Need Advice on managing a trucking company
My employer is retiring and doesnt want to close his company. Im his top driver and he wants me to take the reigns While I've held low level management positions before, I've never been in trucking management.
We have 6 drivers excluding myself. We've had a problem with maintenance and driver retention. I want advice from experienced drivers and managers.
To solve the maintenance issue, I plan to run a safety lane, meaning drivers that terminate at our shop will be required to pull through our shop bay and do a full 104 point inspection. Those who decide to sleep in the trucks will be met in the field daily by myself or a mechanic and have their trucks inspected where they sit for the night.
As for driver retention, well thats a different issue. We run in the North Dakota oilfields and its difficult to retain drivers during the harsh winter months. My only plan for this is to treat my drivers really well, like family, just as my boss treats me; things like cookouts, fishing trips, hunting, etc. I'm hoping that an environment like that will make them want to hang around.
So do you have any advice or ideas? Id really appreciate any suggestions to help.our company to be successful. Thank you in advance!