Driver’s dream job?

Okay, I don’t know if I’m completely gullible and took this hook, line and sinker or whether this job posting is legit. Either way, a reader forwarded the following job posting to us.
Among the highlights: ‘We don’t pay per hour as our experience is that driver’s tend to slack off and not much productivity is done and it damages our companies reputation.’
And this: ‘We don’t know exactly how many runs you will do per week, maybe as low as none, or as much as 4 runs to Sherbrooke. It is up to you to keep in contact with dispatch every few minutes and also the days you are not working.’
And also this gem: ‘I am disclosing below that the trucks and trailers do have mechanical problems, some 50/50 chance of geting put out of service at the inspection station. You need to be mechanically inclined to fix/repair minor defects like brake chambers, suspension system,fifth wheel etc.. on truck/trailers. These are normal things that every AZ driver should know how to fix/repair if necessary.’
And just in case you were still thinking of applying, be forewarned: ‘MY JOB IS TO MAKE SURE THE LOAD GETS TO THE CUSTOMER ON TIME, IT IS UP TO YOU HOW YOU GET IT THERE. I DO NOT WANT YOU TO WASTE MY TIME IN PERSON, IF YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH THE EQUIPMENT YOU ARE DRIVING. PLEASE NOTE: YOU ARE GETTING PAID TO DRIVE.’
And to cap it off: ‘Serious applicants only.’
Now for the really scary part, the update: ‘UPDATED 1 POSITION FILLED, 1 LEFT’
What do you say, has it really come to this or have I been had?

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James Menzies is editor of Today's Trucking. He has been covering the Canadian trucking industry for more than 20 years and holds a CDL. Reach him at james@newcom.ca or follow him on Twitter at @JamesMenzies.


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  • Hi James…. I would like to tell you that you have been “had”, but honestly, that sounds very much like the way a lot of bigger companies actually operate! In my 26 years in this buisiness, I have worked for a few places that sound exactly like that, but I am surprised that anyone would be that honest up front… Usually there would be a bunch of sugar coated b.s. to suck you in to the job, and only then you would find out what they are really like. Most bigger companies will never tell you what’s happening next, instead they expect you to be available 24/7 and then if their “buddies” can’t get to the good load in time, at the last minute, they will give you the load if you are begging for the work. Any company who will not consider paying by the hour usually has no organization skills at all and it costs them too much to pay drivers or owner/operators who are waiting around while the company sales people or dispatchers are trying to sort out the problems that they probably created by being disorganized or not having the whole picture in front of them before taking on the freight in the first place.
    I don’t disagree that drivers should be knowledgeable about the equipment that they operate, but if the trucks only have half a chance of getting through an inspection, they should not leave the yard! If drivers were “in the know”, they could recognize whether the equipment was in safe operating condition before leaving the yard while doing the mandatory pre-trip and then the trucks should be repaired before heading down the road.
    As far as this company’s reputation being damaged by drivers who slack off, I think that their 50/50 chance of getting through an inspection has already tarnished their reputation!

  • Trouble is people need jobs and will do anything.
    Good thing we deregulated trucking.
    It use to pay well.
    In fact better 20 years ago than now.
    But some will tell you I have a bad attitude.
    meslippery

  • An obvious ploy by the ranks of the disgruntled James.
    I’m not saying some of these pitch points don’t happen, because some of them are valid problems that drivers can face at the “relic” companies who are still hanging on. Some drivers have no choice but to work for such companies especially if they are sporting a record of poor performance. Often developed by working for such companies.
    Sounds like a vicious circle eh?
    Really it’s a shame that despite all the rhetoric and all the money made providing “solutions” to recruiting and retention issues,few are actually implemented with any substantial success.These solutions are often given the appropriate accolades followed by the appropriate rah! rah! back slapping followed imediately by the return to business as usual because the changes hit the wall when they have to compete against the status quo of a busy demanding service industry such as ours.

