Why Drive for Bulk? The Inside Look at Joining Bulk Transit

1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:06,840 There's a frustrating sentence that a lot of brand new CDL holders hear almost immediately 2 00:00:06,840 --> 00:00:13,600 after getting their CDL. Come back when you've got some experience. Okay, but how 3 00:00:13,600 --> 00:00:19,239 exactly are you supposed to get experience if nobody will give you the opportunity to earn said 4 00:00:19,280 --> 00:00:25,359 experience today on always pneumatic, never static? We're talking about a door that's open right now. 5 00:00:25,840 --> 00:00:31,960 Bulk transit is looking for drivers Plain City, Picton and across much more of the company. That 6 00:00:31,960 --> 00:00:38,359 includes drivers who are fresh out of CDL school. It's not something you hear every day, but this 7 00:00:38,360 --> 00:00:43,919 isn't just an episode about who's hiring. Before you apply anywhere, you ought to know what you're 8 00:00:43,919 --> 00:00:49,400 actually signing up for. What does the job really look like? What does the company actually expect 9 00:00:49,400 --> 00:00:54,160 from you? What happens when you're brand new? The trainer is gone. You're standing next to a 10 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:59,130 pneumatic trailer by yourself, and suddenly you're not quite as confident as you thought you were. 11 00:00:59,770 --> 00:01:06,609 And what does a recruiter really see when your application hits their desk? Today, Rachel Dellaposta 12 00:01:06,610 --> 00:01:11,769 is pulling back the curtain on that entire process. The mistakes that can hurt you, the 13 00:01:11,769 --> 00:01:17,290 things you might think disqualify you, that actually don't. And one surprisingly simple 14 00:01:17,290 --> 00:01:23,129 mistake that might explain why that recruiter you replied with never called you back. Then there's 15 00:01:23,129 --> 00:01:28,129 the pilot and terminal manager, Kelly Cordova, who has a pretty straightforward philosophy when a 16 00:01:28,129 --> 00:01:35,009 new driver isn't sure what to do. Call, ask, and don't guess. And 17 00:01:35,010 --> 00:01:41,409 then there's driver Jeff Linne. Jeff was supposed to give us a driver's perspective. Instead, he damn 18 00:01:41,410 --> 00:01:46,889 near took over the recruiting department, and for good reason. He told us why he only wanted to work 19 00:01:46,889 --> 00:01:52,169 for bulk before he ever had the experience to get hired here. Why? He's still here roughly 16 years 20 00:01:52,169 --> 00:01:59,059 later, and why he just helped recruit a member of his own family to the company, and then 21 00:01:59,059 --> 00:02:05,500 he made a statement about earnings over those years that stopped me dead in my tracks. So if 22 00:02:05,540 --> 00:02:11,979 you're happy where you're at, that's great. But if you're looking if you're a new CDL holder 23 00:02:11,979 --> 00:02:18,579 wondering who will give you that first shot. Or if you've been driving for ten, 20, maybe 30 years and 24 00:02:18,580 --> 00:02:23,699 you're starting to wonder whether there's something better out there, you might want to hear 25 00:02:23,699 --> 00:02:29,619 this episode before you fill out your next application. Rachel Dellaposta, Kelly Cordova, 26 00:02:29,619 --> 00:02:34,899 Driver Jeff Linne. Three completely different perspectives on what it takes to get in the door, 27 00:02:34,899 --> 00:02:41,820 and what might make you want to stay once you're here. This is always pneumatic, never static. 28 00:02:41,860 --> 00:02:48,860 Let's roll. You are listening to always pneumatic, never static. The 29 00:02:48,860 --> 00:02:53,979 Totally Pressurized podcast, brought to you by Bulk Transit, where we keep the lines clear, the 30 00:02:53,979 --> 00:02:58,920 tanks empty, and the conversation anything but dried. Whether you're running powder, pellets or 31 00:02:58,920 --> 00:03:03,199 anything in between. Pull up a seat, crack the windows and let's hit it. 32 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:11,120 How's it going out there? Bullock and Spur, welcome into another episode of Always Pneumatic, 33 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:17,360 Never Static. Thank you so much for joining us today. Uh, I am your host, Marcus, as always, and I 34 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:23,880 will remind you that podcast.bulktransit.com is the website. And it's a very important 35 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:30,679 website for you to pay attention to today. Now, today's episode has to do with recruiting. 36 00:03:30,679 --> 00:03:34,640 We've got some open seats here. We're going to bring in three people to give us three different 37 00:03:34,640 --> 00:03:40,720 perspectives on the entire process. We'll have a hot seat. We'll break the format at the end. It's a 38 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:45,399 really exciting episode. And to be honest with you, the interview went long enough that I'm not even 39 00:03:45,399 --> 00:03:50,759 going to give you more than that. If you listen to the cold open and you heard what I just said, you 40 00:03:50,759 --> 00:03:55,769 should already be locked in for this interview segment coming up here in just a few minutes. So 41 00:03:55,809 --> 00:04:00,648 get excited, get pumped. We've got a terminal manager, we've got the recruiting and retention 42 00:04:00,649 --> 00:04:06,728 manager, and we got a driver, and we are going to hit them with questions from all sides of the 43 00:04:06,729 --> 00:04:12,849 recruiting process. Okay, so that's what this episode is about. I don't want to bury the lead 44 00:04:12,849 --> 00:04:18,570 there. I want you guys to know that that's what we're getting into. Because now I've got something 45 00:04:18,570 --> 00:04:25,529 very, very exciting for you. I mean, super exciting for you. I told you the website was important 46 00:04:25,530 --> 00:04:31,329 for today's episode. Why? Well, the website is where you're going to find the quizzes that come with 47 00:04:31,329 --> 00:04:38,209 each episode and podcast sitcom every episodes up there. You can go take those quizzes 48 00:04:38,209 --> 00:04:45,170 anytime you want to. I highly recommend you start taking them right away though. Okay, because we are 49 00:04:45,209 --> 00:04:52,019 already accepting submissions. I guess entries for our prize drawing that will be coming up 50 00:04:52,019 --> 00:04:57,459 here, uh, sometime in a few weeks when we will draw. We're not going to draw right away, because 51 00:04:57,500 --> 00:05:04,339 today's the day that I get to announce to you exactly what the prize is. And I think 52 00:05:04,339 --> 00:05:11,140 that deserves a party horn. Maybe a round of applause, maybe a correct ding. I mean, 53 00:05:11,140 --> 00:05:17,899 it's it's great and it's no joke. You see, I got that button too. But anyway, I digress. I was 54 00:05:17,900 --> 00:05:24,380 pretty pumped the last time we did a giveaway. We gave away two cooling vests to keep you guys cool 55 00:05:24,380 --> 00:05:29,459 in the in the hot summer months, which we're just now getting towards the end of, and we were 56 00:05:29,459 --> 00:05:34,739 putting our heads together thinking, what could we do for our next giveaway that would really move 57 00:05:34,739 --> 00:05:41,339 the needle, have a little bit of a wow factor, kind of shake the foundation, if you will. And uh, wow, 58 00:05:42,420 --> 00:05:47,540 almost lost my voice just thinking about it. We did it. And I can't take credit for this one 59 00:05:47,540 --> 00:05:53,309 because I gotta be honest. This this goes to, uh, the management up at bulk, you know? Brian, Brad, 60 00:05:53,310 --> 00:06:00,230 Andrea, Sean, Tim, Rachel, everybody in there kind of had a little bit to do with this. I'm just 61 00:06:00,230 --> 00:06:05,509 the guy that is lucky enough to get to tell you what it