Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/591405
BEST PRACTICES they fi nished school. In both cases, the techs said the business they chose was the one that did the best job of making them feel comfortable. Lueck in particular was impressed by how his new coworkers at Bruckner Truck Sales introduced themselves and welcomed him to the family. Each tech said they would encour- age students fi nishing tech school to look for the same atmosphere. "Everyone wants to work in a shop that is like home," says Wal-Mart Tech Nick Moeller. Somewhat surprisingly, the group seemed less focused on compensation. While most techs said their employers met their fi nancial expectations coming out of trade school, the group noted business culture, skills training, com- pany leadership and career mobility as larger drivers in their hiring decisions. Safety matters, too. Techs won't take a job if they don't feel safe. Compensation doesn't mean much "if I can only work three months because a truck dropped on my leg," says Moore. "There's no replacement for working in a clean, safe shop," Moeller adds. And when asked about recruiting their contemporaries, the group was frank—trucking has to sell its technology. "I don't think you can say someone is too smart" or qualifi ed for this ca- reer, says McLean. "The trucks today are getting smarter and smarter … techs need to keep up with that." F www.FlatbedTruckingJobs.com 23 PUZZLES Answers on page 25