Questions you should ask a potential company before you
agree to work there. If they won't answer, go somewhere else.
HAVE THEM GIVE YOU THEIR DRIVER MANUAL
BEFORE YOU GO TO WORK THERE SO YOU
CAN LOOK IT OVER
For Students:
What is the student pay in training?
How long is training?
What will be their mileage pay?
Do they have a contract?
Is the contract prorated?
*Some do not prorate. Quit a day early and owe all of it.
Do you force a non-compete on anyone?
*Very important.
Will students get an auto restriction on their CDL?
How does everyone get there (Crackhound or rental car/flight)?
Are meals included while in training at school?
*Some only feed you 2 a day on weekdays. Ask.
Do they need any money upfront?
Do you team train or must the trainer be up actually training?
*Some companies allow the trainer to sleep while you drive.
Do you force 2 students to team together at any point?
*You don't learn anything this way.
For everyone:
What is the mileage rate and how does it progress?
Do you pay practical miles?
How much is detention pay and what is the policy on it?
*How much an hour and how long to wait to get it.
How about layover pay?
*Paid daily. How much? Is there a waiting period?
Do you have paid holidays, meaning pay if not worked?
*Some don't.
You list bonuses, how do drivers get them?
Do you have paid vacations and how does it pay, set rate or an actual weeks pay?
*Some don't offer any and the pay varies.
Are there cameras in the trucks and do they face the driver?
*Drive cams. I hate them.
Are we required to take a sleep study and who pays for it?
Are there any manual trucks or all autos?
*You may get a manual restriction if a new driver.
What is your policy on felons?
What is the pet and rider policy?
Can drivers take the truck home?
Where do you hire from?
How long is orientation and how much does it pay?
*Some don't pay anything.
Do drivers stay in a motel and do they get their own room?
*Professionals get their own room.
Do you do a physical capacities (lifting) test or just a DOT physical?
Do the trucks have an APU and what is the idle policy?
How fast do the trucks go?
*65 is my minimum.
What is your average length of haul?
*Longer equals more money generally.
What percentage of loads are multiple stops?
*Stops take time and time is money.
Do you pay for parking at trucks stops?
Do you have per diem and is it forced or an option?
How often are drivers home?
AM I PAID FOR ALL OF MY TIME? (waiting, fueling, pretrip, postrip, etc)
What is the student pay in training?
How long is training?
What will be their mileage pay?
Do they have a contract?
Is the contract prorated?
*Some do not prorate. Quit a day early and owe all of it.
Do you force a non-compete on anyone?
*Very important.
Will students get an auto restriction on their CDL?
How does everyone get there (Crackhound or rental car/flight)?
Are meals included while in training at school?
*Some only feed you 2 a day on weekdays. Ask.
Do they need any money upfront?
Do you team train or must the trainer be up actually training?
*Some companies allow the trainer to sleep while you drive.
Do you force 2 students to team together at any point?
*You don't learn anything this way.
For everyone:
What is the mileage rate and how does it progress?
Do you pay practical miles?
How much is detention pay and what is the policy on it?
*How much an hour and how long to wait to get it.
How about layover pay?
*Paid daily. How much? Is there a waiting period?
Do you have paid holidays, meaning pay if not worked?
*Some don't.
You list bonuses, how do drivers get them?
Do you have paid vacations and how does it pay, set rate or an actual weeks pay?
*Some don't offer any and the pay varies.
Are there cameras in the trucks and do they face the driver?
*Drive cams. I hate them.
Are we required to take a sleep study and who pays for it?
Are there any manual trucks or all autos?
*You may get a manual restriction if a new driver.
What is your policy on felons?
What is the pet and rider policy?
Can drivers take the truck home?
Where do you hire from?
How long is orientation and how much does it pay?
*Some don't pay anything.
Do drivers stay in a motel and do they get their own room?
*Professionals get their own room.
Do you do a physical capacities (lifting) test or just a DOT physical?
Do the trucks have an APU and what is the idle policy?
How fast do the trucks go?
*65 is my minimum.
What is your average length of haul?
*Longer equals more money generally.
What percentage of loads are multiple stops?
*Stops take time and time is money.
Do you pay for parking at trucks stops?
Do you have per diem and is it forced or an option?
How often are drivers home?
AM I PAID FOR ALL OF MY TIME? (waiting, fueling, pretrip, postrip, etc)