is. And I am shaking in my boots right now 62 00:06:05,510 --> 00:06:11,470 because we've never done anything like this. Uh, especially on this podcast, we've done a giveaway, 63 00:06:11,470 --> 00:06:18,108 but nothing of this magnitude. I've never given away something in my podcasting career with a 64 00:06:18,109 --> 00:06:24,989 dollar value this high. All right, so without further ado, I will tell you that within the next 65 00:06:24,989 --> 00:06:29,749 few weeks, some time you're going to have to stay tuned to the podcast. I'm not going to let you get 66 00:06:29,790 --> 00:06:35,629 off easy and listen to one, and then just skip out on it and hope that you know when it's going to 67 00:06:35,630 --> 00:06:40,429 be. No, no, no, no, no, that's not how we do things. Because when we are giving away something of this 68 00:06:40,430 --> 00:06:46,429 magnitude, we want everybody to have plenty of chances to enter the drawing. And you enter the 69 00:06:46,430 --> 00:06:52,920 drawing by going once again to podcast.bulktransit.com and filling out the quiz. 70 00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:57,599 Submitting. It doesn't matter if you get them all right. Doesn't matter if you get them all wrong. 71 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:03,199 You just got your name in the hat for the drawing. That will be for a 72 00:07:03,359 --> 00:07:07,439 $400 Amazon gift card. 73 00:07:14,959 --> 00:07:21,359 I mean, come on people, that's what else could you ask for? As the holidays approach, as Thanksgiving 74 00:07:21,359 --> 00:07:25,439 gets around and all of a sudden you're going, I gotta feed 18 people, where am I going to get all 75 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:29,759 this stuff? Or maybe you're going to win this thing and you're going to sit on it until 76 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:34,599 Christmas comes, and you're going to absolutely blow everybody's heads off their shoulders with 77 00:07:34,599 --> 00:07:41,439 their Christmas gifts this year. It doesn't matter. What we've got for you is a $400 Amazon 78 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:47,779 gift card drawing, and if you want in on it, you have to take the quizzes that come with each show 79 00:07:47,820 --> 00:07:54,499 that are located at podcast.bulktransit.com, so get your submissions in. It's that easy. 80 00:07:54,540 --> 00:08:01,019 Listen to the show and answer a few questions. Bing bang boom. You got a shot at $400 in gift 81 00:08:01,020 --> 00:08:07,779 cards to Amazon. And I don't know about you. If I were to bring my wife home a $400 Amazon gift 82 00:08:07,779 --> 00:08:14,219 card tomorrow, first thing she'd have it spent before we actually realized, like how much it was 83 00:08:14,219 --> 00:08:20,099 worth. Like, I would hand it to her. Poof, it would be gone. But do you know how much great stuff that 84 00:08:20,099 --> 00:08:26,019 would bring me? I mean, she buys all of her tattoo equipment at Amazon because that's where she gets 85 00:08:26,019 --> 00:08:32,539 it the quickest, and that's a business expense for us. I get it. That means that that $400 is going to 86 00:08:32,539 --> 00:08:38,340 be more of a play expense for me, because she just gained $400 of latitude in the business, which 87 00:08:38,340 --> 00:08:45,189 means your boy here and her got $400 worth of fun money. And I can tell you right now, if I didn't 88 00:08:45,189 --> 00:08:50,669 spend at least a half or two thirds of it on Christmas gifts for her, I would be sadly mistaken. 89 00:08:50,710 --> 00:08:55,589 Okay. It would be a misstep by me. And I'm okay with that because that's what this is about. If 90 00:08:55,590 --> 00:09:00,309 you got somebody in your life that you can treat with this money, if you're the person that needs 91 00:09:00,310 --> 00:09:06,229 it, maybe you're in a tight spot and groceries because they're absolutely, outrageously expensive 92 00:09:06,229 --> 00:09:11,590 right now, are really weighing on you. Maybe it's one of those things where you've got a big road 93 00:09:11,630 --> 00:09:17,109 trip coming up and you're thinking, man, gas prices are through the roof right now. It's diesel is 94 00:09:17,109 --> 00:09:23,270 unbelievable. Okay. If you drive a diesel pickup outside of work, you know you're feeling it in the 95 00:09:23,270 --> 00:09:28,229 wallet right now. Well, what happens if you went home with a $400 Amazon gift card? And you can 96 00:09:28,229 --> 00:09:34,749 take that $400 and replace the expense? Okay, now you don't have to take $400 out of your wallet 97 00:09:34,750 --> 00:09:40,629 and give it to Amazon and take $300 out and give it to the gas pump. You got that gift card in hand. 98 00:09:40,630 --> 00:09:46,080 All you got to do is take a quiz and you are entered. And you can continue to enter every 99 00:09:46,080 --> 00:09:52,079 single week that we lead up to this giveaway. Once again, if you're listening, going, well, what episode 100 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:57,159 is the giveaway going to happen on? I'm not telling you yet. I will tell you in the future, but 101 00:09:57,159 --> 00:10:01,960 we're slow rolling this thing, so get your submissions in. If you've already done a couple 102 00:10:01,999 --> 00:10:06,840 since we started talking about this a few weeks ago, you're already submitted, but that doesn't 103 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:11,319 mean you have to stop there. Keep taking the quizzes. Keep getting your name in the hat. Trust 104 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:17,999 me, it'll be worth it if you win that $400 Amazon gift card. And I just want to say thanks to 105 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:24,999 a couple of guys here for reaching out to me and saying a few very nice things. Before we get 106 00:10:24,999 --> 00:10:31,520 into our segment with Rachel and Kelly and Jeff, I do have to call Jeff out, and I probably should 107 00:10:31,559 --> 00:10:35,800 have done this when he was on the air, but I had a nice long conversation with him off the air about 108 00:10:35,800 --> 00:10:41,569 it. So, uh, he'll understand, I think. But Jeff gave me some really nice compliments on our recent 109 00:10:41,609 --> 00:10:47,089 Trucking Up history episode, and I just thought that was really cool. He called me and he said, I 110 00:10:47,090 --> 00:10:52,649 learned something. You taught me something about my job that I didn't even know in that episode. 111 00:10:52,650 --> 00:10:57,810 And I'll tell you, that gives me a real warm and fuzzy feeling inside. I also want to say, what's up 112 00:10:57,810 --> 00:11:03,009 to Mike short out there, because Mike sent me a message on Facebook, and he also told me that he 113 00:11:03,009 --> 00:11:08,369 learned something, said that that might have been one of the best episodes that we've ever done. Um, 114 00:11:08,369 --> 00:11:14,968 and of course, uh, our equipment episode as well got some really great reviews from you guys, with 115 00:11:14,969 --> 00:11:21,249 Brad coming on to talk equipment with us. Um, and, and being joined also by a driver, which is always 116 00:11:21,249 --> 00:11:26,569 the great perspective that we get here on. Always pneumatic, never static. This episode is already 117 00:11:26,569 --> 00:11:31,929 going to run long. It's already going to be longer than an hour because I talked to Rachel, Kelly and 118 00:11:31,930 --> 00:11:37,390 Jeff for about an hour. So without further ado, now that you know about the giveaway. 119 00:11:39,190 --> 00:11:43,190 By the way, I kind of think that's going to be my giveaway button from here on out, but once again, I 120 00:11:43,190 --> 00:11:48,549 digress. Get ready, strap in. We're going to talk about the recruiting process and we're going to 121 00:11:48,590 --> 00:11:53,469 really dig in deep, get a driver perspective, a terminal manager perspective. And of course Rachel 122 00:11:53,469 --> 00:11:59,029 Dellaposta's perspective, which is ever so important as the recruiting and retention manager. 