JOB resources carrier culture These 7 questions can help determine a potential employer’s values One of the most important — and most often overlooked — factors in choosing a carrier to work for is the “culture” you’ll find when you get there. You’ll find tons of advertisements containing statements like, “You’re not just a number” and, “We treat you like family,” but those words are often slogans written by advertising agencies to attract drivers like you. In addition to pay, equipment, running areas and other details of the job, you’ll want some idea of how you’ll be treated if you decide to work for that carrier. Unfortunately, recruiters are often so isolated from the operations part of the business that they truly don’t know much about how drivers are treated, except for the occasional complaint received from someone they recruited in the past. Still, there are questions you can ask — and the recruiter isn’t the only person you should be asking. Current drivers can be a great resource. After all, they can tell you how THEY are treated by that carrier. Even then, however, it’s best to have some specific questions rather than simply asking, “How do you like Carrier ABC?” The internet can be a good resource, too, but be wary. Trucker complaint sites usually don’t present all sides of the story, and drivers generally don’t post about good experiences they’ve had. You can also access information through the Department of Transportation (DOT) Safety and Fitness Electronic Records (SAFER) system. Entering the carrier’s DOT BY cliff abbott / Contributing WRITER or MC number or the legal name on the “Company Snapshot” page (safer.fmcsa.dot. gov/CompanySnapshot.aspx) brings up an information page that provides the number of trucks and drivers reported, commodities hauled and headquarters information for the carrier. On the same page are links to safety and accident information and a licensing and insurance history page. No website, however, can tell you what it’s like to actually work for the carrier. Whether you ask a recruiter, a driver or even someone in orientation, you’ll find out more by asking questions. Here are a few key questions to ask: Can I refuse a dispatch if I feel it can’t be completed in the allotted time or there are other safety factors? Many carriers talk a good safety game, but some can get downright ugly when you need to make a decision for safety reasons. What happens when conditions prevent you from making delivery on time? What about inclement weather, illness or delays? How much authority will you have to make decisions? If the carrier is more concerned about its on-time delivery percentage than your safety, it might not be a good fit. What is the carrier’s policy for accessorial pay?” Pay for activities such as detention, layover, breakdown, weather and so on can be important. Detention pay, for example, can differ greatly between carriers. One carrier might pay $15 an hour after the first hour of waiting, while another might pay $10 per hour, but only after you’ve waited four hours or more. Some detention policies require you to wait until the customer has paid — IF they pay — before you receive anything. Layover is another issue you’ll face from time to time. Layover occurs when the carrier doesn’t have a load for you for 24 hours or more. You’ll need to know how often layovers occur, how much the carrier pays and the circumstances. Some carriers pay a reasonable amount for the first 24 hours you sit. Others pay a small percentage of the day’s pay you could have made if you were running, and don’t pay anything for the first 24 hours. Some don’t pay for layover at all. Does the carrier use video cameras? Many carriers use video recording systems to collect evidence used in training, discipline and, when necessary, in litigation. What the systems record and how the data is used can differ widely. You’ll want to know if the system includes an inward-facing camera, one that records YOU as you operate the vehicle. If you’re being recorded and you aren’t comfortable with that, move on. Things can only get worse. 6 the trucker jobs magazine | DECEMBER 2020/JANUARY 2021 www.TheTruckerjobs.com
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