18 Wheels of Justice Blog has Officially Moved!

Welcome!  As most of our loyal readers know, we have been posting on two blogs for the last few months.  Well the time has come to finally shut the door and turn off the lights here!  This has been a good location for us and we will miss it dearly.  Change is a good thing and we hope you will visit our new blog address which is on our website. Please click the link below and join us at our new home!!

18 Wheels of Justice

Ask 18 Wheels of Justice Debut! "Soft Taco" asks...

Welcome to "Ask 18 Wheels of Justice".  All questions are welcome, anything and everything Trucking... Column will run every Monday and more often as some important questions can't wait and need to be answered immediately.  Thank you for submitting all of all of your questions and what great questions they all were.  It was difficult to pick only one...  

Let's Get Started!  You can sense the excitement here at 18 Wheels of Justice HQ, please make sure there's room on the edge of your seat and continue reading...

Names have been changed to protect the innocent and the guilty.

From "Soft Taco" Chino, CA...

"Soft Taco" asks - I have been driving for three years,  I have had 7 jobs.  I take my work seriously and want to own my own truck.  I quit these jobs because I get promised all of these things before I start and then they never happen.  I think it looks bad on my record and I'm afraid it will affect me buying a truck in the future.

Thank you for your question, "ST".  I wouldn't worry too much about your past, you can't change that.  You are right in that it can effect buying a truck in the future.  Changing jobs does "tell your story" so to speak.  This is important for all drivers to think about when deciding to switch jobs. It's not discussed very often, but it does reflect poorly on your credit if you switch jobs a lot.  Not just for buying a truck, but a home, car etc.  

We realize, "ST" that this is a common problem in our industry.  So stop changing jobs, Soft Taco! It's not that easy and takes work, but it does payoff.  Do not be discouraged, there is a process to finding a job.  I wrote an article about the 10 best ways to find a driving career and not just a job a few months ago(click here to read).  

The most important thing to remember is to take your time!  Sometimes we tend to wait too long to look for another job before we quit. Don't wait until you have finally had enough and quit when your angry or upset.  Be a gentlemen and give two weeks notice.  There is a lot to consider and please read the article(follow link above), because you lose a lot more money than you think when you switch jobs. 

If were to try and guess what switching jobs 7 times in 3 years cost you.  I would bet that you lost between 2 weeks and a month of work and pay each time you changed jobs.  Between trying to get your last paycheck, deductions, withholding, time lost waiting for MVR approval and drug testing, driver orientations, and on and on.  Hiring is not a quick process in our company.  

Let' be conservative and say you lost two weeks worth of income every time you changed.  If you average $1000 per week.

$2000 Lost Per Job Change

  x    7 Job Changes in 3 years

$14,000!  Yes, $14,000 Cash.  $14k would have been a nice down payment on a truck plus some cash for emergencies.  It also would have bought a car, a pick up truck, or a whole lotta' chrome...

The moral of the story is to take your time and do your research!  It pays off time and time again...

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One of my favorite trucks - check out How bad do you want it? W-900

The Ugly Truth About Empty Trucks

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What exactly does an empty truck cost a trucking company?  "Not that Much" said one brave soul.  "A whole lot!" replied another.  "I don't know!" he said quietly to himself, and he was right.

Let's jump right in and figure it out, because the water is warm and getting hot.  The purpose of this blog is not to cause grown men to cry, nor put the fear of God or additional pressure on already nervous Driver Recruiters, but quite the opposite.  Where are your resources going?  Are you giving your recruiting departments enough resources?

Now, you may not want to know what that an empty truck costs you and I don't blame you...  You may purposely avoid driving around the side of the building where all the empty trucks are parked when you arrive in the morning.  I don't blame you for that either... Now, settle into your favorite bar stool, grab yourself a pencil and cocktail napkin, turn the napkin over onto its back, and lets do some accountin'...

Feel free to insert your own costs here, if you don't know these off the top of your head, these are good averages to use.  (These descriptions and amounts all meet again in a column near the bottom, I felt some explanation was needed as to just how I arrived at my numbers.)

Tractor Payment - $2075.00 - Just an average payment amount based on a new truck with 5 year straight financing.

Trailer Payment $300 - $600 (Oh wait, multiply that $300 trailer payment number by two! Remember the person(salesmen, operations manager, VP of this and that, CFO) who convinced you that you need to be at a 2 to 1 trailer to tractor ratio?  (Yes, Sir, you now have two trailers for every tractor.  You did that so you could do some fancy dropping and hooking and increase your revenue, yes, Sir.)

Actual Depreciation - $1541.00  5 Year to $7500 (I don't care about how you speed up or slow down depreciation for taxes, doesn't matter here, stop thinking it's a good thing, and stop thinking about it entirely for this exercise, please.)

Overhead - $900  Includes (Non-driving Employees, Office Staff, Mechanics, Phones, company cars and so on.  I'm going to peg this at $.09 per mile as a good average, basically all admin costs divided by number of trucks by 10,000 miles per month.  Again, please feel free to use what number you feel is a realistic representation of your company. 

Profit per truck - How much do you make per truck per month?  I don't know how much you make, but the 5 - 25 - 100 empty trucks on your lot play a major role in your overall profitability - Please feel free to insert your profit per truck number here. I left it at ZERO

To Summarize - 

Tractor Payment   $2,075

Trailer Payment      $600

Depreciation         $1,541  

Overhead                 $900

Profit                            $0 

Cost per Empty Truck per Month $5,116

The trucking business makes for a good mistress but she's a mean wife.  She's very cyclical as we all know and full of mood swings.  "And Boy, I Say Boy", she's been in a mood for the last year or two.  The carriers who understand the cost of an empty truck and address it head on are sure to weather the storm.  Stay strong, our time to shine is coming again...

COPYRIGHT 2012 Michael H. Komadina 

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Kottke Trucking - 75 Years of Family Tradition

18 Wheels of Justice Proudly Presents…

75 Years of Family Tradition – Kottke Trucking

Click Logo above or call 800-248-2623 Ask for Kyle

Celebrating 75 Years - Kottke Trucking – A Family Tradition

Kottke Trucking was born on a cold night in 1938 in Buffalo Lake, MN.  The Kottke family patriarch, Mr. Elmer Kottke, started hauling milk, feed and fertilizer for the local creamery. 

