Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: RSS

Goldilocks Truckers

When a trucking company hires a “Goldilocks Trucker” they are getting someone that has to have it their way only. This means “Goldi” does not drive in certain areas, He has to be home at certain times, he has to have a specific truck and if Goldi gets offended in any way he is going to quit, or at least threaten to quit. Why is this an important issue? Well if a trucking company hires lets say one hundred drivers in a year. Let’s say 10 of this drivers are “Goldilocks Drivers”. So now we have ninety drivers that cooperate and get the job done with no belly-aching. Now take the 10 “Goldilocks drivers”. They all have “special needs”. So for example instead of taking the first load that pops up like one of the ninety drivers would have done, Goldi refuses the load. So now dispatch will need to put in more time (which costs money) to accommodate Goldi. This might sound like minimal effort but multiply this by ten every day and the 10 Goldi drivers become more work than the ninety drivers. I’m sure you get the point.

Advice to Carriers

Start paying your drivers what they are worth. I don’t have the perfect plan but here is an example. A driver is worth what they bring to the table. For example a driver that had ten years of experience with a clean record is worth more than a driver with six months experience that had moving violations and a couple of accidents. Why? Because a driver with experience first of all will statistically not cost the company money with little incidents. That driver most of the times will not damage the truck or drive a carriers insurance rates up. Therefore the experienced driver is a more profitable hire. So pay that driver what he is worth and pay the driver that is not worth as much their due money also. Another example is the Goldilocks Driver. “Goldi” is never as profitable as a driver that is a team player. So, if the “Goldilocks Driver” has ten years of experience and you have a driver that has only one year of experience you have two drivers that might be more equal and the lesser experienced driver with a clean record is worth more than the ten year driver. It all comes down to safety and profitability. Like I said, I dont have the perfect plan but I think you get the idea. Your plan will have to be customized to fit your company. I would however tell you this. If you have a driver that brings a great record and attitude to the table, you should be rewarding that driver with top industry pay. If you have a driver that has a clean record and they stay out on the road as long as you need them and they will take any load anywhere, you should be ashamed if you are underpaying that driver. In fact if that driver quits and goes to another carrier, you then deserve to lose that driver. So stop up to the plate and start paying the driver what he/she is worth. If the industry did this, I believe the industry would make a better driver. Goldilocks Truckers

• https://cnn.it/2NL7lDL
• http://bit.ly/33GZeOc
• http://talkcdl.com/cameras-phone-interview-inward-facing-cameras-in-semi-trucks/
• http://talkcdl.com/s2e27-truckers-face-off-with-protesters/
• http://talkcdl.com/s2e14-crazy-facts-about-a-truckers-body-after-driving-a-truck/
• http://talkcdl.com/perverts-in-trucking/
• http://talkcdl.com/mike-sheffield-trucker-singer/

TalkCDL Trucking Podcast

We are at it again. If you are wanting to be interviewed onTalkCDL please send us your requests to Ruthann@TalkCDL.com we are always on the lookout for trucking related stories, inventions or just some good old fashion trucking conversations. Our interviews are trucking related only, so please keep that in mind when sending your requests. You might be a truck drivers son that has memories of trips with dad or maybe you were married to a trucker that has been killed in an accident and want to talk about it. Let’s put your story on the air.