During a recent “Driver Recruiting and Retention” seminar, I listened to a very knowledgeable speaker say, “Everyone likes to be listened to…truck drivers are no different. Drivers want to know someone in their company is listening to them. If you take the time to listen to them, drivers not only appreciate it, they will feel valued and stay with your company a long while”. No truer words have ever been spoken.
To that end, how many times have our drivers called in, or stopped by the office, and said, “you would not believe what a crazy four-wheeler driver did today…”. It might have been the car pulled in front of his 18-wheeler and suddenly hard braked. It might be the SUV attempted to merge onto the interstate when no room for merging was available. It might be the impatient pick-up truck driver tried the ol’ “right turn squeeze play” at the same time our driver was making their wide right turn. It might be all the texting and distracted driving that our CDL drivers observe out there every day.
So, who is listening to our drivers as they point out these very unsafe driving habits by drivers of cars, SUV’s and pick-up trucks?
Well, the Indiana State Police (ISP) is listening!!! That’s who!!!
Effective May 12, 2013, the ISP began cracking down on the aggressive driving habits of the four-wheelers. They are keeping their eyes peeled as they support their new initiative called TACT (Ticket Aggressive Cars and Trucks). TACT is a campaign promoted by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to reduce the number of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles and the unsafe passenger cars that cause them. The TACT program will run through Saturday, June 8.
The ISP will be monitoring aggressive driving behaviors specifically around commercial vehicles. Examples of unsafe behaviors being monitored might include cars following too closely, unsafe lane changes or failure to yield right of way. The ISP understands traffic safety is a continued partnership between the general motoring public driving passenger vehicles, the commercial transportation industry and law enforcement.
The ISP encourages four-wheelers to practice safety tips when driving around commercial motor vehicles (CMV). They include allowing proper following distance between the car and the CMV (one car length for every 10 mph of travel…at least 3 to 4 seconds behind the semi); Stay out of the semi’s blind spot (if you cannot see the driver in the semi’s mirrors, they driver cannot see you); Signal your lane change intentions well in advance of actually changing lanes; Always yield right of way to CMV’s (it takes the CMV so much longer to stop their 80,000 pound rig…so give them room and the right of way).
It’s a great effort to help our drivers out. The trucking industry and truck drivers everywhere thank the ISP and other state’s policemen who are involved in the TACT initiative. Our drivers appreciate knowing you listened to them!!
For more information, check out the TACT Program Website.
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Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
Extra! Extra! Read All About It!
The Tennessee Trucking Association (TTA) recently released its Spring 2013 newsletter, the Tennessee Trucking News. Why is this such a big deal to us, you ask? Well, besides the fact that the TTA is always publishing great content, each quarterly edition spotlights a different TTA member. This issue just so happens to feature personal trivia about our very own President & CEO, Jeremy Reymer!
Driving Ambition has been a proud member of the Tennessee Trucking Association (TTA) for over three years now. TTA is the voice of the trucking industry in Tennessee, representing more than 400 trucking companies and industry vendors. For more information about TTA or if you have interest in becoming a member, please visit here.
Connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn!
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
If you’ve followed our blogs, read our newsletters or checked out our website, then you’re surely familiar with our Top 5 Reasons to Work For / Use a CDL Driver Staffing Company. We thought you might also want to know about the Top 5 Reasons to NOT Work with Driving Ambition.
Top 5 Reasons Not to Work for Driving Ambition:
- You like being stuck out over the road and enjoy missing family milestones. At Driving Ambition, 98% of the assignments we offer our drivers are LOCAL / HOME DAILY. The majority of our assignments are also Monday thru Friday, so you’re also able to enjoy a full weekend home with your family. However, if you’d prefer to work some weekends, we typically have assignments available.
- You want to be forced to do an assignment. Even though the route you’re driving is NOT what you want, you can’t simply tell your dispatcher you don’t want to do it anymore. With Driving Ambition you’re in control of the assignments you accept! Whether you don’t like the carrier, the truck, the route or the people, you don’t have to drive for that customer if you don’t want to. We’ll find you another assignment that better suits your needs / interests.
