Question:
This was sort of brought up over in the round table and again in the owner/operater forum, but it also has a bearing on company drivers as well, and it is one thing that is very often overlooked when talking to a company when looking for a job.
While you are on the phone asking about pay, hometime, an so forth, try to remember to ask about things that you may be charged for.
Will you be charged for curbing a tire and damaging it, or bending a rim, or for a late delivery. Will the company charge you for special equipment you might need like padlocks, load locks, etc. Will they require you to have an escrow account of some sort. Will you get charged for exceeding a percentage of out of route miles, or for idling too much.
The list is endless of what carriers might try or want to charge a driver for. Some carriers do not require or will they charge a driver for anything while others basically try to charge a driver for everything under the sun.
Finally an important thing to ask too is: What happens if for some reason I become disqualified during orientation, or at some point I decide to leave the company's employ? Will you provide my transportation back home.
I am not going to get into the merits or lack there of on this subject. Only wanted to bring up some things drivers often fail to inquire about and find themselves totally suprised by on day one of orientation.
Ask lots of straight questions. Expect straight answers. If you can not get them move on.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
What Uturn said is correct. Most drivers fail to ask the really important questions.
Uturn, you should add those 2 links to this thread.
Ahh, what the heck, I'll help ya out.
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"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane." (from Waylon Jennings)

Answer:
Thread from the R/T
Thread from the O/O Forum
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"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane." (from Waylon Jennings)


Answer:
I got to thinking about adding the links to those topics and was coming back to do it. Glad you had my back on it.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
and I thought that they were very good questions and was wondering how they could be applied to just company drivers or a newbie like I am looking in to.

Answer:
Originally posted by mighty oak:
and I thought that they were very good questions and was wondering how they could be applied to just company drivers or a newbie like I am looking in to.
Ya just gotta rearrange the wording from O/O to company driver. LOL.
Seriously, make the questions fit your situation.
*******************************
"I've always been different with one foot over the line.
Winding up somewhere, one step ahead or behind.
It ain't been so easy, but I guess I shouldn't complain.
I've always been crazy, but it's kept me from going insane." (from Waylon Jennings)


Answer:
I agree and dissagree, I can see asking about pay,bennies,home time,but myself Id be a little uneasy about asking if they charge me if I break something.I would think that it could be misunderstood by them in the hiring prosess thinking maybe Ive done it in the past.Having worked for a few of the big 4 I never asked and never had to pay for anything that went wrong with the rig at all.Wheel bearings,fifthwheel,jake,blown tires,glad hands,radio,ect... Just my 2 cents worth but I wouldnt ask it as a 'seasoned driver, newbee maybe.
"I love You All!! Let Me See Your Hands" OZZY OSBORN

Answer:
I recently worked for a company that I failed to ask about this kind of stuff prior to orientation, and during orientation they pulled out about 20 forms to have signed for everything I had mentioned. Needless to say it was a big suprise. It was the first time I had ran into it myself but after talking to a lot of drivers I found that it was not as uncommon as I thought.
Accidents happen. Even the most experienced driver can curb a tire and cause it to blow out or cause the rim to bend. When you are grossed out on your axle weight it doesnt take a whole lot for that to happen.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.
Answer:
UT
I also signed similar forms during the last day and last few hours of orientation with Swift. I had no clue that they could charge the driver for so many things. Even the drivers handbook is 40 bucks if I lose mine. And the lock kit is anothr 80 bucks.
Needless to say I am very careful with anything and everything I do associated with their equipment.

Answer:
If Swift is still using that enforcer king pin lock and pad lock keep it when you quit. Yeah I know you will "loose" the $80 but just that king pin lock by itsself costs over $100 retail. It is a good buy.
I will always be a mutter trucker at heart.