123 00:11:59,030 --> 00:12:03,509 So if you're a prospective driver listening to this right now, thinking about going to work for 124 00:12:03,510 --> 00:12:07,950 bulk, you found the right episode. Strap in. Here it comes. 125 00:12:15,150 --> 00:12:19,669 All right. Welcome back in here to always pneumatic, never static. We've got our guests in 126 00:12:19,669 --> 00:12:25,189 here for today. And we are going to talk some recruiting. And, uh, it's always essential to have 127 00:12:25,189 --> 00:12:29,509 our first guest here with us today when we talk recruiting. That is the recruiting and retention 128 00:12:29,509 --> 00:12:34,510 manager, Rachel Dellaposta. Rachel, welcome back to the show. Always a pleasure to have you. Always 129 00:12:34,510 --> 00:12:39,799 happy to be here. I can tell. And you and I have some great conversations, and you also have some 130 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:45,159 great conversations with our driver joining us today. You were actually the one that told me, hey, 131 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:50,919 get Jeff Linne on this podcast. He's got a lot to say about this. So welcome, Jeff. Thank you so much 132 00:12:50,919 --> 00:12:56,639 for being here today, my friend. Well, thanks for having me. I appreciate it, of course. And also 133 00:12:56,640 --> 00:13:01,759 joining us, we've got the terminal manager from the Picton terminal Kelly Cordova on the line. 134 00:13:01,760 --> 00:13:08,359 Kelly, good to have you back as well. Well thank you all for joining today. I know 135 00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:13,560 that recruiting is always a puzzle, and you guys are having to put together the pieces all the 136 00:13:13,560 --> 00:13:19,559 time. And this is a really cool, uh, segment. I feel like because we're getting three different 137 00:13:19,559 --> 00:13:24,480 perspectives here, we'll get Rachel's. Who's the expert on all of this? We'll find out what it is 138 00:13:24,480 --> 00:13:28,799 that Kelly is really looking for right now to fill out Picton, and we'll get a driver's 139 00:13:28,800 --> 00:13:33,729 perspective on it from what it's like going through this process and maybe, uh, seeing some 140 00:13:33,729 --> 00:13:39,449 people that have just gone through it, as Jeff does, have some past training experience here with 141 00:13:39,450 --> 00:13:45,849 Bulk and Spurs. So let's jump right in with you, Rachel. I want to start with the big picture. How's 142 00:13:45,849 --> 00:13:49,928 recruiting landscape looking right now? We've had this conversation maybe a couple of months ago, 143 00:13:49,929 --> 00:13:55,049 but I know that this is a real fluid environment. Are you seeing more applications or fewer than 144 00:13:55,049 --> 00:13:59,969 you were the last time we talked? What's it looking like for you? Yeah, we're seeing a lot of 145 00:13:59,969 --> 00:14:04,169 leads and apps right now, and most of our terminals are hiring. It's kind of a weird 146 00:14:04,169 --> 00:14:10,769 landscape in that we are seeing a lot of new drivers, new grads. Um, so that is 147 00:14:10,770 --> 00:14:15,729 something that I think kind of sets us apart a little bit, is that we can take on new grads and 148 00:14:15,729 --> 00:14:21,048 put them in our training program and get them going straight out of school. But it is it is a 149 00:14:21,049 --> 00:14:26,969 little bit different. Competition is tough because everybody's looking for drivers. Um, we're kind of 150 00:14:27,010 --> 00:14:32,899 back to that scenario where, you know, the drivers, even though we get them in process and they're 151 00:14:32,940 --> 00:14:37,459 there, you know, well, on their way to being onboarded, they may still be working with several 152 00:14:37,460 --> 00:14:44,379 other companies as well. So it's tight. And you mentioned the competition last time. Are you 153 00:14:44,379 --> 00:14:48,979 still seeing the same level of competition? It was. We were in a spot last time we had this 154 00:14:48,979 --> 00:14:53,179 conversation where capacity in the industry was kind of tightening. We were seeing a lot of 155 00:14:53,180 --> 00:14:58,619 authorities closed their doors. Some places had loads even sitting in that market, which was kind 156 00:14:58,620 --> 00:15:04,019 of crazy. But things have shifted. Rates have started to go up at this point in time. Do you see 157 00:15:04,060 --> 00:15:09,419 other companies sort of trying to grab Ahold of their new drivers and keep them by all means 158 00:15:09,420 --> 00:15:15,979 necessary, sort of like it was last time? Yeah. Yes. One thing that we are seeing and that I've heard 159 00:15:15,979 --> 00:15:21,179 from other companies as well that they're seeing too, is that, you know, even though people are 160 00:15:21,179 --> 00:15:26,060 moving through our process, even though they get all the way to orientation or they even start 161 00:15:26,060 --> 00:15:29,949 with us, there's still other companies that they've been talking with that they've also been 162 00:15:29,950 --> 00:15:35,469 going through the process with as well. Um, we've had a lot of scenarios where, you know, we have 163 00:15:35,469 --> 00:15:39,029 someone who has gone for a drug screen and they're well on their way, and then they're like, 164 00:15:39,030 --> 00:15:44,429 hey, actually, I got another offer from a job that gets me home every single night. And there may be 165 00:15:44,429 --> 00:15:48,150 looking at one of our terminals that, you know, they have a few overnights throughout the week, so 166 00:15:48,150 --> 00:15:52,349 that just fits better with their lifestyle. And so they go with that one. So that's kind of something 167 00:15:52,350 --> 00:15:57,549 that's come up a lot lately. Highly competitive out there and for good reason. That's how good 168 00:15:57,549 --> 00:16:02,589 drivers find good homes and places that they want to stay is by making sure and going through this 169 00:16:02,590 --> 00:16:08,789 process with a fine tooth comb and exploring all options. Now, a couple options that you're looking 170 00:16:08,790 --> 00:16:15,429 to fill right now would be Plane City and Picton. Right? Right. Rachel. Yeah. And what type of driver 171 00:16:15,430 --> 00:16:20,389 is particularly well suited for Plane City and Picton? Now, Kelly, I know that you've got some 172 00:16:20,430 --> 00:16:24,949 thoughts here. So I am going to go to you about your thoughts on that as well. But first from you, 173 00:16:24,990 --> 00:16:30,649 Rachel, what kind of driver are we looking for here? So both of those terminals are open to new 174 00:16:30,650 --> 00:16:37,529 grads. We've got great trainers at both locations. They also are both looking for drivers who can do 175 00:16:37,530 --> 00:16:43,529 several overnights throughout the week. Perfect. Kelly, uh, what what are some of the challenges 176 00:16:43,530 --> 00:16:49,729 that you see from your seat in trying to keep Piked in at full capacity? Um, obviously it's a 177 00:16:49,729 --> 00:16:56,089 competitive market, we know that. But what are some challenges you face? Uh, it is a competitive market. 178 00:16:56,130 --> 00:17:02,249 Um, we face challenges here, um, because we have a lot of neighboring 179 00:17:02,249 --> 00:17:08,088 businesses that are strictly home daily, you know, gravel hauling 180 00:17:08,530 --> 00:17:15,529 logs, things like that. And we we can't offer that here at Picton because we have so 181 00:17:15,530 --> 00:17:22,409 many different lanes of freight. We go basically all over the United States. 