In 1961 Donald and Duane took over, called it the aptly named Kottke Brothers and started hauling gravel and dry freight to help grow the business. 

Kottke has had its ups and downs over the years, but in 1983 it lost one of its largest customers and this forced them to change the face of the business.  The Kottke Family is a tough lot and they stuck together and triumphed over these challenges.  They traded in the hoppers for reefers and never looked back.  The Kottke family went after, and was awarded a new ICC authority that gave them the ability to pursue customers and freight in all 48 states.  This was a tough period for the company, but family pulls together and finds a way to make things work.

Connie and Duane Kottke have dedicated their lives to the continued success of Kottke Trucking, Inc. Duane started out driving a mail route truck, then moved to hauling grain. He soon found himself in the position of a dispatcher, and at times, both a driver and dispatcher. Connie’s involvement in the company’s success included buying and selling grain, bookkeeping and occasional dispatching. She and Duane also devoted much of their time to raising their three sons; Kurt, Kory and Kyle. We thank them for creating the strong foundation of Kottke Trucking and with pride; we will carry those traditions into the future.

The Kottke Family, not just the relatives, but every driver, owner operator, dispatcher, office worker and mechanic all work together to make this one of the best reefer companies to work for in Minnesota. 

The Staff at 18 Wheels of Justice HQ was fortunate enough to speak with Kyle Kottke, General Manger, to ask him a few more questions about Kottke…

Thanks for joining us, Kyle.  75 years of trucking, that’s a lot of experience and a lot of responsibility.  Why do drivers and owner operators like working for Kottke?

We like to believe we treat them as part of our family.  They have become an extended part of our family and the foundation of our success.  I believe we work as hard as anyone at keeping the quality of life for a driver high.  Most of our drivers are home every 4-6 days.  Some of the routes go 6-10 days.

 

We work hard to make sure that our offerings are in line with the big guys but their quality of work atmosphere is far superior with us.

We like the family owned and operated tradition at Kottke.  As Kottke has grown over the years, how have you kept this tradition alive?

We are deep into the roots of our company.  Kurt, Kory and I are very involved in the day to day operations of the business and are proud of the team we have assembled.  No question, our heritage is very important to us but we don’t rest on yesterday’s success.  We know that we need to be in front of the industry, working with our drivers and customers to continue to be successful going forward.

 

Our tradition is our drivers, not our family.  The most important Christmas Card exchange we have is with many of our retired drivers who have spent their career with us.  I love to hear what they are doing in retirement and glad that we had a small role in their success and their lives.

 

What are your hiring areas?

We are very heavy in the Upper Midwest(MN,WI,IL, and IA) but we hire from the Midwest, South and Southeastern part of the US.  If you go to our website(click here) and find the lanes serviced page, we will hire a candidate from any of our territories.

How much reefer experience do you require?  A large portion of our audience has expressed interest in switching from to reefers…

I require one year of over the road experience.  Reefer experience is optional and we can train on the reefer technologies.

Who should drivers and operators call? ME!  I personally recruit all of my drivers.  I promise no bull!  800-248-2623 ext 2422.

Very nice touch, call one of the owners, Kyle, the hands on approach is the best way to go in our business. 18 Wheels of Justice likes that and likes Kottke.  Thanks for your time today, Kyle, enjoy your Thanksgiving…

Click on Logo above or call 800-248-2623 Ask for Kyle

3 Ways to Avoid Truck Stop Turkey on Thanksgiving

18 Wheels of Justice Proudly Presents…Trucking Legends 

800-500-3089

Memphis, TN

1. Call Empire or click on any Empire logo to go to website.
2. Fill out Application.
3. Work for Empire.

Empire Express - Memphis, TN only hires drivers in specific areas for a reason.  They get you home when they say they will.  To find out more - read on...



Empire Express began by listening to and embracing an idea from one of their own: a loyal driver.

 

Mr. Ed Gatlin founded and developed a successful automotive refrigerant business, lg-Lo Products Corp.  It was so successful; that the company caught the eye of the Valvoline Oil Company in 1985, and Valvoline made an offer to Ed he couldn’t refuse.

Now, the way I understand it, lg-Lo had a private fleet of 12 trucks at the time, Valvoline realized it wasn’t tough enough for the trucking business and didn’t want to continue to run the private fleet.  Luckily, one of his best drivers (who was also about to be out of a job) approached Ed about starting a trucking company.  Ed decided to try his hand at the “For Hire” trucking business for a few years.  In 1989, Mr. Tim Gatlin, with a belly full of fire and a love for the trucking business, took over and the business grew from 8 trucks to the proud 194 trucks under his careful watch today. 

18 Wheels of Justice likes it when the owners of a trucking company use specific numbers when they are talking about trucks and drivers.  It says a lot about the person, the company and the overall attitude of things there. 

We’ve done this long enough to know whether the owners, managers and dispatchers have a handle on things at their company after the first few minutes of talking to them.  And quite frankly, we are hearing loud & clear that Empire Express in Memphis is running an outstanding outfit.

We were fortunate enough to get a few minutes of Mr. Tim Gatlin’s time to answer some questions for the 18 Wheels of Justice Staff about Empire Express in Memphis (please see excerpts from the interview below).

Mr. Gatlin, thank you for joining us today.  We have heard many good things about you and Empire Express, and we are honored to finally have the chance to speak with you here at 18 Wheels of Justice HQ.  

Now, Empire Express has been in business for 27 years, a big milestone in our industry.  What do you attribute your long term success too?

Empire specializes in safety and time – sensitive freight.  Over 50% of our business is packaged chemicals and 40% is JIT or time sensitive.  This has been our focus for over 20 years and we have a very strong loyal customer base because we deliver the safe, on-time performance they demand. 

Empire is in the top 10% in terms of driver retention in our industry, this is among the best of the best of low driver turnover rates in the country.  Why do drivers who begin with Empire stay so long? 

They stay because of the way they are treated.  We know at Empire Express, without the drivers, we wouldn’t have Empire Express. We have created and encourage a driver-friendly culture.

What is so great about Empire Express for drivers?

They are a name, not a truck number. They get the miles, get paid and get home. During the recruiting process, we make sure the driver lives in an ideal place to get him home regularly.  We know home time with family and friends is so important.  Our customers’ freight is also driver friendly, no-touch high velocity freight. 

