written by Chandler Moody, Account Executive - Indianapolis, IN
Where do we fit in?
In my initial blog, I want to accomplish a few things. This will help establish where I want to go from here. I have been attending seminars, reading websites, and listening to all of the experts talk about what is in store for the Transportation and Logistics Industry going forward. I figured I would collect some thoughts here.
I sit everyday listening to the experts I try and contemplate:
"Where does Driving Ambition fit in?"
"What will our role be next year?"
The issue is that experts are talking to the trucking carriers. We are not a trucking carrier. Trucking, whether they have one truck or one thousand trucks, are all be affected by the economy, CSA 2010, environmental issues, infrastructure issues, and a plethora of new and old governmental regulations. But I repeat: we are not a trucking carrier - so why should I care?
The reason why I care is that we provide the integral part that makes the trucks move. A trucking carrier only needs trucks to be considered a carrier but without the driver those trucks don't move. I would like to go into a couple of items today.
I know what you are saying: "Drivers are easy to come by." My question to you is, do you know what makes a good driver and are you willing to put the safety of your friends and family on the road at the mercy of a potentially bad driver?
Issue 1) Currently there is a driver surplus. This has not always been the case but studies show that the trucking industry is about 20%-30% over capacity. This means that there are 20% more drivers/trucks payrolls than there are loads to go around to reach a stable flow of goods and a stable rate.
Where is the upside for a staffing company like Driving Ambition?
Right now there is an opportunity to shake out the worst of the worst drivers and replace them with better, more qualified drivers - Topgrading!! This is where Driving Ambition can help.
As the carriers have leaned down, we have beefed up. We specialize in hiring and qualifying drivers so that the carriers have quick, easy access to top talent. We take this seriously and hang our hats on the quality of our drivers. We have to. This gives us the opportunity to be more selective in our hiring process than any other time in our history.
Issue 2) CSA 2010 is coming!!! Believe it or not there are companies out there that do not know what CSA 2010 is. Shocking, I know. If you are not preparing now then I am afraid of what the outcomes will be. Remember that overcapacity that I mentioned before. CSA 2010 has the potential to shake out a good bit of the poorer performing drivers and carriers. I don't want to go into an entire breakdown of what is going to occur. That is multiple blogs in itself.
Once again where do we fit in?
A big stress of the new CSA 2010 will be the drivers. Once again what are we specialists in? Drivers. It has become our mission to wrap our arms around the new "rules" and help spread the word when we can. Right now companies have the option of removing drivers and replacing them with safer drivers. Next year that option goes away and becomes mandatory.
"The economy sucks...fuel is too high...we are just trying to get by." We have heard them all before. No, we can't change the economy, and no, we can't lower the price of fuel for you. What we can do is help keep your trucks running safely and efficiently. We can help the carriers embrace the current and future situations, change for the better and come out on the other side stronger and more profitable than ever before. Just ask.
Is your CDL driver staffing company helping you improve the quality of your driver fleet? If not, you might consider finding a better CDL driver staffing partner. In today's economic environment, when so many quality drivers are unemployed or underemployed, the best carriers are actively "top-grading".
Your CDL driver staffing company should be an extension of your recruiting department. While you, the carrier, manage your day-to-day business, your CDL driver staffing company should be marketing for and recruiting you the very best performers available. When found, you can remove a poor performing driver and replace them with a good performing driver. It won't take long until your overall fleet quality has improved dramatically. Think about how that would improve the service to your customers.
From a compliance perspective, "top-grading" is a no brainer. As the CSA 2010 program nears, Driving Ambition strongly suggests you audit your current driver's roadside inspection history. Sort the last 36 months of inspection history based on the CSA 2010 six "BASICs" and Crash Indicator categories, weight them by date and severity, and determine your worst 15%. When CSA 2010 goes live, those are the drivers responsible for increasing your safety score. Those are also the drivers that will draw the attention of your insurance company's underwriters and will increase your insurance premiums. Avoid the future drama...partner with your CDL driver staffing company...and "top-grade" your fleet now.