182 00:17:22,409 --> 00:17:29,180 We go north, we go south. We have drivers who come in and especially with like the new grads that 183 00:17:29,180 --> 00:17:34,259 are coming in, we have drivers that come in and and they're ready to go and they want to do this 184 00:17:34,260 --> 00:17:40,259 schedule. And then they get in and they find out that it's a lot. So yeah, a lot of bait and switch 185 00:17:40,260 --> 00:17:44,899 going on out there at large for sure. And that's one of the reasons that we want to have these 186 00:17:44,899 --> 00:17:49,419 episodes is so that you guys can hear it directly from the people that you're going to be talking 187 00:17:49,459 --> 00:17:54,819 to. I asked Rachel when we were setting this episode up, is there anybody else that we can get 188 00:17:54,860 --> 00:17:59,659 on the air here that might provide some insight? Maybe the drivers that are looking for a job 189 00:17:59,660 --> 00:18:04,139 might talk to that person. And Rachel said, listen, if they're going to be calling, they're going to 190 00:18:04,140 --> 00:18:08,779 be searching for a job here. They're going to be talking to me. And so that's why we want Rachel 191 00:18:08,779 --> 00:18:15,699 here. That's why we want Kelly here. Jeff, we want you here for the experience. Um, I do wonder Kelly, 192 00:18:15,740 --> 00:18:22,179 what you see out of your particularly successful drivers out there at Pickton? Every driver that's 193 00:18:22,180 --> 00:18:27,549 looking for a job right now, wants to find a place where they're going to have success. What makes a 194 00:18:27,550 --> 00:18:34,550 driver at Picton successful? So right now I have a fantastic group of drivers. 195 00:18:34,590 --> 00:18:41,389 What makes drivers successful here is understanding that, you know, 196 00:18:41,430 --> 00:18:48,349 our loads change daily. They're not going to be in the same place. They can adapt well to change. 197 00:18:48,390 --> 00:18:55,269 They're willing to, you know, sometimes go the extra mile to be able to complete something. And 198 00:18:55,269 --> 00:19:02,069 then we, you know, we have load cancellations and and add ons and things like that. And they're 199 00:19:02,069 --> 00:19:08,948 able to adapt to those changes more easily than those drivers who are home 200 00:19:08,949 --> 00:19:15,869 on a daily basis. Very. The drivers here seem to be very safety oriented. 201 00:19:16,229 --> 00:19:23,040 Communication is a big thing here. Um, drivers will call. I will call drivers, you know. We make 202 00:19:23,079 --> 00:19:29,039 sure that we stay in contact with each other. So I know the needs of the driver and I can get those 203 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:35,279 things for them or whatever they're needing accomplished. I can help in that process. 204 00:19:36,000 --> 00:19:42,720 Typically that's that's what I'm seeing with the successful drivers. That's great. That's 205 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:46,959 great. And I've got one more question for you here before. We're going to get a little bit of Jeff's 206 00:19:46,959 --> 00:19:52,280 perspective Kelly. And that is how important as we talk to Jeff here in a moment who's got some 207 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:58,479 training experience. How important is this robust training environment that you guys have when 208 00:19:58,479 --> 00:20:03,759 we're talking about accepting new grads, people right out of CDL school, you could be talking to 209 00:20:03,800 --> 00:20:09,199 somebody that maybe has never even stood next to a pneumatic trailer before. So talk to me about 210 00:20:09,199 --> 00:20:15,520 the crucial nature of the training that's going on out there in Pickton and at bulk at large. 211 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:22,209 Training for new grads, especially in this part of trucking is extremely 212 00:20:22,209 --> 00:20:28,889 important. We do not want them going out there being unsafe. We want them coming 213 00:20:28,890 --> 00:20:35,489 back in the same condition that we sent them out in. They need to know the dangers 214 00:20:35,489 --> 00:20:42,129 of, you know, trucking so they understand what to look for, the dangers with unloading and 215 00:20:42,130 --> 00:20:49,129 understanding our trailer and our unloading process so they know how to function on their 216 00:20:49,129 --> 00:20:54,889 own without their trainer, and still continue to be safe and come home to their family. Right, right. 217 00:20:54,969 --> 00:21:00,129 That's what we want out of everybody's career here at bulk is safe and home to the family and 218 00:21:00,129 --> 00:21:04,969 everybody else out there on the road as well. Let's not forget that. Uh, Jeff, we're going to come 219 00:21:04,969 --> 00:21:10,129 to you here, uh, before I talk to you about sort of some of your training experience and what that 220 00:21:10,129 --> 00:21:15,689 might look like for anybody that's listening to this as a prospective applicant at Bulk or Spur. 221 00:21:16,009 --> 00:21:21,069 Uh, take me back to the beginning, Jeff. When you were looking for a job, what made books stand out 222 00:21:21,069 --> 00:21:27,629 to you? Well, that's real simple. It's 15 minutes from my house and it was going to get me 223 00:21:27,630 --> 00:21:33,670 home a whole lot more. The dynamics have changed so much since I've been when I first came on 224 00:21:33,670 --> 00:21:40,509 board, uh, when I first came on board, it was predominantly a a home every night 225 00:21:41,029 --> 00:21:46,780 type of thing. And I was getting I was coming off the road and I was actually, uh, taking about a 3 226 00:21:46,780 --> 00:21:53,669 to $400 a week pay cut, but I didn't care. I wanted to be home more. But, uh, as 227 00:21:53,670 --> 00:22:00,510 time has went on, lanes have changed. Uh, we've we've gotten more of the, 228 00:22:00,550 --> 00:22:07,108 uh, steady freight year round. Uh, we when I first came on board, it was a lot of seasonal stuff 229 00:22:07,109 --> 00:22:13,748 from about the end of February up to about the end of October. Hauling the lime and cement 230 00:22:13,790 --> 00:22:20,319 is really busy during that time frame. So the winter. Winter months was really. Rough when I 231 00:22:20,319 --> 00:22:26,639 first got hired on. And, uh, we'd have some of the senior guys would actually take a 232 00:22:27,000 --> 00:22:33,040 temporary lay off or something for the younger guys to get some, uh, freight to stay, you know, to 233 00:22:33,040 --> 00:22:39,879 stay afloat. But that's all changed. I mean, we we got steady freight. Probably at this point in time, 234 00:22:39,879 --> 00:22:46,519 we probably got more freight, uh, than what? We have drivers to handle it in certain cases. 235 00:22:47,280 --> 00:22:52,359 But, you know, the thing about this particular industry, and I think I talked to you about this, 236 00:22:52,959 --> 00:22:59,559 uh, the other day, uh, maybe somebody else. Well, when you come into this industry, you gotta 237 00:22:59,560 --> 00:23:05,879 understand that the only thing that is consistent about it is inconsistency. 238 00:23:06,639 --> 00:23:12,759 It's ever changing, right? Yeah. Yeah, yeah. You're adapting just like, uh, Kelly just said a little 239 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:19,209 while ago. I mean, she's my terminal manager. I work out a fight and trade changes, uh, 240 00:23:19,810 --> 00:23:26,729 daily, hourly, you know? So anytime when I was training, when 241 00:23:26,729 --> 00:23:32,728 I get a newbie, I tried to explain that to him. Like, there's don't don't expect to leave at 5:00 242 00:23:32,729 --> 00:23:37,369 in the morning and be home at three in the afternoon, every single day, Monday through Friday. 