SPEAKING FROM EXPERIENCE Ray J. Haight
Needs Vs. Wants NEED # 1 What do I need if I am a Driver looking for a job? At a cursory overview, it is not that complicated. First, I need to be satisfied that I will be paid a reasonable rate; either hourly, by the mile or by percentage. It must be a rate that will fulfill my cash flow needs and help my family and me get ahead. This seems simple right? It makes sense that the pay I will earn at your company represents your level of respect for me and the rest of your Drivers. The unknown is where things get sloppy. For example, the revenue per mile is reasonable, but how many miles are available? The rate can be a buck a mile but if I don’t get a fair volume of miles, what good is it to me? When looking for a job, everyone loves you and will promise you the moon to get you into their truck, but where will the reality be? Driver; understand what your needs are and go armed with your own facts when looking for a job. It’s simple; add up all your payments; mortgage, car, cable, utilities, whatever you might have, fixed and variable, and then divide that number by the after-tax revenue per mile you’re being offered. Now you know the minimum number of miles you’ll need to get to a break-even level - and what you’ll need to drive to get ahead of the game. 14 • OVER THE ROAD
NEED # 2 Now that I am comfortable with the wage, I need to feel confident that the company’s equipment is safe and that I won’t be put in harm’s way when I am in your employ. When I talk to other drivers at your business, what will they say about the maintenance of the equipment? Is there a good support system when I am out on the road? What happens when it’s 2 AM on a Tuesday night in the middle of Tennessee and I have a flat tire or a hot truck? What is the procedure to get me fixed and back on the road? Does the company have my back or am I on my own until someone from Operations answers the phone? I’ll talk to some of the other Company Drivers about the company shop. Do they keep their appointments for scheduled maintenance? Do the mechanics listen to the Drivers when they try and explain an issue, or do they ignore ten years of driving experience because they have a newly minted mechanic’s license? Here is where things get tricky! WANT #1 Most of what we want are things we don’t even notice until we have had a few trips with our new company. After a paycheque or two, there may be issues. How has the company responded to them? Do they encourage questions from Drivers, and will they get me answers in an accurate, timely MARCH 2021