Pay per mile is one thing, but miles are important also.  The 18 Wheels of Justice Audience takes their careers seriously and they like to run and not sit when out on the road.  What kind of miles can drivers expect? 

2500 – 3000 per week.

Can they depend on the operations staff to get the miles and get them home when they need to be?

Absolutely! We offer a great pay package, “Pay for Performance”.  Every six months our drivers are evaluated on their performance in Safety, Service and Miles.  The majority of our drivers average over 2,500 miles per week, are safe, and deliver on-time.  This performance qualifies them for the top pay level which helps us retain the top performers and attract other top drivers to Empire. 

Mr. Gatlin, we can’t thank you enough for sharing your story about Empire with us today.  That sounds like quite an operation you have there in Memphis.  How can drivers and operators get a hold of your company? 

They can call our Recruiting Line at 800-500-3089 or visit our website at www.EmpireExpress.com.  Thank you for having us. (Please click on the Empire logos or photo and it will take you directly to the Empire Website)

COPYRIGHT 2012 - 18 WHEELS OF JUSTICE©

Jim Palmer Pride - Experience the Difference

18 Wheels of Justice Trucking Legends Series Presents…

Palmer Pride

November 2, 2012 14:30 - Missoula, Montana…

Nestled in the foothills along the Bitterroot River in Western Montana, there are only two objects which steal the beauty of the surrounding mountains. The Hellgate Trading Post and Jim Palmer Trucking. The Hellgate Trading Post was established in 1860 to supply the western settlers with much needed “DIY” books on bear wrestling, delicious opossum lard cracklin’s for protein, and chastity garments for the gals. Jim Palmer Trucking was founded exactly 105 years later in 1965 to serve the good people of Missoula and eventually all of us Americans. The Hellgate Trading Post was later renamed Missoula, but Jim Palmer Trucking will always be called Jim Palmer Trucking.

Today, Palmer still succeeds in providing the best opportunities to the best drivers. How? By offering outstanding benefits, extra safe, top-of-the line trucks, competitive pay and excellent owner operator packages. Jim Palmer Trucking gives drivers what they need on the road including the latest GPS and trucking technology.

Every Palmer Truck is held up to a rigorous preventative maintenance program, attending to the smallest details and thinking hard about the road ahead. Palmer is staffed with the best mechanics in the business. The Staff at 18 Wheels of Justice HQ has seen a lot of Jim Palmer Trucks and we all agree that every single one of them has stood out. Clean, all black reefers, with Palmer on the side and late model, pristine, black trucks. We can spot a Palmer Truck from miles away.

Experience the Palmer Difference

If you are a professional truck driver or Independent Contractor, you know that the trucking industry has become extremely competitive these days. There are numerous trucking companies for drivers to choose from, thus, making the right decision more difficult. Jim Palmer Trucking understands this. That is why we continue to improve and rise above other trucking companies in the industry.

Jim Palmer knows how to offer a working experience unlike any other trucking company out there. This is accomplished by focusing on the driver in a way that most trucking companies don't. Since 1964, we have sought out the best of the best. Our philosophy is, the more we can give back to the drivers, the happier, more productive and successful they will be. 18 Wheels of Justice always talks about pay and the importance of knowing the miles you will get before you start somewhere. High pay rate per mile is great in theory, until you start at a company and sit, sit and sit. This is not the case at Palmer; you get the miles, week in, week out. The operations at Palmer are designed with this in mind. No driver left behind at Palmer, you will get your miles.

We are fortunate enough to have Mr. Joe Kalafat with us today to discuss the opportunities available at this time honored organization...

Mr. Kalafat, Jim Palmer has been a fixture in our industry for over 40 plus years, and has one of the best reputations in the business with drivers. What do you attribute this success to?

I think we can attribute our success to two things: 1) We’ve always been a Drivers Company. That’s the way Jim started the company – with the drivers in mind. We really do care about the driver. He built a company around not just saying it, but actually being it. 2) By being a company that shippers count on. We excel at on-time service and it’s allowed us to compete with much larger carriers with very large shippers. But again #2 goes back to #1. We have such an excellent reputation with shippers because of # 1—we have excellent drivers. And we have excellent drivers because we’ve created a company devoted to the driver and getting the driver great pay and excellent miles!

If you don't mind me asking what is your background and how did you become the CEO of Jim Palmer?

I’ve worked for JPT for over 15 years now. Worked my way up from Dispatch and Fleet management, into customer service, booking freight, being a load planner and then into Executive Vice President and finally President & CEO.

In 10 words or less, what would you tell a driver who called you and wanted to come to work for Jim Palmer?

 It’s about Family & Teamwork and we care about you and your bottom line. It’s not ten words, but I’d have to say a whole heck of a lot more to any potential driver on why they should work for JPT—this place is an excellent place to call home and make a real living as a professional driver with a lot of people that care about you and want you to succeed.

In 10 words or less, what about an owner operator?

Same thing! I would say if you really take a business approach to our pay package offering and compare that to what’s out there—you can’t do any better than we offer. I really like talking with Owner Operators that know the business end of things—because I can talk math with them and it’s clear we have one of the best pay packages for O/O’s out there and again, we get those guys the miles. All in- and O/O isn’t going to find a better company that’s going to ensure high earnings and a great team to help him win that JPT!

18 Wheels of Justice would like to thank Mr. Kalafat for his participation. We enjoy meeting CEO’s with Mr. Kalafat’s experience; it makes a huge difference in a trucking operation when you have someone who truly knows the ropes.

We invite you to... Experience the Palmer Difference

Click on any of the Palmer logos or call 800-682-8605

www.18WheelsofJustice.com



Top Ten List Final! Drivers: How to Narrow your Job Search

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Welcome Back for our final installment of our Top Ten List...

3.  Pros and Cons of Small or Large Trucking Company.  Think back through your career and which companies you were the most satisfied with.  Small trucking companies tend to be more personal which can be good and bad.  Do you like to keep your personal life and interaction with your employer at arms length?  Do you like to get to know your dispatcher, the mechanics, the staff and company owner more personally?  These are personal choices of course, but important to your overall success with a company.  If you like to remain more autonomous and be a small part of a larger company, this is important to keep in mind when deciding.  With a larger company you can feel less appreciated, but at the same time your dispatcher won't be calling you late on a Sunday asking you to take another drivers load because he has "personal" issues. 