243 00:23:37,370 --> 00:23:42,650 It's never going to happen. Yeah. And that adaptation is so important to be able to be 244 00:23:42,650 --> 00:23:49,089 successful here, isn't it? Yeah. You have to have the you got to be, uh, very, um, 245 00:23:49,969 --> 00:23:55,249 you gotta adapt to your to the circumstances. Exactly. That's that's I don't I mean, for lack of 246 00:23:55,249 --> 00:24:02,209 a better word, adaptation is is really key. It can be frustrating. It really can. 247 00:24:02,250 --> 00:24:09,169 And, um, and I and I can understand it because it was it was real bad whenever I had kids at 248 00:24:09,170 --> 00:24:14,779 home. But they're all grown and gone. And so it's not so bad. But, uh, 249 00:24:15,819 --> 00:24:22,659 also, uh, our freight has went into the weekends on a lot of a lot of things. And, uh, back in the day, 250 00:24:22,659 --> 00:24:27,018 we didn't even have that. Like, if we, we get recruited to fight, then it was home every night 251 00:24:27,019 --> 00:24:33,979 and weekends home. And but it's nothing like that anymore. It's pretty much open all week long. 252 00:24:34,339 --> 00:24:41,180 Sure. And and, uh. There's there's miles to be have. Right. Exactly. And I'm going to 253 00:24:41,180 --> 00:24:47,659 tell you, most people coming out of school didn't have an opportunity to come to a company like 254 00:24:47,660 --> 00:24:52,819 this in the past, because they would never take anybody straight out of school because of all of 255 00:24:52,819 --> 00:24:59,699 the the nuance of the trailer, learning how to drive all of that. Right. So usually you would have 256 00:24:59,699 --> 00:25:06,458 to get a year or two experience over the road. And then coming here was like having vacation. 257 00:25:06,459 --> 00:25:12,598 Anyway, even if you did stay out Monday through Friday. You know what I mean? So. Absolutely. Um, but 258 00:25:12,599 --> 00:25:17,599 now that they have the ability to come out of school to something like this, it's a whole 259 00:25:17,599 --> 00:25:24,359 different, uh, scenario. It's really. They don't understand that over the road, when 260 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:29,839 we're out three days or a week, that's not truly, really what we would consider over the road in 261 00:25:29,839 --> 00:25:35,159 the trucking industry. All drivers, when they say over the road, you're going to want what I was out 262 00:25:35,160 --> 00:25:40,719 of about three to 3 to 4 weeks at a time. When I first started driving in the trucking industry, I 263 00:25:40,719 --> 00:25:46,959 might have got home once a month, something like that for the first, uh, 6 or 7 months. And then it 264 00:25:46,959 --> 00:25:52,800 was I got home every weekend only for a 34 hour restart. I mean, I know plenty of drivers, Jeff, that 265 00:25:52,800 --> 00:25:57,920 I I've got one with another fleet that I work with. Uh, it's not he doesn't drive for bulk, but I 266 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:03,439 know of one driver who goes home twice a year. That's that's it. Can get that crazy when you're 267 00:26:03,439 --> 00:26:08,170 talking about over the road stuff. And and that is kind of a little bit different than what we're 268 00:26:08,170 --> 00:26:13,809 dealing with here at bulk. Of course, I don't hear those stories coming from you guys as much, but 269 00:26:13,810 --> 00:26:19,129 there's some wild over the road stories out there and some guys I mean, I also know of a guy who 270 00:26:19,169 --> 00:26:26,050 does not have a house. His his truck is his house. He has a P.O. box and he's kind of a he's got the 271 00:26:26,089 --> 00:26:30,369 wanderlust bug. He wants to go see the country and he's going to stick around in those places. And 272 00:26:30,369 --> 00:26:36,929 and there's opportunity out there for all different types of drivers. Right. And, um, you you 273 00:26:36,930 --> 00:26:40,809 mentioned something there, Jeff, that I want to I want to switch over and, and get some perspective 274 00:26:40,810 --> 00:26:47,409 from Rachel here because the new CDL holder thing is, I think a very big part of this conversation 275 00:26:47,410 --> 00:26:53,608 that we're having, Rachel, because as Jeff said, it's not every day that a pneumatic company is 276 00:26:53,609 --> 00:26:59,730 going to take new drivers, uh, fresh out of school. So. Right. Why are so many trucking companies 277 00:26:59,730 --> 00:27:06,499 reluctant to hire recent CDL grads? And what was behind the decision of bulk deciding to go 278 00:27:06,499 --> 00:27:13,219 ahead and open up the doors to these guys. A big reason is insurance companies have to do what 279 00:27:13,219 --> 00:27:19,659 their insurance companies say. Yep. So that is a big thing. But that is something that we we do 280 00:27:19,660 --> 00:27:24,659 have a little bit of flexibility on being able to say, hey, we want to be able to bring on new grads 281 00:27:24,660 --> 00:27:30,939 and put them through a training program. The other consideration is it costs a lot of money to train 282 00:27:30,939 --> 00:27:37,699 a new grad. Uh, so it costs a lot of money to hire drivers in general, but then to put them 283 00:27:37,699 --> 00:27:43,619 through, you know, a six week program where they're not bringing in revenue for the company, but 284 00:27:43,619 --> 00:27:50,540 you're still paying them and you're also paying your trainer extra to train them. It adds up 285 00:27:50,540 --> 00:27:57,259 pretty quick. Yeah, I can imagine. So, um, are there any special requirements that maybe, uh, 286 00:27:57,259 --> 00:28:02,299 new CDL grad may or may not have, depending on which school that they went to? Rachel, that bulk 287 00:28:02,300 --> 00:28:07,149 is going to look for specifically that might be different from another company that will hire a 288 00:28:07,149 --> 00:28:14,029 new grad. So we do look at background. If you come from an industry that aligns well 289 00:28:14,030 --> 00:28:18,229 with what we do. Like if you have a construction background, that kind of puts you ahead of the 290 00:28:18,229 --> 00:28:24,149 game a little bit. Got it, I like that. Uh, Kelly, I'm going to come to you here a little bit because I 291 00:28:24,150 --> 00:28:30,389 think about your role in this whole thing. If you do get a new CDL grad right out of school, your 292 00:28:30,389 --> 00:28:35,508 role is sort of going to be along with the training and safety and everything like that, sort 293 00:28:35,509 --> 00:28:40,709 of turning this rookie into a professional. From your perspective, what are the biggest differences 294 00:28:40,709 --> 00:28:46,469 between working with a new grad and somebody that say, has 15 years of experience, but it's in 295 00:28:46,469 --> 00:28:53,388 flatbed or reefer or something like that? So when you have a new grad, it's 296 00:28:53,389 --> 00:29:00,069 really important to be there for them. Stay in contact, let them know that everything is going to 297 00:29:00,069 --> 00:29:06,559 be okay. Because they're stepping into an industry that's not like anything else. And 298 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:13,599 their brand new, they get frustrated. They get, you know, some of them get scared and and they're 299 00:29:13,600 --> 00:29:20,239 worried and they they literally don't know how to approach 300 00:29:21,679 --> 00:29:28,559 this type of industry. Mhm. They hear all the dangers and that kind 301 00:29:28,560 --> 00:29:33,719 of scares them a little bit. So then you got to reel them back in. But the one thing that we like 302 00:29:33,719 --> 00:29:40,559 to do with new grads is we have training packets. We make sure we go over everything with 303 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:47,560 them in training after they are done with training. We bring them in the office. I go 304 00:29:47,560 --> 00:29:54,000 over a lot of stuff with them here in the office. We never want to 305 00:29:54,479 --> 00:30:01,139 turn a new grad out into the trucking world until they are 306 00:30:01,140 --> 00:30:06,978 absolutely comfortable. If we send someone out that is not comfortable, they're either going to 307 00:30:07,020 --> 00:30:13,260 quit or they're going to get themselves