- You don’t mind NOT getting your vacation days approved. When you want a day off, you have to have vacation/PTO time available and have to have the day approved. Not at Driving Ambition. We operate under a No-Forced Dispatch, so when you need time off, you take time off.
- You don't have a problem going without a paycheck for a few weeks. The route you’ve been driving is suddenly eliminated (lost contract/downsizing/company closed/etc) and you’re stuck without a paycheck until you can get hired somewhere else – a process that can takes several days to weeks. Driving Ambition works with approximately 600 trucking companies. If one assignment is no longer available, you don’t have to wait days or weeks to start earning a paycheck again. We can have you reassigned as early as the next day.
- You don’t like having options. You really want to work 1st shift, but you’re stuck on 2nd and other people have seniority over you, so you’re not sure when you’ll get off of that dreaded shift. At Driving Ambition, you have complete control over your work schedule. If you typically prefer to work 1st shift, but next week you need to work 2nd because you have another obligation during the daytime, no worries – we’ll work very hard to find you an assignment on 2nd shift.
Top 5 Reasons Not to Use Driving Ambition:
- Your customers aren’t really that important to you. One of your drivers calls off at the last minute and your customers are counting on you to deliver their product, but you have no one available to make the delivery. Driving Ambition has professional CDL drivers and an exceptional Dispatch Customer Service team available 24/7 to respond to your needs.
- You have endless resources of time, money and energy. You’ve just spent thousands of dollars hiring a great driver, and you discover that while the driver looked good on paper, he’s just not a good fit for your company. Now you have to start all over again. Driving Ambition allows you to take advantage of our Temp-to-Hire Program to ensure you’ve got the BEST driver in your truck, all for about the same cost as hiring the driver directly yourself. And the best part is, there’s little to no delay in getting that driver on board with your company.
- Operating efficiently isn’t really that critical to the financial stability of your company. You were extremely busy last month, but now things have slowed down a bit. You’re going to have to lay off some drivers, and in doing so you might lose those drivers to another carrier. Your unemployment insurance might also go up since you’ll have drivers collecting unemployment benefits. Driving Ambition can help you meet the ever-changing needs of your company and operate more efficiently.
- You thoroughly enjoy hiring truck drivers – more so than all the other job functions you don't have time to complete since you're spending all your time hiring truck drivers. You’re in the business of making a particular widget, not in being an expert on DOT and FMSCA regulations. You have no idea what a Driver Qualification file is and you don’t really want to know either. Driving Ambition can become the transportation arm of your business. Just like you outsource your legal or accounting needs, you can outsource your driver needs. We’ll advertise your open positions, interview drivers, run background checks, conduct your onboarding process, pay the drivers and take care of all the employee requirements associated with Human Resources.
- You don’t’ really care about all that DOT / FMSCR mumbo jumbo stuff. Your drivers are over on their Hours of Service, but you still have product to be delivered. Hours of Service is only going to get trickier. Driving Ambition is here to help you continue providing the same level of exceptional service to your customers that they’ve become accustomed to. In this competitive economy, make sure you’re not jeopardizing losing your customers and revenue. Use our drivers to fill in the gaps.
Driving Ambition is a professional CDL staffing company that specializes in local and regional driving jobs. We’ve earned a reputation for treating our drivers and customers with respect.
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Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
Are you prepared?
Vertical Alliance Group is hosting a special webinar on the New HOS Regulations
Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 3:00 PM Central Time
Featuring special guest Mike Lamm, Assistant Division Administrator for FMCSA
Mike will be discussing the new HOS regulations, including:
- Mandatory Breaks
- 34 Hour Restart
- On-Duty Time
- Egregious Penalties
- Changes and special provisions for Oil Field
- Electronic Logging Devices (ELD)
CLICK HERE to register today!
Mike Lamm has worked for 7 years as an Investigator, Hazardous Materials Specialist. In 2001, he returned to FMCSA headquarters to work in the Office of Enforcement and Compliance and spent 18 months working in the House of Representatives during the drafting of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act. While in headquarters, Mike also worked as the Chief of the Passenger Carrier Safety Division, and the State Programs Division, with oversight of the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program.
Vertical Alliance Group is an expert in the truck transport industry and has been offering a complete library of training materials on trucking rules and regulations for over ten years.