2. Local or Out of State Trucking Company.  What does it matter?  If you work for a local company, it can be nice because it has more of a community feel.  Local companies also mean more interaction with other drivers who work there.  This can be good and bad, depending on how much gossip and complaining from other drivers you prefer to get involved in.  An out of state company has the benefits of being removed from that and you won't have to go into to the terminal every week-end or so when you come home.  Again it's all personal choice.

1. Sign On Bonus - Is it worth it?  It depends and most likely NO.  There are so many different types of sign on bonus's out there.  The majority of them aren't sign on bonus's.  So when you see an ad offering a large $5000 sign on bonus,  don't get distracted and feel short changed because your sign on bonus was only $2000.  Read the fine print.  If it's too good to be true, it usually is.  A $5000 sign on bonus paid over 6 months loses its appeal very quickly when you're only running 1800 miles a week.  You did not get any type of bonus and probably lost money on the whole deal.  These bonus's are designed to attract attention and they do!  But in most cases, that is all it is, a ploy to attract your attention and get you in the door.  Most Carriers have these bonus's now simply because they have to have them to keep up with the competition.  Do your homework and do not make a decision based on a bonus!

The most important thing to remember is to not to sell yourself short!  Stick to your guns and select the company who offers what you need and want as a driver.  This is key to your long term success in this industry.

Do the legwork before you start at a company.  If you are constantly switching employers it will only serve to cause frustration and burnout in your career.  This is a great career and a very honorable profession. 

I have been in the trucking business my whole life and my family has been in the trucking business for four generations.  My Great Grandfather hauled moonshine from Kentucky to South St. Louis during prohibition.  My Grandfather was a Teamster, My Dad owns a trucking company, my brothers are in trucking,  My ten year old son, Joseph, sounds off the carrier names of every truck we see on the highway and helps his Grandfather in the summer by sweeping the shop and picking up trash on the lot at the terminal. 

Trucking is a family tradition and I hope you encourage your family, friends and anyone you know to join our industry.  The majority of trucking companies are in some way, shape or form, a family business.  In these poor economic times, you never see trucking companies lay off drivers. 

There are more jobs available now to drivers than ever before!  This is job security.

Almost every trucking company has a training program to help people get a CDL and experience.  All of the poor souls who are unemployed,  whose homes are being foreclosed on, full of worry and the shame of it all...  Do your good deed for the day and introduce them to our industry,  A Family Tradition.     

© 2012 Michael H. Komadina

18 Wheels of Justice™

"Negotiating with Freight Brokers and 3PL's"  A "must have" in today's freight market, improve your company's profitability by training your staff with this hands on training manual today!

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Carrier Decision - Auto Carriers - Drivers & Operators

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Career Decision

18 Wheels of Justice Investigates

Auto Carriers

 For

Drivers and Owner Operators

November 2, 2012 - 13:57

Welcome to a new multiple part series called “Career Decision”

18 Wheels of Justice investigates all the rumors we have heard for years about the money to be made in other specialized trucking segments of our industry.  We look into all areas of trucking.

We wanted to get the real story on car hauling, not the typical “spiel” from a large car hauler.  The staff at 18 Wheels of Justice HQ was lucky enough to stumble upon a long standing, small carrier in Florida.   Auto Carrier Express, based in Jacksonville, has been very successful and profitable hauling cars for the last 15 years, and more importantly the owner operators and drivers have done just as well.

They have several customer relationships with prestigious customers as Southeast Toyota, American Honda, Hyundai and Kia to name just a few.  First, let’s get some background on Auto Carrier Express (ACE)  

ACE offers auto transport services primarily in the Southeastern United States, from Florida to Maryland and as far West as Alabama on a routine basis.

The primary benefit of this operation is its “1^st come-1^st serve” approach to the dispatching system. There are no A,B,C rated drivers at ACE. There are no “forced dispatches” or “hot loads”. You have the flexibility to run any direction you wish based on the available loads.

Auto Carrier Express is dedicated to the man behind the wheel. This proves evident in the payscale, the benefits and all of the in-house perks that go along with wearing the ACE uniform.  ACE even keeps the freezer stocked with quick and easy meals for the drivers to satisfy that hunger pang when you’re in a pinch for time.

As an ACE driver, you can expect to see your annual pay to be an average of 30% higher than that of a van or flatbed driver.  Some of the other unique salary benefits are listed below…   

  Company Drivers

• Dollar for Dollar 401k Match up to 4% of pay
• Short Term Disability Paid
• Health & Dental Paid 66%
• Quarterly Fuel (MPG) Bonuses
• Monthly & Annual Quality Bonuses

  Owner Operators 

77.5% of Revenue for Op’s – That’s 77.5% of Car Hauler $$

ACE pays 100% Liability and Cargo Insurance + ½ of Plate

Fuel Surcharges on ALL accounts

18 Wheels of Justice – Quick Stats – Who’s in Charge?

In 1997, Gilbert and Vicki Hanks started ACE with just one truck. Today, the company boasts a 60 – vehicle fleet, a team of 70 employees and a stellar safety record — achievements that are the result of building strong relationships with customers and investing in quality people, equipment and technology. 

 

Gilbert Hanks - CEO

The driving force behind Auto Carrier Express is Gilbert Hanks, co-founder and chief executive officer. In 1997, at the request of Southeast Toyota, who wanted to partner with a dependable vehicle transportation company, Gilbert established ACE. To meet the challenge, Gilbert created a strong platform of technology and high-quality assets. Naturally, this attracted some of the best people in the trucking industry, and the rest is history.  

William Mauldin – Vice President

William’s responsibilities include strategy, branding, strengthening current relationships, providing technical and financial management expertise, and identifying and acquiring new business for the expanding fleet.  William has filled several operational and relationship management roles, serving the auto transport market from the ground up.

In short, ACE has the people, equipment and technology to deliver on its promises. The combined experience of its drivers is well above the industry average. ACE utilizes handpicked company drivers and owner operators who have a keen understanding of what sets transportation companies apart: exceptional service and customer satisfaction.  ACE focuses on recruiting and retaining high-quality individuals who measure up to stringent standards – Good People Skills, Positive Attitude, Effective Problem Solvers, Pride in their Work, Self Motivated – Perhaps the most important thing ACE does is to enfranchise its employees, which allows drivers to directly benefit from going over and above for customers. In addition, ACE has developed a comprehensive Driver Development Program that invests time and energy into training promising individuals to become certified car haulers. 