or someone else hurt. So we want them to be sure that 308 00:30:13,260 --> 00:30:20,138 they we want them to be confident that they can go out and function just the same as 309 00:30:20,139 --> 00:30:26,259 they did while they were with the trainer. Sure, sure. Uh, what what sort of mistakes do you sort of 310 00:30:26,300 --> 00:30:32,019 expect a fresh CDL grad to make? And what kind of mistakes are you hoping maybe that they're not 311 00:30:32,019 --> 00:30:36,660 making within those first couple of weeks? I know it's different for everybody, but I would expect 312 00:30:36,660 --> 00:30:42,859 maybe you see a little bit of a pattern, uh, at this point in time. Kelly. So a lot of times with 313 00:30:42,860 --> 00:30:49,859 the new grads and sometimes even with the with new drivers coming in that have experience, we 314 00:30:50,219 --> 00:30:55,459 we see them filling out paperwork wrong or doing their messages on the Qualcomm wrong. And those 315 00:30:55,459 --> 00:31:02,229 are all teachable things. I stress to my new drivers. If there's a 316 00:31:02,230 --> 00:31:09,029 question, call me. I would rather you call me and ask me a question than to go 317 00:31:09,029 --> 00:31:15,989 ahead and make your decision and screw up. Sure. That's great. I don't want them in that position, 318 00:31:16,190 --> 00:31:23,068 so I make myself available to them pretty much at all times. They also have their driver 319 00:31:23,069 --> 00:31:30,068 or their trainer to be able to call and ask questions to as well. And Jeff being a driver out 320 00:31:30,069 --> 00:31:35,389 of Pike, and maybe you can speak to Kelly's kind of open door policy a little bit there. I'm sure 321 00:31:35,390 --> 00:31:40,269 as a, as a newer driver, that's got to feel really good because, you know, you've got your trainer, of 322 00:31:40,269 --> 00:31:43,709 course, you know, you've got your, you know, your safety director and your safety teams and 323 00:31:43,710 --> 00:31:48,589 everything like that. But you've also got your terminal manager that's got your back. How's that 324 00:31:48,589 --> 00:31:55,519 make a driver feel supported out there on the road? Jeff? Um, it's awesome to have the support. I 325 00:31:55,520 --> 00:32:02,519 mean, I think, uh, having the open door, open phone, however, you want to look at 326 00:32:02,520 --> 00:32:07,998 a policy where you can kind of call it is is awesome to have because you don't want to come 327 00:32:07,999 --> 00:32:14,199 into an industry and feel like that. You're just out there all alone. I'm just going to tell you 328 00:32:14,239 --> 00:32:21,199 like this. There's not one driver that I'm going to say it probably company wide, because 329 00:32:21,199 --> 00:32:26,958 I know I back when I've had drivers that I've trained that was with Pike, then that would call 330 00:32:26,959 --> 00:32:32,319 and talk to drivers, went and filled in at another terminal and got to know some of them. There's not 331 00:32:32,360 --> 00:32:38,279 one driver that you can't call and get some kind of information from. Sure. That's, that's that's 332 00:32:38,279 --> 00:32:44,879 across the board. I mean, I, I have done loads out of foster and there's a couple of guys that if 333 00:32:44,880 --> 00:32:50,319 I'm doing something I'm not familiar with. I call them up and say, hey, give me a little bit of a 334 00:32:50,319 --> 00:32:55,849 load down on this particular load or whatever. And that's the way it is with newbies. Like they can 335 00:32:55,849 --> 00:33:02,609 call anybody, I would say anytime, but till they get some of them calls in the middle of the night 336 00:33:02,610 --> 00:33:09,009 that are just a little bit. Probably could wait until business hours. But they they do tend to go 337 00:33:09,010 --> 00:33:15,770 a little crazy sometimes, but for but for real. The open phone policy 338 00:33:15,770 --> 00:33:22,449 is is is there? They should never feel uncomfortable to ask anybody for help. 339 00:33:22,489 --> 00:33:29,009 Like we help out with all different terminals. Yeah. So if you got a, you got a newbie going and 340 00:33:29,009 --> 00:33:35,329 helping out at Xenia or whatever. I promise you, one of the Xenia drivers or Fairborn or 341 00:33:35,329 --> 00:33:41,209 whoever, if they're there and the newbies looking lost and they got a question, they will help them. 342 00:33:41,209 --> 00:33:46,209 It's always been that way. And honestly, it ends up you end up finding out you probably could 343 00:33:46,250 --> 00:33:51,859 befriend people. You know what I mean? Absolutely. I've, I've I've got different people from 344 00:33:51,859 --> 00:33:58,459 different terminals that I can call and talk to because I went there and worked, uh, done a load or 345 00:33:58,460 --> 00:34:04,059 whatever for them and I, they the terminal manager. Hey, call this particular person. He'll give you 346 00:34:04,060 --> 00:34:09,699 the particulars about this load, how you know who, when to pick it up, when to deliver it, who to get 347 00:34:09,700 --> 00:34:14,659 in contact with, that kind of stuff. It's it's company wide and that's the one that's the to me 348 00:34:14,659 --> 00:34:19,138 that's what I like about it. Of course, I love the fact that because you go to these other companies 349 00:34:19,139 --> 00:34:25,418 where you're just a number. Good luck. Good luck. Kelly, did you have some thoughts to add there? I 350 00:34:25,419 --> 00:34:29,779 saw you turned your mic back on. I want to make sure and give you a shot to respond there to what 351 00:34:29,820 --> 00:34:35,620 Jeff was saying if you want to. One of the things that I started when I took over here as terminal 352 00:34:35,620 --> 00:34:42,459 manager is we have a group text, and that because I do get busy and I do have to sleep 353 00:34:42,740 --> 00:34:49,599 at night. Huh. So I, I created a group text for the drivers to be able to 354 00:34:49,639 --> 00:34:55,120 ask each other questions in the group text instead of calling. That way they're not waking 355 00:34:55,120 --> 00:35:00,479 everybody up in the middle of the night, or they can reach somebody at some point in time on that 356 00:35:00,480 --> 00:35:07,279 text that's awake. So that's a that. That kind of gives them an avenue to be able to 357 00:35:07,320 --> 00:35:13,999 help each other, to be a team and to be able to communicate like some of our drivers will get on 358 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:18,999 there and they'll be like, hey, this road shut down. Make sure you're planning something else. You know, 359 00:35:19,040 --> 00:35:25,799 you need to go around this section of I-74 or whatever it is, and it's it's actually became a 360 00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:32,759 really nice tool to be able to communicate between drivers. It sounds like it. I 361 00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:37,839 look, I love a good group text, I'll tell you that much right now. I've got probably seven active 362 00:35:37,840 --> 00:35:43,879 ones on my phone right now, another 3 or 4 on Facebook Messenger, and God knows how many email 363 00:35:43,879 --> 00:35:49,289 chains that are basically like a group text message. Um, and it really is a good way to 364 00:35:49,330 --> 00:35:53,729 communicate all hours of the day. Right. And everybody's trying to fill their role and do 365 00:35:53,730 --> 00:35:59,249 their thing, do their part here. And sometimes we need help. That's just all there is to it. And I've 366 00:35:59,250 --> 00:36:04,168 learned on this podcast through talking to so many drivers. This is a very collaborative work 367 00:36:04,169 --> 00:36:08,609 environment for you guys out there. You'll constantly be jumping back and forth between 368 00:36:08,610 --> 00:36:13,768 terminals to help. You're always willing to answer the phone and answer questions, and I think that's 369 00:36:13,769 --> 00:36:19,129 kind of