their families and own lives so socializing is secondary. That being said Im sure the alone time will be fine. I guess my big questions are Will the companies in general keep you rolling. I am fine paying my dues and with proving my work ethics and loyalty to go the extra mile. Taking the less desirable loads,short runs or whatever is cool. I just dont want to being sitting at a truck stop for weeks waiting for loads. Does that happen? Money is important but I have very few bills and made the move to drive as a lateral move into a new less stressful career.I understand there is stress but I managed double digit million dollar construction projects for many years and not managing 12 subcontractors and 54 employees and working 90 to 100 hours a week will be rewarding in itself lol. I have read your pieces for awhile now and respect your expertise so any tips or advice will be very much appreciated. And THANKS for all your effort say safe

Donald, they want their trucks moving - that is how they make money. It sounds like you already have a great work ethic, that will help you tremendously. The key is to be efficient, and safe. A professional driver can always keep those two things in balance while being productive. Every driver is going to sit on occasion, but for the most part you will be rolling down the road.

I deal with this all the time with newer drivers at Greyhound. I always hear complaints about not making money or not getting "good" runs and it always leads back to the same things

-Not wanting to drive at night
-Not wanting to go to certain cities
-Not taking short runs
-Overall just not helping to move the people and metal

When I started at the Dog, I took what they gave me and didn't *****. If I had the hours and felt rested enough for the trip then I took it. Once I proved myself I started consistently seeing longer haul work because I had proved that I could do it and not have to have my hand held or flake out half way through the run.

I'm going into trucking with the same attitude. To the DMs I'll be an unknown entity, it's up to me to prove to them that I can be trusted to do what they need, safely and reliably. If you can't or won't do that you'll have a hard time in a driving career anywhere

Roadpilot wrote:

I'm going into trucking with the same attitude. To the DMs I'll be an unknown entity, it's up to me to prove to them that I can be trusted to do what they need, safely and reliably. If you can't or won't do that you'll have a hard time in a driving career anywhere

That about sums it up.

This "trust" be accomplished simply by consistently working hard, focus on safety/learning, owning your mistakes, and effective communication. There is no need to compromise personal integrity while building a professional relationship with a DM or dispatcher. Anyone unwilling or not accepting of this basic fact, is wasting their time... and ours.

I don't have much to add to this thread. Just wanted to say "thank you" for doing these. I'm a rookie driver and really enjoy these while I'm driving.

In an industry where the driver is the main point of contact between a carrier and the customer why wouldn't carriers give the bulk of the work to their top performers?

Yes the trucks may run the same speeds, and all drivers are capable of on time deliveries, but the reality is some don't. And a carrier shouldn't be risking accounts by sending unreliable drivers in. The competition is too great and profit margins are too small.

I've been driving 10 months now and I totally disagree with your take on preferential miles should go to the top performers. These trucks all go the same speed and most drivers can deliver loads on time. This "feeding" to preferred drivers is the root cause of unrest and turnover. Should a dispatcher act this way in the taxi business where I came from he could expect to be punched in the face real hard and then terminated. I've addressed this issue with my company of 10 months and seem to be changing this poisonous culture of "feeding".

Hey everyone, we have another new episode of our podcast "The Road Home" and it's titled:

Three Problems Rookie Drivers Struggle To Overcome

Getting started in trucking is always challenging, and there are several common problems that many new drivers struggle with, especially in the beginning. These problems aren't always just inconveniences. Some of them can be devastating to you personally, and your career. Here are some of those common problems and what you can do to prepare yourself for the challenges that lie ahead.

Enjoy!

Three Problems Rookie Drivers Struggle To Overcome

I just DUG THIS podcast up, for a pal of mine in Florida .... questioning his 'company choice.'

I listened to it (again) myself, and ... read the thread, and...

BUMP !!!!

Good stuff, maynards!!!

~ Anne ~