Want a 30% pay raise? Want Home time? Ready to move up?

Drivers and Operators

Call Chris Hanks today 800-809-1491

We would like to thank Mr. Mauldin for his time.  Auto Carrier Express would be a great place to start exploring a new "Career Decision"...

Copyright 2012 18 Wheels of Justice

Part III - Drivers - How to Narrow your Job Search

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Welcome to Part III - Drivers - How to Narrow Your Job Search...

6.  Consult with your wife, husband or significant other.(for ease of reading we will refer to this person as your wife)  This is a step that is often overlooked.  You're wife will remember all the issues you complained about or liked at your last job.  Sometimes we only tend to remember the good things or bad things about a company we worked for.  Your Wife is a great sounding board because believe it or not she listens to you and wants to see you happy.  If your happy, she's happy.  It's not just about the money, it's easy to get wrapped up in the money aspect of a job.  Trust me, the a few pennies more per mile will lose its appeal when you are stuck out over the week-end, not getting the miles, or have a dispatcher that doesn't care or is too busy all the time.  FBC(Federal Blog Commission) Warning.  Too much interaction/conversation with your wife can lead to problems.  As you all know, a wife is, pound for pound, the most dangerous animal in the world.  Tread carefully here.  I learned this the hard way when I recently asked my significant other her opinion and ended up in a relationship counseling session.

5. Online Driver Discussion boards.  Check these out!  These can be a good source of real information.  I think every driver should belong to a few of them.  Like anything, there are good ones and bad ones, and some of the people who post on boards are just disgruntled and unhappy.  So use caution here also and don't believe everything you read.  I have gotten a lot of good information from these boards, and the better ones have members who have their profiles published also, so you can see who your talking to,  I find that for the most part, if someone is going to take the time to write and discuss companies etc. on these boards, they are generally sincere.

4.  Respect.  This is a common and rather generic term that is thrown around a lot these days.  Why?  I don't know.  I think respect is a given.  Perhaps what these trucking companies mean is that they are honest about things.  I think Honesty is the best quality a company can have when it communicates with its drivers.  Its just that simple.  This is a key aspect to look for in any potential employer.  When your following these steps, always keep this in mind.   

This seems like a lot of work, doesn't it?  Yes it does!  But, please remember the hours/days of orientation, setting up your truck, paperwork, drug tests and spending a few months at a company you don't like, when you make a knee-jerk decision to work somewhere. There is a lot of time and money you are investing in a new job, make it count.  A few hours of research now will save you tons of headaches later.  I originally tried to do this in 3 parts, but this is an important decision and there is a lot to cover.  Stay tuned, Part IV this weekend! 

What about a career change?  Have you thought about switching to pulling a reefer, van, flatbed, or tanker?  How about a being a car hauler or driving for an Oil Field Services company? Intermodal?  You ask, we deliver.  18 Wheels of Justice investigates and compares apples to apples and breaks it all down for you... Debuts next week!  "Drivers and Operators: Choices within your Driving Career - The Inside Scoop"...Next week will be the long awaited debut of “Ask 18 Wheels of Justice” on our website. We provide opinions, answers and solutions to all things trucking.  If we don't know, we will find the answer! A sincere thank you to all of you who submitted questions, please keep them coming.

© 2012 Michael H. Komadina

18 Wheels of Justice™

"Negotiating with Freight Brokers and 3PL's"  A "must have" in todays freight market, improve your company's profitability by training your staff with this hands on training manual today!

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Drivers - Part II. How to Narrow your Job Search

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Welcome back and thank you for joining us for "Part II - How to Narrow Your Job Search".  It can be a very daunting task, with all the options available.  So many ad's, a thousand job search website's, everyone promising everything to everybody.  I think an important thing to remember as a driver is that our industry is just silly.  Yes, silly.  It is so segmented and there truly aren't any major players in the truckload market.  I remember reading a few years ago that if you combined the top ten truckload carriers in this great nation of ours, they hauled less than 10% of the total truckload market.  When business picks up, your local trucking company will go down to the truck dealer and buy 10 more trucks.  When he has drivers for all of his trucks, he feels he must be doing something right and buys another 10 trucks.  When the bank stops by and visits him and gives him the green light for more trucks, he buys him.  God bless the optimism of the trucking company owner!  My point is that all of the turnover and all the driving positions available doesn't make this a bad industry to work in, in fact its the best industry in the country to work in.  The capacity and availability of driving positions reflects the segmented state of trucking, lots of moving parts for a lot of different reasons.  Back to business.  I hope you have read Part I, if not please do so now and join me back here. 

7.  How did you hear about this trucking company?  This is important.  The amount of advertising a company has does not necessarily mean that they have issues finding drivers.  There are a number of reasons a company advertises for drivers.(see above)  You may have seen their trucks close by home, saw an ad the internet, etc.  What about the ad appealed to you?  Was it any different than the others?
Sometimes you just have to pick one, sort of like duck hunting.  Write down 5 things that appeal to you about a company you want to work for.  New Tractor? Home time? Newer Trailers? Miles? Regions they run? Pay? The Dispatcher - does he have any authority on the amount of miles you get and when you need to be home? Fuel network? Company's reputation? Maint.? and so on. 

Join us later this week for the rest of this article and more!  Please check out our 18 Wheels of Justice LinkedIn group for Drivers and Owner Operators.  If you're not on LinkedIn, please join, it is a valuable resource for Drivers and Operators.  As always, thank you for reading...

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Driver's Top Ten - How to Narrow Down Your Job Search

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Top Ten List – The Search for a Driving Job - How to Narrow Job Search to 5 carriers


Here at 18 Wheels of Justice HQ, we have discussed how to decide from your list of 5 carriers you have selected, but how do you pick 5 carriers?

Drivers and owner operators are inundated with options for employment opportunities these days. Look on any driver or operator recruiting website, how a does someone decide on which company to call. Everyone seems to offer the same things, home time, respect, sign on bonus, new equipment etc. How did you get the real facts about the company?

We are going to show you what we feel is the best way to go about your search. This can feel like a huge task and can get overwhelming quickly. We like to break it down and do it in a simple 10 Step approach.