Connect with Driving Ambition on Facebook and LinkedIn!
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
This year, Roadcheck will take place June 4-6th. On average, 14 trucks or buses will be inspected every minute from Canada to Mexico during the 72-hour period in June. The Commerical Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) says roughly 10,000 inspectors from state, local and federal enforcement agencies will be stationed at 1,500 inspection points across the U.S. to do the roadside inspections.
Why should you take Roadcheck 2013 seriously?
Results of Roadcheck 2012:
- 74,072 inspections were conducted (over 4,000 more than 2011)
- Of the vehicles inspected, 20.9% were placed out of service for mechanical problems (2% more than 2011)
- The driver out-of-service rate was 4.6% (.6% more than 2011)
Top 10 Roadside Vehicle Inspection Violations for 2012:
- Operating Vehicle Not Having The Required Operable Lamps
- No/Defective Lighting Devices/Reflective Devices/Projected
- Tire—Other Tread Depth Less Than 2/32 Of Inch
- Oil And/Or Grease Leak
- Clamp/Roto-Chamber Type Brake(S) Out Of Adjustment
- Inspection/Repair And Maintenance Parts And Accessories
- Operating A Cmv Without Periodic Inspection
- No/Discharged/Unsecured Fire Extinguisher
- Failing To Secure Brake Hose/Tubing Against Mechanical Damage
- Inoperative Turn Signal
Roadcheck is the largest targeted enforcement program on commercial vehicles in the world. Since its inception in 1988, roadside inspections conducted during Roadcheck have numbered more than 1 million resulting in more than 220 lives saved and 4,045 injuries avoided.
CVSA has also provided for the distribution of countless pieces of educational literature and safety events to educate industry and the general public about the importance of safe commercial vehicle operations and the roadside inspection program.
Below are some Roadcheck 2013 resources for Drivers and Fleets:
Roadcheck 2013 Tip Sheet For Drivers
Get to the Point/ In the Inspector’s Seat – A Roadcheck Roadmap
Connect with Driving Ambition on Facebook and LinkedIn!
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
Hours-of-service compliance is centered on two areas, limits and logs. Both drivers and carriers are held responsible for compliance with these regulations. Here's a back-to-basics rundown:
Limits
The limits are actually fairly straightforward. These include no driving once you reach:
- The end of the 14th hour after coming on duty for the day
- 11 hours of driving
- 60 hours in 7 days, or 70 hours in 8 days, depending on whether the company operates vehicles 7 days a week
The hours that count toward the 14 and 11 hour limits are started and stopped by a break of 10 hours or more.
14-hour rule
Once you reach the end of the 14th consecutive hour since coming on duty from your 10-hour or more break, you cannot drive a commercial vehicle. You can work, but you cannot drive. If you started your day at 7 a.m.., you cannot drive a commercial vehicle any more as of 9:00 p.m. Waiting to load or unload, meals, other breaks, breakdowns, etc., do not impact the 14-hour limit.
There are only a couple of exceptions to the 14-hour limit, but they are fairly narrow exceptions requiring certain conditions be met. The first exception applies only to drivers of vehicles that do not require a CDL to operate and stay within 150 air-miles of, and return to, the work reporting location. This exception allows the driver to drive up to the 16th hour twice during every seven days.
The other exception allows a driver that has returned to his or her work reporting location the last five working days to drive through the 16th hour once every seven days, or once since the driver’s last 34-hour restart. One requirement that is unique to this exception is that the driver must be released for a 10-hour break after the 16th hour, not just “stop driving.”
11 hours driving
Within the 14 hours, you can drive a total of 11 hours. Any time at the controls of a commercial vehicle while on the roadway counts as driving.
There is only one exception to the 11-hour driving limit, and that is the “adverse driving conditions” exception at §395.1(b). This allows a driver to complete his or her run or reach a place of safety using up to an extra two hours of driving time if delayed by adverse conditions that could not have been known at the time of dispatch. However, this exception does not allow the driver to go over his or her 14-hour limit.
Please note that drivers driving in Alaska and passenger-carrying drivers (bus and motor coach drivers) have different daily hours-of-service limits.