where, you know, hiring a guy fresh out of CDL school, he doesn't have to be as intimidated 370 00:36:19,129 --> 00:36:24,610 as he was if he was going to one of these mega carriers where it's every man for themselves. Um, 371 00:36:24,610 --> 00:36:30,769 this is going to be an environment that's going to, uh, train you. Well, uh, make sure you're safe and 372 00:36:30,769 --> 00:36:35,729 not put you out on the road before you're absolutely 100% ready. Like Kelly said a few 373 00:36:35,730 --> 00:36:41,449 minutes ago. Uh, quick question for both you, Rachel and Kelly that I want you to just sort of go back 374 00:36:41,449 --> 00:36:46,579 and forth with for me here, uh, because I think maybe you'll have different answers given your 375 00:36:46,580 --> 00:36:52,419 perspective. So. Would you rather hire Rachel, somebody with 20 years of experience who's very 376 00:36:52,419 --> 00:36:58,779 set in their ways? Or would you rather hire somebody fresh out of CDL school who's got zero 377 00:36:58,780 --> 00:37:05,739 experience but is very eager to learn? I feel like my answer on this is going to vary 378 00:37:05,780 --> 00:37:10,860 depending on what's going on in the market at the moment. I would rather hire the new grad. I feel 379 00:37:10,860 --> 00:37:16,620 like we have had good success hiring new grads and getting them trained and showing them, you 380 00:37:16,620 --> 00:37:22,580 know, how we do things. Um, occasionally you can have people who have been in the industry for a 381 00:37:22,580 --> 00:37:29,500 while and they know it all, and they don't want to change that. Yeah. Kelly, any thoughts there? So 382 00:37:29,539 --> 00:37:36,179 there are challenges with both groups. The new grads are very teachable. 383 00:37:37,139 --> 00:37:43,548 The ones that are set in their ways are very hard to untrained Mhm. To 384 00:37:43,549 --> 00:37:50,509 train. Train according to our policies. Sure. Both present 385 00:37:50,510 --> 00:37:57,270 with lots of pros. Um, they both sets come with lots of benefits 386 00:37:57,350 --> 00:38:04,189 to bulk transit to our team. I think it it would just depend on 387 00:38:05,029 --> 00:38:10,948 what the circumstances were and what our needs were at the time. Do we have time to take six 388 00:38:10,949 --> 00:38:15,510 weeks to train the driver, or do we need to bring someone in that maybe knows what they're doing, 389 00:38:16,070 --> 00:38:22,949 that we're going to try to navigate those challenges? Of everything 390 00:38:22,949 --> 00:38:29,149 they've learned in the past. I'm I'm not saying their ways were wrong. Our ways are right. You know, 391 00:38:29,190 --> 00:38:35,989 it's just this it's bulk transit policy. And we want to train them according to those policies. 392 00:38:36,029 --> 00:38:42,090 And so it's kind of hard to break. Yeah, I get that. It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks. I know 393 00:38:42,090 --> 00:38:48,128 that for sure. Uh, Jeff, I'll go ahead and throw this out. Marcus, I got a perspective on that. I 394 00:38:48,129 --> 00:38:53,049 know you didn't put me in there, but I got a perspective on that. Please. And a lot of it. I'm 395 00:38:53,050 --> 00:38:57,049 glad Rachel said what you said, because that was the first thing that come through my mind was. 396 00:38:57,409 --> 00:39:04,249 It's, um, I've been in certain situations throughout my different history of work and stuff, 397 00:39:04,249 --> 00:39:10,928 and I've been I had a boss tell me one time he would prefer to bring in somebody new and 398 00:39:10,929 --> 00:39:17,049 role eager to learn, than bring in somebody that's got all the experience under the world, knows 399 00:39:17,049 --> 00:39:22,808 everything, and they got a certain way of doing things. Because what his match up with the way 400 00:39:23,010 --> 00:39:29,769 this particular job requires it to be done. So you get a new person and you 401 00:39:29,770 --> 00:39:35,969 teach them exactly how you want the job to be done. And it's so much easier than trying to teach 402 00:39:36,009 --> 00:39:41,980 like the old, old dog new tricks kind of thing. Sure, but I also when it comes to the perspective 403 00:39:41,980 --> 00:39:48,859 of driving the person. That's got a lot of years of experience, 404 00:39:48,860 --> 00:39:53,619 especially if they've got a lot of years of experience in there, loyal, they're probably 405 00:39:53,620 --> 00:39:59,419 looking for a company that gets them off the road and it's going to be their retirement place. Mhm. 406 00:40:00,180 --> 00:40:05,138 The new person and I don't Rachel probably has these numbers I don't know maybe she don't. But I 407 00:40:05,139 --> 00:40:11,819 know uh in my experience in my 20 some years of driving a new 408 00:40:11,820 --> 00:40:18,179 person, there's a ton of money that's put out on them. They never stay with their first 409 00:40:18,179 --> 00:40:23,819 company. The drivers go from they. That's it's probably I think if I read it correctly, it's 410 00:40:23,820 --> 00:40:30,099 about 5 to 6 companies they will be with in their lifetime of driving. Wow. They never stay with the 411 00:40:30,100 --> 00:40:35,099 very first company that they get hired on with. And that's a huge expense that they got to think 412 00:40:35,100 --> 00:40:40,869 about when they take on these people, these young. Well, they don't have to be young. Some of them are 413 00:40:40,870 --> 00:40:45,669 older, just getting their license. But those are the things that need to be thought of. Yeah. Really 414 00:40:45,669 --> 00:40:49,949 good point. Rachel, I see you there kind of nodding your head as Jeff was talking through that. Uh, 415 00:40:49,990 --> 00:40:54,549 what what is your experience tell you about, uh, drivers coming to their first company and 416 00:40:54,550 --> 00:41:00,590 sticking around? Yeah, I definitely agree with, uh, what Jeff is saying there. It's easy to look at 417 00:41:00,590 --> 00:41:04,908 someone's application when they've been with a company for ten years, and they've got zero 418 00:41:04,909 --> 00:41:09,309 accidents and zero tickets and know that they're going to come on board. They're probably going to 419 00:41:09,350 --> 00:41:14,949 stay with us for a while. They're probably going to be a safe driver. And that is a huge benefit. So 420 00:41:14,950 --> 00:41:19,909 that's kind of why I said in the beginning, you know, my answer right now was, you know, I like the 421 00:41:19,909 --> 00:41:26,110 new grads, but ask me in a month and I'll probably change my answer. Right, right. Well, that takes us 422 00:41:26,110 --> 00:41:31,149 perfectly into, uh, where I'm gonna break the format here a little bit. We keep things very 423 00:41:31,149 --> 00:41:36,439 conversational. Um, and I love that because I feel like that's how we get to dig just a few layers 424 00:41:36,439 --> 00:41:41,639 deeper than if I was just approaching this like a typical talking head on the news or something 425 00:41:41,639 --> 00:41:48,159 like that. But Rachel, you told me in an email you could teach a masterclass on on the application 426 00:41:48,160 --> 00:41:52,759 process here at Bulk and Spur, and I'm going to give you the opportunity to do that. I've got some 427 00:41:52,760 --> 00:41:57,719 bullet points here that I just want you to kind of help me walk through the process. Where should 428 00:41:57,720 --> 00:42:03,359 somebody go right now that's listening to this podcast to find the positions available currently 429 00:42:03,360 --> 00:42:09,359 at Bulk or Spur. If you just head to our website, there is a link right at the top where you can 430 00:42:09,360 --> 00:42:15,600 apply, submit your application and then I'll give you a call from there. Simple as that. Bulk transit 431 00:42:15,600 --> 00:42:20,240 comm. Go over there and check it out. What information should an applicant have ready before 432 00:42:20,240 --> 00:42:25,478 sitting down to complete the