How are trucking companies trying to attract new drivers?
Trucking drivers are trying to attract more drivers by holding meetings in places such as barbershops where men generally are to be found. They use excellent argument such as point out that truck drivers can earn about 19$/ hour and also see the world. They try to make it look as an attractive and tough proposition. People from minority groups such as Hispanics are approached since these groups have lesser jobs and are willing to work hard. They also attempt canvassing in cities and holding jobs fairs and also offer attractive options such as 401(k), stock options and healthcare packages along with cash bonus and prizes to drivers who refer viable candidates. This is in line with what Maslow (1943) speaks about motivation levels and the hierarchy of needs where people try to meet their basic needs and then move up the hierarchy level.
How are trucking companies trying to retain employees?
Trucking companies are very keen on retaining existing employees who may join other professions such as construction or even join other trucking companies. They have begun outfitting more of their cabs with satellite radio, television and introducing policies to allow drivers to bring pets and spouses on the road. They are also reducing the maximum hours of continuous driving to 11 per day and ensure that truckers get enough sleep. There are also plans to see that truckers spend at least 17 weeks at home with their families. There are also plans to bring the salary at par with other blue-collar professions. Trucking companies also have chaplains to check drivers morale and hold driver recognition days every few months with Elvis impersonators, barbeque and raffle tickets for motorcycles and vacations. They also encourage husband wife teams. Union truck drivers earn about 60000$ annually while others earn about 34920 $ per annum and as suggested by Doherty (1997), unions have collective bargaining power and can negotiate much higher wages and other benefits than workers who are not unionized.
What are the advantages of husband and wife driving teams?
Husband and wife team has many advantages as this way, the spouses are not separated for long period of time during a long haul. When both work, they stand to earn more than 100000USD per annum and this is a sizeable amount. Also it has been observed that women drivers have fewer tendencies to hop jobs and pay more attention to dispatcher’s instructions and try their best to avoid missing deadlines. Husband wife teams are usually made of couples who have put their kids through school and then want to spend more time with each other. If the husband goes out alone, then the wife would feel lonely and ultimately the husband would drop the job. But if the spouse also comes on as drivers, then both are together and there is reduced chances of feeling lonely and bored.
What kinds of careers do most truck drivers have?
Most truck drivers have started working when they were about 25 or 30 and have taken up truck driving after passing the commercial drivers license. They begin work and gradually as they gain experience, they switch to different loads such as perishable items that must be delivered within a specified time or the whole load will be wasted. They also take up driving chemical and other hazardous loads after gaining sufficient expertise. These loads require more experience and the pay is also higher. There is not much of a career growth as the driver would continue to drive truck until they decide to retire or take up some other work. If they are educated and qualified, they can become employees in the office, booking and dispatchers departments. Otherwise they will keep driving trucks until they decide to retire.
References
Doherty Damian, Willmott Hugh, 1997. Debating Labor Process Theory: The Issue of Subjectivity and the Relevance of Poststructuralism.
Maslow AH, 1943; A Theory of Motivation, Psychological Review, Vol 50, p. 74-76.
Urbina I. 2008. Short on Drivers, Truckers Dangle Stock and 401 (k). The New York Times. pp: A1. A14.