60/70-hour rule
To offset the effects of cumulative fatigue, drivers are not allowed to drive if they have been on duty for 60 hours over the last 7 days, or 70 hours over the last 8 days. Companies that operate vehicles seven days a week are allowed to use the 70-hour limit, if they choose to.
Much like the other limits, the driver can continue to work once the 60- or 70-hour limit is reached, but the driver cannot drive.
Any break of 34 hours or more will allow the driver to “restart” the 7 or 8 day days. In effect, once the driver has 34 consecutive hours off, the driver’s total hours for the last 7 or 8 days go to “zero.”
New for July
As of July 1, drivers can only take a restart if the driver has not had a restart in the last 7 days (168 hours) and if the 34 hours include two 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. periods. If the 34 hours did not include these two periods, it is not a restart even if it is 34 hours long (§395.3(c) and (d)).
Also new for July is that a driver cannot drive if it has been 8 hours since the driver’s last off-duty break of 30 minutes or more. Basically, a driver will need to stop and take a 30-minute break if it has been 8 hours since the last break of 30 minutes or more and the driver wants to continue or start driving (§395.3(a)(3)(ii)).
The ‘records’
The main record that is used to show compliance with these limits is the driver’s daily log, officially known as the “driver’s record of duty status” (see §395.8). The driver’s log must account for all activities based on the four “duty lines” on the “grid graph.” These duty lines are:
- Off duty: Driver has no responsibility to the carrier, the vehicle, or the cargo, is performing no work for the carrier (or anyone else), and is free to pursue activities of his/her choosing.
- Sleeper berth: Time spent is the “bunk” (sleeper berth) on the truck.
- Driving: Time spent at the controls of a commercial vehicle on the road.
- On duty: The driver is performing any work for, or has any responsibility to the carrier. Waiting to load or unload, loading and unloading, inspecting the vehicle, fueling the vehicle, standing by, and taking a drug test (including driving to and from) would all be examples of on-duty time.
As well as the grid graph accounting for the time, the log must contain other information. This includes the date, miles driven, driver’s signature, co-driver’s name (if there is one), shipment number (or shipper and cargo), starting time, carrier’s name and address, total hours on each duty line, and the remarks section where the location of any duty change is recorded. A duty change is any time the driver changes duty lines.
The driver’s log must be current at all times to the “last duty change.” If the driver changes duty from on duty to driving at 3 p.m. at Toledo, Ohio, and the driver’s log is checked at 6 p.m. by an officer, the log will need to show the driver driving since 3 p.m. starting at Toledo, Ohio.
Electronic options
There are electronic versions of logs available. These fall into two general categories, automatic on-board recording devices (AOBRDs), and electronic logging applications (apps) and programs.
AOBRDs are connected to the vehicle and automatically determine when the driver is driving. If the driver is using an AOBRD, the officers will only ask to see the screen, smartphone, or tablet that is used to display the data the AOBRD has recorded. These are discussed in the regulations at §395.2 and §395.15.
Electronic logging apps and programs that are not getting movement data from the vehicle to determine when the driver is driving are basically an electronic version of a paper log, and are regulated under the “regular” log requirements in §395.8. One key point to using such electronic logging apps and programs is that the driver must be able to print his/her logs on demand during a roadside inspection.
Exceptions
There are a couple of exceptions in the regulations that allow the driver to keep time records rather than having to complete a log. These apply to drivers that stay within 100 or 150 air-miles of their work reporting location and return nightly. There are other requirements, so if you think one of these exceptions might apply, check §395.1(e).
There are other “specialized” exceptions as well. These apply to driver-salespeople, drivers involved exclusively in oilfield operations, drivers specializing in transporting construction materials and supplies, and certain drivers transporting agricultural products. Each of these exceptions has certain requirements that must be met to use them, and they only exempt the driver from specific hours-of-service regulations (see §395.1).
Who is responsible for what?
The driver is always responsible for compliance with the limits and logging requirements. The driver can be written a violation on a roadside inspection report and fined (and maybe even placed out of service), if:
- The driver is not able to present a log or an acceptable electronic record from an AOBRD for today and the previous seven days at the time of the inspection.
- The driver’s log is not current to the last change in duty status at the time of the inspection.
- The driver is operating over a limit or has operated over a limit in the past seven days.