10. Word on the Street - talk to other drivers and operators. – This is a good way to start. Drivers and owner operators who speak well about their company is a tried and true way to find out the real story. I’m more cautious about suggesting this approach these days because most companies offer a referral bonus. I think the reality is that most drivers won’t push the company they work at if they don’t really believe it is a good place to work, referral bonus or not. There are always exceptions, but people aren’t that hard to read. If he or she seems like an honest and decent person, chances are they will tell you the truth. Be sure to ask them these questions: 

-Why they chose the company they are with.
-What were three of the deciding factors in their decision to work there?
-Home time, pay, the size of the company, equipment, reputation.
-Was it what the recruiter told them about the company?
-Did the recruiters’ promises hold true?
-Take notes! It easy to get the companies mixed up when you are making your decision later.
-Did talking to this guy make you want to call the company right away or were there things he said that made you hesitate?

9. Physical appearance of Equipment – As long as you’re talking to him, walk with him out to his truck.
 -Is it clean?
 -Well maintained? Tires tell a good story about a company.
 -Was is a matched set? New tires or recaps? Plenty of tread? You can draw your own conclusions.

Trailers tell a better story about a company. Some drivers are more concerned with their tractor than other drivers, but trailers in a drop and hook operation reflect the company better... 
-Is it clean? Is it beat up? How old is it? What about the tires? Again, draw your own conclusions…

8. Attitude and Appearance of the Driver – This says a lot about the company and type of driver that works there. I’m not suggesting judging other people, everybody is different. Generally speaking, a happy driver takes better care of himself and has a good attitude about things. Would you be happy to work with this driver and does he take pride in what he does and where he works?

We will post parts 7 through 4 of our countdown on Monday and the final 3 on Wednesday – Stay tuned!

Thank you for reading and be sure to check out our driver and owner operator page at 18Wheelsofjustice.com. We research carriers and present what they offer every week, to help you gain insight on what companies are offering and how they stack up. We do the research for you, you decide.


What about a career change?  Have you thought about switching to pulling a reefer, van, flatbed, or tanker?  How about a being a car hauler or driving for an Oil Field Services company?  You ask, we deliver.  18 Wheels of Justice investigates and compares apples to apples and breaks it all down for you... Debuts next week!  "Drivers: Choices within your Career - The Inside Scoop"...

Next week will be the long awaited debut of “Ask 18 Wheels of Justice” on our website. We provide opinion, answers and solutions to all things trucking.  If we don't know it, we find the answer! A sincere thank you to all of you who submitted questions, please keep them coming.

© 2012 Michael H. Komadina

18 Wheels of Justice™

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18 Wheels of Justice Presents... Super Service, LLC

Click here to visit Super Service website
18 Wheels of Justice Proudly Presents...
Super Service, LLC.

TA Truckstop - Foristell, MO.  11:49AM 10.22.2012

The TA in Foristell is about 50 miles west of St. Louis.  It's the first real truckstop you come across as you’re making your way westbound on I-70.  It is a grimy, dirty sort of misconfigured building, which has been there for ages.  There are remnants of a Taco Bell and KFC "in house" franchise, which never seemed to do very well with drivers passing through or with locals, for that matter. 

It smells like old tacos, used fried chicken grease and GOOP (I hope you know GOOP and its unique smell).  Honestly, I’m not sure if the Taco Bell and KFC are still operating, I never walk around that side of the building.  The best I can recall, I've never seen anyone over there.  I prefer the "real" food inside and most of all I enjoy talking to Marge.  Marge is the hostess, dishwasher and waitress extraordinaire for the TA in Foristell.  Marge is as sweet as can be, and more importantly, she knows a lot about trucking. 

Marge started at the TA in 1972 and never looked back.  Marge has seen and heard it all and is an excellent source of information and gossip from all around the country on everything trucking.  And Marge, she likes to talk about trucking...

I like to visit with Marge once a week when I stop by for lunch.  Marge had been telling me about the drivers she had been meeting from Super Service that had been stopping by the TA the last few months.  She asked if we could do some research on them so she would know what to tell other drivers who asked about Super Service. The 18 Wheels of Justice Staff of course is always happy to oblige. Between Marge’s interest and the large amount of drivers and owner operators also asking us here at the 18 Wheels of Justice office, we decided it was time to get to the bottom of things.  



We are proud to present our research on Super Service, LLC

       
                                     Call today - 888-883-6853

      Check out Super Service on Facebook 

Super Service Claim to Fame -

Keep Moving with Super Service: More miles, More Pay, More Opportunity.
Super Service keeps drivers and operators moving with consistent and timely dispatch. Because our drivers & operators make us a leading trucking company in the region, and we offer them best package in the industry.

This is just what we like to hear at 18 Wheels of Justice.

18 Wheels of Justice contacted Super Service HQ in Grand Rapids, MI. and we sat down for a spell with Mr. Jim True, Director of Recruiting.  We asked some of our typical hard hitting questions to get to the bottom of this cat-like curiosity around the office surrounding them.

Super Service is led by two honorable and well qualified individuals.  Mr. Dan Strong is CEO and Mr. Roger Waddle is the Chief Operating Officer.  Mr. Jim True, Director of Recruiting and Retention, was kind enough to spend some time on the phone with us on Friday afternoon.   

Excerpts from interview with Jim True – Super Service

Super Service is a large, financially secure trucking company with over 1100 power units.  What are some of the advantages of working for a carrier like Super Service?

Jim- “Our Company is big enough to have good business and have the ability to hire good people in operations, but we have the attitude and flexibility of a small company.  We know and respect our drivers and we stand by them, period.

We have terminals w/ WIFI, shops and showers across the country. Dispatch stays focused on assigning loads and keeping are drivers rolling, no waiting around for loads.”

  

Does Super Service accept drivers from driving schools who have a CDL? 

Jim – “Yes, we do.  We have one of the best training programs in the business.  We welcome qualified drivers’ right out of driving school with a CDL.  Call us while you are still in school so we can have you ready to go and answer any questions you have.  Start your career off right!  Call us at 888-883-6853.”

Does Super Service run any teams?

