LEARN 12 SECRET STEPS HOW TO MAKE $950 MORE PER TRUCK / MONTH
Hey! I'm George J.Magoci and I will send you a FREE eBook where you can learn 12 secret steps how to make $950 more truck/month.
Some of the agencies responsible for safety on the road are:
- US Department of Transportation (DOT);
- Federal Motor Safety Carrier Administration (FMCSA);
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA);
- United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA);
- United States Department of Labor (DOL);
- Federal Highway Administration;
And, on top of that, you still have to worry about the truck drivers and their performance on the road…
1. When You Are Hiring Heavy Haul Trucking Company, Always Ask About the Experience of Their Drivers
So, when you are out there trying to find a heavy haul trucking company that will take care of your transportation needs don’t forget to ask about the experience of their drivers.
Among everything else, this is a very important question that you should lay it on the table.
Not all truck drivers can have a heavy haul trucking experience and are cut to do that right! After all, doing a heavy haul trucking it’s not same as sitting in an office, glancing over delivery drivers resumes! It requires a lot of special training, driver skills, dedication and practice, a heck of a lot from the last one!
Now, just because someone has years of experience under his/her belt does not make them be experienced truck driver. However, the good news is that he/she is certainly not a rookie driver either! Also, there is a big difference between a truck driver and a professional truck driver. You should learn how to see the difference and recognize that.
I mentioned all of this, just to say that years of experience can mean nothing if you are dealing with a new type of transportation method.
You can be a 10 years flatbed driver with no violation records but still not good at driving a fuel truck, dump truck or tow truck. It all takes training and practice and require a different set of skills!
So, when you look through the heavy haul trucking companies and their drivers, pay attention to their driving records as well as the equipment that they’ve driven in the past.
2. Ask How Long the Driver Worked at the Heavy Haul Trucking Company
Another thing that you should pay attention to is the time that the driver has working, particularly driving, for that company. Not that this is crucially important or something, but it’s a good thing to know and consider. Like I said experience counts.
As long as the driver has clean driving records and experience in heavy haul trucking that is what’s important. It’s not that important if he/she was driving for this or that company.
But there is one thing to look into, and that’s driver turnover rates as well as the company’s safety rating. If the heavy haul trucking company is changing drivers as often as changing socks then something got to be wrong with the company, not the drivers!
3. Do the Truck Drivers have the Proper License/Endorsements?
This, as a matter of fact, is one of the more important things to check into. It cannot be overlooked! You have to make sure that the heavy haul trucking companies have truck drivers with proper driver licenses and endorsements if needed.
At the end of the day, it all boils down to one thing and that is to get your load safe and in a timely manner to its final destination. And you are far from that if you hire drivers without even a proper license for the job!
4. Do the Truck Drivers Have Certification and Other Courses?
I’ve mentioned somewhere earlier in this article that there is a big difference between a truck driver and a professional truck driver, and I am going to stick with that opinion.
If you wonder why I am saying this, let me bring the point home and tell you that my opinion is that not all truck drivers are meant to be truck drivers! Some have it natural and they learn fast, while others need time and effort to accept and love the profession. But some….oh man some are just not cut out to be truck drivers, especially a heavy haul trucking professionals!
Some have it natural and they learn fast, while others need time and effort to accept and love the profession. But some….oh man some are just not cut out to be truck drivers, especially a heavy haul trucking professionals!
In my long years in the industry, I’ve seen people that don’t know where the gear is and how to get a truck tire changed. Often they have learned this, and more, in no time and become experts in the field. While on the other hand I also saw few that know a lot about the mechanics of the trucks, but have no special desire for the job and will prefer not doing it!
The one with the passion will learn fast and be hungry for new accomplishments, while there are and the one that learns how to drive one particular type of truck and that’s it! That is where they stop!
They won’t even consider learning a new skill or take extra certificates and courses. Happy where they stand, they won’t even consider taking extra training and courses; even if that means that this way they will increase their truck driver salary!
So my advice to you is to always have a look at the drivers’ certifications and other courses. You don’t need the one that is overqualified for the job you need to be done, but you don’t want the one that doesn’t have the basic certificates and courses for the job.
5. Check for Insurance Coverage
This is one of the things that are very obvious but people very often overlook and didn’t pay attention until it’s too late! There are quite a few legal issues that you can’t help but face at least one time in this career field, and this one it’s the most common issue.
When you are dealing with heavy haul trucking, insurance coverage is a MUST. You have to make sure that all paperwork is complete and the insurance it’s covered till your haul reaches its final destination.
