Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/683061
TRUCKING TOPICS 30 // COMPANY DRIVER // JUNE 2016 But in the end his lack of knowledge and generally reactive approach to freight proved more burden than it was worth. If the truck/driver situation in small fleet expansion present a chicken-egg type conundrum, Bowers suggests, operators would do well to focus on the driver first. However, as shown in results from polling below, much of Overdrive's audience has never been in the position of hiring a driver, and very few respondents (3 percent) reported typically putting their focus on striking an agreement with a dependable driver prior to purchasing a truck. At once, the largest share of respondents (43 percent) reported belief that the driver was the most important part of the expansion equation, whether access to the truck precedes his/ her hiring or not. An important related consideration also was noted by a significant share (16 percent) of respondents — having the truck first can be a good recruiting tool in some sense, the "best way to seal the deal" with any prospective hire. However, a driver who exhibits the independent c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s described above and who could commit to the business before the truck is even available may represent the kind of commitment an o w n e r - o p e r a t o r looking to move to a two-truck operation badly needs to succeed. As small fleet operations grow, considerations may change. Mark White of Tennessee-based Old Time Express, interviewed last Fall, had freight in excess of his company's capacity to deliver on actually moving it in its 15 company-owned trucks. At once, he's turned to a new model of expansion (for Old Time) that in some ways underscores a chicken-egg approach to the driver/truck. "You've got to do something to make yourself stand out from everybody else," he says. "It will take somebody reinventing the wheel here to alleviate the recruiting and retention problem," whether with guaranteed detention and other pay models to attract drivers or other things. Small fleet operators, what's your take? If you're reading on a smartphone, tap the image to call and leave us a message to weigh in. We'll round up responses in a special mailbag podcast. Alternately, drop a comment below. If you're on a desktop, call 530-408-6423.