- The driver has falsified a log entry.
The company (the carrier whose DOT number the driver was operating for) is responsible for making sure that:
- Drivers submit the completed logs within 13 days.
- Drivers are operating within the limits.
- Drivers are submitting logs that are true and correct (not false and containing all information).
- The logs are retained for 6 months.
To verify that drivers are obeying the hours-of-service regulations, the company must have a mechanism in place to verify compliance, and catch and prevent violations. This is referred to as a “safety management control.” The safety management control must at least be able to make sure that drivers are obeying the limits and not submitting false logs.
During the six months that the company must keep logs on file, the logs are subject to investigation by FMCSA safety investigators. The investigation involves:
- Checking form and manner (all required information is on all logs),
- Checking for compliance with the 11, 14, and 60/70 hour limits, and
- Comparing the logs to supporting documents (such as fuel receipts, toll receipts, inspection reports, accident reports, etc.) to verify that the logs have not been falsified.
Any violations discovered can result in the company being fined. In some cases, the driver may be fined for violations discovered during an investigation as well. If the violations are frequent and serious enough, the company may end up with a lowered safety rating, or worse, ordered out of service.
The company is also responsible for making sure that any assignment given to the driver can be completed legally. As the hours-of-service limits are what determine how many miles a driver can drive and how much work a driver can do, it is something that must be considered with every work assignment.
This great article was written by Tom Bray, editor in the Transportation Publishing Department of the Editorial Resource Unit at J.J. Keller & Associates, Inc, specializing in motor carrier safety and operations management. The article was originally posted on Truckinginfo.com.
Don't forget to connect with us on Facebook and LinkedIn!
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
We're having our first Open House in Louisville and you're invited!!
We’re inviting all Class A & Class B CDL drivers to join us for an OPEN HOUSE at our branch office in Louisville, KY to find out more about Driving Ambition and the job opportunities that we have available. We'll also be serving FREE FOOD and REFRESHMENTS!
DRIVING AMBITION OPEN HOUSE
SATURDAY MAY 11th, 10am - 2pm
502-276-8854, ext 28
Free Food & Refreshments
We have IMMEDIATE NEEDS for more CDL drivers who are interested in LOCAL and REGIONAL JOBS in the Louisville area.
If you’re not already familiar with driver staffing agencies or with Driving Ambition, check out our short, 2-minute video.
You can also view our Top 5 Reasons to Work for a Driver Staffing Company.
Some of the great benefits of working for Driving Ambition include:
- Local, home daily jobs
- No forced dispatch
- Competitive pay & benefits
- Ability to try out several trucking companies, risk-free
- Different programs to fit your lifestyle – Full-time or Part-time, Temp-to-Hire, 40 hour guarantee, and more!
**Drivers must have a minimum of 12 months recent verifiable experience. For more information about our hiring criteria, click here.
Questions? Please contact Jack Murphy at 502-276-8854, ext 28 or jmurphy@da-drivers.com
If you can't attend the open house, but would like to apply for a job with us, please fill out our ONLINE DOT APPLICATION.
We hope to see you there!!
Don't forget to connect with us on Facebook!
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
Driving Ambition’s last open house was such a success that we decided to have another one - this time in Indianapolis!
We’re inviting all Class A & Class B CDL drivers to join us for an OPEN HOUSE at our branch office in Indianapolis, IN to find out more about Driving Ambition and the job opportunities that we have available. We'll also be serving FREE FOOD and REFRESHMENTS!
DRIVING AMBITION OPEN HOUSE
SATURDAY APRIL 27th, 10am - 2pm
317-352-0306, ext 22
Free Food & Refreshments
We have IMMEDIATE NEEDS for more CDL drivers who are interested in LOCAL and REGIONAL JOBS in the Indianapolis area.
If you’re not already familiar with driver staffing agencies or with Driving Ambition, check out our short, 2-minute video.
You can also view our Top 5 Reasons to Work for a Driver Staffing Company.
Some of the great benefits of working for Driving Ambition include:
- Local, home daily jobs
- No forced dispatch
- Competitive pay & benefits
- Ability to try out several trucking companies, risk-free
- Different programs to fit your lifestyle – Full-time or Part-time, Temp-to-Hire, 40 hour guarantee, and more!