  • yea it sounds like most big companies, ive have driven for since the 80,s and they get the goverments blessing because they have a giant book of rules that they never seem to fallow or they have the nod nod wink wink of both goverment bodies. saying the driver should starve rather than protecting them. or even worse is they failm to pay you and the provivcalo goverment says they are under fedral rules, funny but i cant get a drivers lic in alberta and live in ontario but big companies can be in ontario without the labour laws affecting them

  • All things considered life for a truck driver would
    be made so much easier if when I get to the yard I punch in.
    When ever I finish I punch out.
    Paid by the hour.
    If there is a better way to pay drivers,
    I have not seen it in 30 years.
    Its not prefect but what else is fair?
    Carriers should do the same.
    Think 24hrs x 5 days = 120 hrs x min wage $10.25 = $246.00
    per day x 5 = 1230.00 per week
    So if you make less for that time spent.
    You make less than min wage.
    There are no doubt lots making less than that.
    meslippery

  • Dear Mr. James
    I am still on the floor laughing My ass off — Your posting is funny but true — out west I get involved in several truck safety committees. — Why ??? because I am tired and fed – up with the system — tired and fed up of being treated like shit — tired and fed up of being ripped off
    by the employer — tired and fed up with the BC — CVSE — commercial vehicle safety and enforcement and the bc trucking assoc
    the driver does not have anyone speaking up for him or her — no one at all — they are on there own. I have told my kids I well lock them in there rooms if they so much as breath a ideal of driving truck !
    I bitched and howled for 2 years about automatic slack adjusters, the last i was told the bc cvse was looking at the problem — i have my complaint in writing.
    I have said that a ( PRO ACTIVE ) approach needs to be taken, I have said it to the faces of the CVSE, RCMP and others, I highly doubt that it sunk in .
    I like the phrase You use
    Opportunity in 2010 starts with education
    it is much the same theme as I have said
    we need to to go back to the 3 r’s education 101 in the trucking industry
    there is no education for the driver at all in the trucking industry
    a educated driver would be a safer and happier driver !
    geo

  • mr.menzies…you are correct sir! funny…yes…but oh so true..ever notice that we are called …get this..professional drivers wanted..when it comes to ads looking for drivers..however we are considered unskilled labor with canada unemployment agency, not much different the a guy on a round mouth shovel, no offence to shoveler, been 1 myself..no, we are not professional drivers, we are called commercial drivers, because i do not know of any professionals who do not get paid for thier time, try getting a plumber, electrican or carpenter to come to your house at the time you want them there, {ie.appointment time}..then tell them you are not ready for them and ask them to wait in the truck with no washroom or food facilities for an unspecified amount of time for no pay..after you are done choking on the words..no problem buddy, its $100 an hour while im waiting for you to get ready for me..you quickly realize professional experience and service has a high price…no we drivers are and appently will always be at the bottom of an industry where it get there on time, but when u get there , dont be in a hurry, dont be rude to the customer, dont park in our yard,you cant use our washromms..etc…as for the above mentioned ad..well, funny yes..but oh so true!!

  • Good morning; Every operator prefers to think that they excel; however for each that excels there is naturally a counterpart at the other end of the spectrum.
    I would like to think that you are being “had.” The unfortunate reality is that the advert you are referring to is an operators mantra somewhere, and there will be an individual willing to risk himself and unwittingly our families through either inexperience or desperation.
    My question now to you James is did you do anything about it? Did you jot down the number listed in the advert? Did you identify who the carrier is and call the MTO tips line?
    Here is the URL to the ad, note the truck pic!
    http://74.125.95.132/search?q=cache:S62SLzoKg_QJ:toronto.kijiji.ca/c-jobs-driver-security-AZ-DRIVERS-NEEDED-ASAP-SCARBOROUGH-TO-QUEBEC-WELL-PAID-CALL-US-W0QQAdIdZ191458092+We+don%27t+pay+per+hour+as+our+experience+is+that+driver%27s+tend+to+slack+off&cd=2&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=ca&client=firefox-a

  • Okay, we know (hope) its a spoof.
    However we have a responsibility to ourselves and each other to track down SOB’s that do operate like this, report them and ideally jail them. Okay this is Canada and that is just never going to happen but we as knowledgeable responsible operators/citizens must act.

  • I called. Thought I would compliment them on their satirical take on the industry. Got an answering machine. Funny ad.

  • Sounds like the ad could have been placed by a guy my husband and I worked for several years ago. Gotta appreciate the honesty!