Jim – “As a matter of fact we have just expanded our dedicated team operation in San Antonio, TX.  Runs are dedicated and go to CA, AL and MI.  The money is really good and it’s dedicated.  This is an excellent opportunity for husband/wife teams, anyone who has ever thought of teaming up with another driver, and of course, existing teams.   Call us – 888-883-6853”

85% drop and hook means time spent earning and driving and not waiting to load & unload.  50% of Super Service trucks are 12 months are newer means no CVSA issues or downtime for maintenance problems.     What about home time and out of state drivers?

Jim - We have a very good flexible home time approach with our drivers.  As I said before, we stand behind our drivers; they are part of our family.  We know the importance of family and being home when you need to be, and we respect our families.

We welcome out of state drivers.  We have 3 major service centers and several dedicated operational facilities east of the Mississippi.

 

                                           Call today - 888-883-6853

          Check out Super Service on Facebook 

18 Wheels of Justice Quick Stats -Company Drivers-

• 500 new trucks recently added to our fleet
• Now offering a $2,500 sign on bonus, for a limited time! Ask your recruiter for details
• 50% of the fleet less than twelve months old
• Flexible home time policy
• Over 90% of freight is no-touch and 85% is drop-and-hook
• Dedicated opportunities in specific areas.
• Technology to ease route planning and reduce fuel costs
• EZ PASS & Qualcomm
• BCBS Health Insurance/MetLife Dental/VSP Vision
• Short Term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance - $10,000 at no cost to you!
• Voluntary Allstate Benefits (similar to AFLAC)
• Flex Spending Account (Health Care and Reimbursement and Dependent Care Reimbursement)
• 401k Plan – Employees can contribute 1-75% of their weekly income to their 401k
• Paid Vacation

Plenty of perks at Super Service (click on logo to learn more and visit their website)

18 Wheels of Justice – Quick Stats

Fleet Owners & Owner Operators:

Super Service is also on the lookout for the best owner-operators and fleet owners to join our successful team. We are looking for long-term partners as we grow our business, together with you.

• Competitive Pay Mileage Based or Percentage
• Fuel Surcharge will be paid 100% (based on amount billed to customer)
• No forced dispatch
• Orientation in Somerset, KY, Atlanta, GA, and Grand Rapids, MI
• Mileage to orientation compensated on first settlement
• No Additional Charges for base plates, permits, or TripPak
• No charge for Filing Fuel Tax (if you use the Super Service fuel card)
• Lease on today and earn a $2,500 sign on bonus! Ask your recruiter for details
• Deep Fuel Discounts plus Intelligent fuel routing system – Save Big on Fuel
• EZ Pass

Please call our Owner Operator Recruiting Specialist at 800-669-8567!

We would like to thank Mr. True and Super Service for taking the time to share this valuable information with us today. 

Drivers!

Owner Operator & Driver Retention and Recruiting.  It's the 8th Wonder of the World.  Where did they all go?  What happened to them?  I just talked to him yesterday... I thought he liked it here...   

It's like Mark Twain said about the weather, "Everybody likes to complain about it, but nobody does anything about it."

Believe it or not, there are a lot of trucking companies who excel at recruiting and retention. Who? Why? How? I'm glad you asked, please join me on a journey that will take us through some basics of successful recruiting and retention.

Let's begin with some careful self-examination.  Honesty is key here, know yourself and your organization.

Do you really want to solve this issue?  Or do you want to throw more and more money at broad advertising and hire more recruiters and hope it works out?  (That Beck song "I'm a Loser, Baby" comes to mind, "Things are gonna change, I can feel it...")

You didn't get to where you are today by hoping things work out. 

You are a Person of Action, a Leader, a Mover and Shaker, a Winner.  I'm serious...(How do I know? You are taking time out of your hectic day to read this, to learn how to improve your company.)

Turnover at the majority of trucking companies is sadly well over 100%, at some it reaches alarming heights of 200%-400%.  Don't get energized in the problem!  Let's focus on fixing the issue.  The hardest part of any job is getting started.

Think of your procedure when a new driver or operator joins your trucking company, I'll bet this sounds familiar...

The recruiter or safety department initiates the process.  Why it always seems to fall on safety is beyond me. I think everybody thinks they have nothing to do until an accident happens or auditor shows up.  I assure you this is not the case, especially in this current regulation environment.  Anyway, they go to great length and expense to advertise, spend hours on phone, email applications, run MVR's, meeting with potential drivers and operators, and finally one out of the five, perhaps one out of ten, they have been talking to shows up for orientation.

It is a moment of great triumph!  Everybody is happy, he gets introduced to his new dispatcher, perhaps an operations manager,  if he is lucky the owner comes out of his office to say hello and welcome him.  The owner operator or driver feels good about his decision to sign on with your company and everybody is smiling and shaking hands...

Then what happens?  Join me back here on Friday and we will explore how everything goes south, sometimes quickly, sometimes slowly... 

Please try this exercise before Friday, call each your dispatchers into your office and ask him to name from memory each of his drivers and owner ops, and keep track of how many they can name(15 out 25 etc.). 

Don't forget to sign up for email subscription so you don't miss it, it's free...

Tomorrow on the Bleater.  Conversations with Marge (TA Waitress extraordinaire, Driver and Owner Operator Ambassador) continues with a driver's personal story of struggle and triumph...

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18 Wheels of Justice Presents - The Maverick Way

18 Wheels of Justice Presents -

The Maverick Way

With so many options available to drivers today, 18 Wheels of Justice likes to meet with the carriers who actually deliver on what they promise to drivers. We like to find out more about the company and its appeal to not only attracting good drivers, but keeping them. We are proud to present – Maverick Transportation.

Born in 1953, growing up in a small Missouri town, Maverick Chairman and CEO Steve Williams took his father's lessons to heart and began a career in transportation. In 1975, he went to work for Steel Haulers, Inc. in Kansas City, Missouri.

After President Jimmy Carter signed the Motor Carrier Act of 1980, deregulating the trucking industry, Williams seized the opportunity to pursue his dream and started Maverick with friend and co-worker Larry Leahy in a one room office in Texarkana, Arkansas. In 1983, he purchased his partner's interest in the company and became the sole owner of Maverick Transportation, Inc. Today the Williams family still owns 100% of the Maverick companies.

Maverick's growth in the past 30 years has been built on Mr. Williams' principles and values of what is referred to as "The Maverick Way" which is doing what you say you will do with integrity, respect and commitment.

