So overall how are you liking Shaffer? Im now recruiting for them amoung others. From reading your chronicles, it looks like you are having a few problems all companies can have...but other than that it seems you are doing pretty well.
Im just starting out recruiting for them, but from what I read about their program it looks great. And from what I have heard from other recruiters doing what I do, it seems to be very easy to get the drivers excited about this job...but a little hard to get them on because Shaffer is pretty picky and only wants the best drivers.

 

when did shaffer open up thier hiring again?

 

Truthfully:

If I could find another carrier that:

(1) Would start me out at .43 per mile or better
(2) Hire out of north central Arkansas
(3) not require haz-mat
(4) could confirm with several driver testimonials they are getting 3000 miles a week average and no problem- no gripe getting Home every 18 days.

I'd be gone-- yesterday.

The problem with Shaffer is not this Division-- it's the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain( Crete Carrier Corp) and their RULES & B.S.

When I hired on here- I was led to believe by a Recruiter- that Shaffer was independant of Crete and ran their Own operation--- this was never the case.
You're really just trying to recruit a Crete driver willing to pull a reefer trailer.

 

I dont know...ive only been hiring for them for 2 days. From what I understand is right now they are being very picky and its still pretty tough to get on unless you have a very good work history and driving record. I did send them a couple of drivers today, they had good work history and driving records...so lets see if they stick.

 

What are the metrics used to determine the "Best Drivers"?

Every company states they want the best drivers. I just don't see it on the highways.

Not trying to be a wiseguy. Just wondering what objective data Shaffer/Crete (or any other company) uses to evaluate a driver. Seems to me hiring drivers is kind of like buying something on eBay. You never really know what your getting until it arrives at your doorstep :lol:

 

Two things would keep me from Schaffer now, Cretes Regional Dispatch and Opti-Idle.

 

Lol....if i knew the answer to that question, I would be a millionaire. Ive been recruiting for a long time and Ive had drivers where I said "man, i cant believe they put that moron on that great job" and ive had drivers who I couldnt find a thing wrong with them, they seemed almost perfect to me, and I couldnt get them on. A lot of times we recruiters never find out why a driver was refused...something about previleged information.

I know during the last few years companies lowered their standards a bit and let a lot of people go through that probably shouldnt have. With the slowdown in the economy lately, especially in the transportation sector, companies are downsizing a bit and now are under the belief that they can be more picky. So its a little harder to get on jobs. Does this mean the "driver shortage" over? :wink:

 

Bumper-- (1) Opt-idle;

This was something I hadn't thought about asking the recruiter- almost 3 years ago.
At Westside Transport(former employer- 500 trucks) they toyed a little with the opt-idle and had nothing but trouble with it and honestly;
it looses drivers-- experienced drivers who are "picky" about their "quality of
life/ sleep. They disconnected the darn thing after losing the first 20 drivers.
And it really doesn't save very much fuel either- vs- ware and tear on the equipment and driver.


But, I've made my peace with it-- and now find the auto start up- when battery low a very nice safe guard. And there are "ways" to get the darn thing to idle practically continously- so it's less a problem that originally.
The key is to consider it a challange to overcome, adapt, improvise.

(2) regional dispatch;

We've just began the "zone dispatch" system-- it's still the same freight base( hopefully we won't loose to much more in this transition period)
Only now-- I've gotten rid of the prick of a dispatcher I had to deal with daily- Now, I have multiple personalities---surely, I can't piss off all of them. We'll see how it goes--- I've done the "zone dispatch" before-- I know many of the pit-falls of that type of system-- maybe i can avoid the pit-falls and come out ahead.

 

You're absolutely right about the "harder to get on" issue-- but, companies aren't just rejecting "average" or "marginal" drivers--- they are also rejecting " good, experienced drivers- with exceptional work history" based on issues as- Geography- Fuel cost is so outragiously high-- even hiring a "exceptional" driver is impossible if it's gonna cost too much to get
them home(even once every 3 weeks).

 

Little fellow in a dark office with a crystal ball. Figures, not much makes sense in this industry.

I was just wondering. I have seen Crete/Shaffer drivers that would not be out of place with Swift on their door.

Same goes with gross obesity and gross hygiene. Ditto for bad behavior. I guess the bar in trucking isn't set too high.

Good luck with your new position at Shaffer.