**Drivers must have a minimum of 12 months recent verifiable experience. For more information about our hiring criteria, click here.
Questions? Please contact Liz Walker at 317-352-0306, ext 22 or lwalker@da-drivers.com
If you can't attend the open house, but would like to apply for a job with us, please fill out our ONLINE DOT APPLICATION.
We hope to see you there!!
Don't forget to connect with us on Facebook!
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
Successful companies are able to attract and retain talented employees – companies like Google, SAS, and CHG Healthcare Services. Driving Ambition is also a part of this elite group of successful companies (although less well-known). As we continue to expand our business, this is probably the most important challenge we face. It’s vital that we identify top performers as well as those who fit in with our corporate culture. Once hired, it’s crucial that we retain these talented folks since, let’s face it, they’re the key to improving our company’s financial performance.
Keys to Successful Hiring:
- Keep standards high, even when the pressure is on.
In this industry and driver shortage environment, it’s important to maintain your reputation. While being extremely busy is a “happy problem,” you can’t let the pressure of an immediate solution outweigh the long-term effects of a poor hiring decision. Keep your standards consistent – your customers will continue to respect you and value the services you provide.
- Hire for culture fit.
Finding people who are a good fit for your company can be very difficult, but its importance cannot be underestimated. The old adage is true – one bad apple can ruin the barrel. You’ve gone to great lengths to hire great people; you can’t afford to let one bad hiring decision break down the team you’ve built. Although hiring mistakes occasionally happen, it’s imperative that you get rid of those “unfit” employees ASAP.
- Hire for skills.
Several companies put a great deal of emphasis on hiring people with “relevant experience.” While this is essential with the professional CDL drivers we hire, it’s irrelevant with our office team. Driving Ambition has had a lot of success hiring people outside the transportation industry. We’ve recruited top performers who are smart, resourceful and innovative – three skills that have nothing to do with prior experience.
Keys to Successful Retention:
- Know your people.
To keep top performers and build loyalty, you’ve got to know your employees. You’ve got to show them you care by learning about them, their families, their interests and hobbies. We send birthday cards and anniversary cards. We celebrate their personal and professional achievements with the entire company through company newsletters and e-mail announcements. We recognize both the Driver of the Month and Employee of the Month.
- Company benefits is more than compensation.
Pay is important, but all the money in the world will not retain great people. More important is how people are made to feel while working for your company. They want to feel appreciated, respected and recognized. They want to know you’re invested in their professional development and advancement. At the end of the day, a simple “thank you” goes a long way!
- Communicate your corporate culture.
Throughout the hiring and employment process, let your people know what your guiding principles are. Lay out clear expectations. At Driving Ambition, our core values include providing exceptional service by always doing the right thing and treating people the way we want to be treated.
Good people are difficult to find. Once you meet them, make sure you’re doing everything you can to keep them!
Connect with Driving Ambition on LinkedIn and Facebook!
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.
The 2013 National Work Zone Awareness Week kicks off today, April 15th. The theme for this year is "Roadway Work Zone Safety: We're All in This Together." This year's theme highlights the complexities of work zones, especially in urban areas, and the need for awareness and planning on the part of everyone affected by work zones – DOTs, road workers, drivers, bicyclists, motorcycles, pedestrians, emergency response, law enforcement, utility workers.
The national kickoff event will be held on Tuesday, April 16, at an urban work zone in Washington, DC.
For more information, check out these websites:
The following links show how some states are promoting Work Zone Safety:
For some great safe driving tips, see our previous blog post, Top 10 Work Zone Safety Tips for CDL Drivers. Also, review key facts and statistics about distracted driving in our recent blog post, Do You Drive the Entire Length of a Football Field, Blind?
Connect with Driving Ambition on Facebook and LinkedIn!
Driving Ambition is a premier CDL truck driver staffing company serving Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, and Tennessee. Since 2001, we have specialized in matching safe, experienced CDL drivers for our customers and great job opportunities for our professional truck drivers.
Our commitment to safety and building solid working relationships with both customers and CDL drivers has allowed us to earn an unparalleled reputation with our Proven Drivers and Exceptional Service.