Whether it is hauling steel, building materials, flat glass or temperature controlled products, striving to be the best can be seen in everything Maverick does. Maverick Transportation has an amazing story. With an owner like Mr. Williams, who built the company from the ground up, everyone here knows what hard work is and what a driver goes through. This work ethic and attitude resonates throughout Maverick.

18 Wheels of Justice visited with Ms. Spring Dixon of Maverick Transportation to discuss the various aspects of the company and to get a better understanding of Maverick’s appeal to drivers.

Spring was kind enough to take time to answer my questions about Maverick. Here are some excerpts from the 18 Wheels of Justice Interview...


- "Ms. Dixon, First of all, thank you for taking the time to speak with us, Maverick Transportation is a world class trucking company and we are pleased to have you here.

Now, some things we would like to know about you and Maverick are:

How long have you been here? Why did you decide to work here? What is the best thing about Maverick in 7 words or less?

Thank you for featuring us! It's funny you ask that regarding my tenure because today is actually my 10 year anniversary at Maverick (true story!) I worked for an ad agency that only serviced trucking companies’ right out of college. So I knew Maverick and Maverick has always had such a positive reputation in the industry. When this position opened up I was thrilled! I was fortunate enough to be given an opportunity and here we are 10 yrs later. I'm in a position that I get to see "behind the scenes" on the high level management side of things and I have to say - our leadership ALWAYS has its heart in the right place, with the drivers. I can 100% honestly say that they make decisions based on how it will affect the people that work here, that's a rarity these days. In 7 words or less - I'd go with, "Nobody Does Trucking Like We Do!" The Maverick Way - 800-289-1100

- Thank you, Ms. Dixon.... The fact that you have been here for ten years says a lot about Maverick.
It seems like a lot of companies promise the world to drivers and operators, and when they come aboard, sometimes they don't follow through with the promises. This is one of the biggest reasons drivers and operators leave a company. Drivers and Operators take a big chance when they sign with a new company and they are understandably hesitant. Does Maverick help drivers and operators who have just started make sure that the promises are followed through on? How is this handled?

You are absolutely right! I think that's one of the main reasons turnover is SO high in this industry (beyond the obvious that this is a very hard profession to do day in and day out) At Maverick, we don’t believe in sugar coating or hidden agendas.

The Maverick Way - 800-289-1100

From the moment a driver speaks to a recruiter on the phone, to the moment they are given a truck, we’re honest, up front, and clear about the expectations of our drivers. And those expectations are high. Probably higher than any other carrier out there.

But more specifically, we do all of our background checks, MVRs, etc on the front end (unlike a lot of companies) so when we invite a driver to orientation, we know we want this driver to be on our team. In addition, when a driver is set up for orientation, they can view all the information related to their position on our driver portal. Then we go through this information verbally to ensure we are on the same page....This includes an extremely detailed list of expectations, pay, what division they will drive in, home time, mileage averages, etc with every single driver before they come in for Orientation. We want new drivers to know EXACTLY what to expect. Part of our Orientation includes a "lifestyles" class that really digs into the life of a truck driver (the good, the bad and the ugly) and their loved ones are invited to call in to take part in this. In terms of home time - we NEVER make promises, our signature line is "this is an average; some get home more and some get home less." Let's be real here - this is trucking and there are NO guarantees. Any company that makes you a guarantee is fooling you and themselves. If we have a driver in Orientation that says, "but my recruiter said xyz" that contradicts whatever is being said in Orientation - the Recruiter will go over to class that day and work out the discrepancy in person. I've seen this happen countless times. That speaks to Maverick's integrity. And really - this concept starts with something as simple as our advertising. We don't say "Average $200k a year" just because our top driver does, that's not realistic. And it puts a bad taste in a potential driver's mouth the moment he ask about this $200k a year and the recruiter has to say "oh, that's just our top pay, but what you can REALLY expect is more along the lines of $60k." That isn't fair to the driver and it's not fair to the recruiter either.

- Thank you again, Ms. Dixon, I can see why Maverick is such a successful company. We really need more companies with honesty and integrity like Maverick in our industry. Drivers lose a lot of time and money when they switch companies. We never feature a trucking company on 18 Wheels of Justice that doesn’t meet our standards. Now, as we promised to our Texas audience, please tell me about the great opportunity for a dedicated run in Wichita Falls, TX and the benefits...



This is a great opportunity for those drivers within a 75 mile radius of Wichita Falls, TX. It primarily hauls glass and containers for our PPG account on flatbeds, doubles, step decks, and container chassis. We all know why a dedicated position is preferred by most drivers in terms of consistent pay and schedule, better home, etc. We can offer all of this with this position. Maverick has really made a conscious effort in 2012 to aggressively grow the dedicated side of our business.

Available Position in Wichita Falls, TX


Dedicated Glass Run - Wichita Falls, TX (multiple openings, immediate need)

• Must live within 75 mile radius of Wichita Falls, TX
• Weekends at home
• Class A CDL, 21 yrs old & 6 months OTR experience
• Previous flatbed and/or glass experience preferred

One of the many appealing aspects of driving for Maverick is the dedicated opportunites available in various areas of the country.

The Maverick Way - 800-289-1100

Today Maverick needs Drivers for Dedicated Runs in the following areas:

Carlisle, PA

Dewitt, IA

Carleton, MI

Sutton, WV

Wichita Falls, TX

The benefits are unlimited, home on weekends, predictable schedule (watch your kids grow up), guaranteed (Yes, Guaranteed) weekly pay, regardless of miles, and more. Drivers must live within 75 miles of these areas. Maverick is adding areas all the time, so to be sure to check with them and get on their driver list for future opportunities for Dedicated Opportunities. (See more information about the Dedicated Texas lanes below).
Contact a Recruiter Today about these Dedicated Opportunities!
1-800-289-1100
recruiting@maverickusa.com

Maverick is also a proud supporter of the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure. We all have been touched by breast cancer in some way, shape or form. This is a great cause and we commend Maverick for their support. Maverick supports the foundation through financial sponsorship and team participation in each year’s race event held in Little Rock, AR. Maverick I committed to helping this great organization find a cure for breast cancer.

Maverick Web Page- Apply Now

Maverick Recruiting Email recruiting@maverickusa.com

Maverick Recruiting Phone 800-289-1100

The Maverick Way - 800-289-1100