Say What?

Question: When changing jobs, what do you look for in a company?

Dave Edwards, 54, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada
Professional driving experience: 7 years   
“A really good safety record. I always do my homework before I sign on. I was lucky to get hired on to a premier company that has a good rating. We have PrePass; we never get hauled into a weigh station. We just drive on by. I’ve never had any infractions of any kind – no speeding tickets, no overweight, no violations – and pretty much all the other drivers at my company are the same way.”

James Pate, 55, Utica, KY 
Professional driving experience: 21 years  
“I’ve probably been with every flatbed carrier there is and some people would say that’s my problem. I’ve jumped around a little too much. I’m always hoping I can haul more freight or the rates will be better. I’m always thinking I can better myself. I like it when I’m lied to. At least it gives me hope. When I talk to a recruiter, at least he instills some hope in me. So I end up going to that company. Of course I lose a little money in the switchover and after a while I see it’s really not any different.”

Ken Sargent, 54, Owensboro, KY 
Professional driving experience: 32 years     
“Freight availability in the areas I like to run. I like to be able to get home. Now, I’m home almost every day. I stay out sometimes, but I try to stay close to home as much as I can. I can’t go over-the road anymore. I can’t deal with the jam-ups at the truck stops when all you want is to get some coffee. People are stopping at the truck stops at 4 p.m. and 5 p.m., and that’s it for the day. It creates a big jam-up.”

James Gibson, 51, Louisville, KY  
Professional driving experience: 5 years   
“My next job is going to be with a small company, one that knows all of its drivers. Maybe 75 to 80 trucks, a company that can really relate to its drivers. That’s what I want. I don’t want a big company because then you have      a revolving door. You get rid of one driver and there’s five or 10 more ready to take his place. Out of those 10, maybe two will stay. The other eight will leave because they become wise about the company’s policies and procedures, so they leave, too. I want to be able to reach out and touch the president and talk to him if I have a problem.”