application? Or, you know, taking the call from you? That's inevitably 433 00:42:25,479 --> 00:42:32,319 going to come afterwards. Basic things like your previous work history, um, you're going to want to 434 00:42:32,320 --> 00:42:38,649 put, you know, the past ten years on your app, any information on previous tickets, accidents, things 435 00:42:38,649 --> 00:42:42,689 like that are all going to go on the application? Um, pretty standard things that you would 436 00:42:42,689 --> 00:42:49,489 automatically think of. If you don't have exact dates, make an educated guess and we can 437 00:42:49,490 --> 00:42:54,609 always edit it later. Okay, that's a good one because I know, uh, from filling out job 438 00:42:54,610 --> 00:42:58,729 applications in the past, and you're sitting there looking at your thing and you're going, I don't 439 00:42:58,729 --> 00:43:03,409 remember when I quit that job, or I don't remember the date that I started that job. It's better to 440 00:43:03,409 --> 00:43:07,969 make an educated guess because it can be edited later. I think that's a really good info there. And 441 00:43:07,969 --> 00:43:14,169 being upfront and honest with things is great. You know, we obviously don't want people to lie on 442 00:43:14,169 --> 00:43:19,408 their application, but if you put something on there and then when I call you, you're like, hey, I 443 00:43:19,409 --> 00:43:24,850 wasn't exactly sure about this, but I put it on there. Uh, you know, my dates may be wrong. I may be 444 00:43:24,889 --> 00:43:29,649 off by this or whatever. That's that's fine. I don't consider that lying on your application. 445 00:43:29,690 --> 00:43:34,309 Gotcha. And, you know, I've had some other, uh, recruiting and retention managers tell me over 446 00:43:34,310 --> 00:43:40,349 the years that I've been doing this job, Rachel, that they want the open and honest version of 447 00:43:40,350 --> 00:43:45,829 every applicant that comes through. But also, you have to remember that you're protecting yourself 448 00:43:45,830 --> 00:43:50,830 here and you're protecting your career here. So there is a line to be drawn where it comes to 449 00:43:50,870 --> 00:43:55,829 that. Being wide open with everything is there, not there is. And I'm glad that you brought that up. 450 00:43:55,830 --> 00:44:01,869 One thing that I see that, um, you know, you just you need to use a little bit of common sense when 451 00:44:01,870 --> 00:44:08,269 you're filling out the application. The application is going to ask you for your accident 452 00:44:08,309 --> 00:44:14,709 history and information on tickets for the past three years. If you've got an accident that is ten 453 00:44:14,709 --> 00:44:20,629 years old, you don't need to put that on your application because that is, you know, more. Even 454 00:44:20,629 --> 00:44:24,708 though it's ten years ago, it's still on there. We still see it. That may still kind of trigger red 455 00:44:24,709 --> 00:44:30,319 flag. If you've got something else that is a little more recent or, you know, if someone is just 456 00:44:30,320 --> 00:44:36,079 looking through your application quickly and that's on their, uh, and, you know, they're debating 457 00:44:36,080 --> 00:44:42,279 whether they call you or someone else, even though you're technically qualified. Um, the other person 458 00:44:42,279 --> 00:44:46,439 may kind of get the edge because they've got nothing on there. There you go. And sometimes 459 00:44:46,440 --> 00:44:51,119 you're dealing with a lot of applications. The volume can tick up really big, especially when 460 00:44:51,120 --> 00:44:56,719 you're trying to fill positions. So that's something to think about. And just remember I when 461 00:44:56,719 --> 00:45:01,279 we all learned this back in grade school. But it's hard to keep remembering. This is something that 462 00:45:01,280 --> 00:45:08,159 my my fourth grade teacher, Mr. Crane, drilled into me read the instructions and he 463 00:45:08,159 --> 00:45:13,559 used to do things on Test Rachel where he would say, answer questions one and three and skip, skip 464 00:45:13,560 --> 00:45:18,199 number two. And if you answered number two, you actually lost points because you didn't read the 465 00:45:18,200 --> 00:45:23,600 directions. And these these directions on these applications are very specific for a reason 466 00:45:23,600 --> 00:45:29,689 aren't they? Honesty is really important. We want all of the information, but we don't want 467 00:45:29,730 --> 00:45:35,369 irrelevant information. There you go. Is it better to submit an application for a specific position, 468 00:45:35,370 --> 00:45:41,569 or contact you to discuss all available opportunities? Rachel. Either way, it's fine. I mean, 469 00:45:41,570 --> 00:45:47,929 I, I like to have the full application in front of me when I, when I talk to somebody. But I also, you 470 00:45:47,930 --> 00:45:52,888 know, get calls every day from applicants who haven't even submitted a lead at all. And they're 471 00:45:52,889 --> 00:45:59,168 just kind of, uh, you know, exploring what's out there. So it doesn't matter to me how you do it. I 472 00:45:59,169 --> 00:46:03,929 would say if you are serious about getting the ball rolling, go ahead and submit the application. 473 00:46:03,969 --> 00:46:09,330 Uh, we use 10th Street, so it's in Entella app. If you've used that before, it's pretty easy to go in 474 00:46:09,330 --> 00:46:14,689 and submit and have all your info auto populate, which I will say, that's another thing you need to 475 00:46:14,689 --> 00:46:20,810 use common sense on, because when you use that Intel app, a lot of times what happens is it 476 00:46:20,810 --> 00:46:26,459 populates information more than once. So if you've applied to five companies and you've got an 477 00:46:26,460 --> 00:46:31,418 accident on there, and then it fills in that accident five different times. It looks like you 478 00:46:31,419 --> 00:46:38,139 have five accidents. So be careful. Check that. Check your employment history. Make sure that's 479 00:46:38,179 --> 00:46:42,698 accurate before you actually submit it. Great advice. The robots are good, but they're not 480 00:46:42,699 --> 00:46:48,860 perfect yet. So you got to make sure and, and, uh, and vet that information that you're giving. Um, 481 00:46:49,340 --> 00:46:53,819 you know, I feel like this is always important here. Rachel. What should applicants know about the 482 00:46:53,820 --> 00:46:58,859 company's drug testing policy? Uh, the drug screen is always going to be a part of every application 483 00:46:58,860 --> 00:47:04,060 that you put in for every trucking company out there, because it's mandated. Uh, what should your 484 00:47:04,060 --> 00:47:09,859 applicants know that might be different or unique about bulk and spur? If anything. There's nothing 485 00:47:10,100 --> 00:47:15,459 that I think is overly unique about that part of the process for us. Um, you know, I'm going to set 486 00:47:15,459 --> 00:47:20,259 you up for drug screening and physical after you interview with the terminal manager, and you both 487 00:47:20,259 --> 00:47:26,669 agree that it's a good fit and you want to move forward. Um, we send over an E passport. So you take 488 00:47:26,669 --> 00:47:31,869 that to the clinic. They scan the barcode. It's really easy. Um, but people kind of get confused 489 00:47:31,870 --> 00:47:38,589 because we don't schedule the time for you. Uh, it's just a standard urinalysis. It's. 490 00:47:38,790 --> 00:47:44,989 There's nothing crazy about it, but I give you a whole month to get that done. So you go in at your 491 00:47:44,990 --> 00:47:51,789 convenience and do it when you're available. Got it? Got it. Okay. Uh, you know, I think one more thing 492 00:47:51,789 --> 00:47:55,629 here that I'll ask you before I'm going to put you on the hot seat here, Rachel is, if you haven't 493 00:47:55,629 --> 00:48:01,189 already been on the hot seat for the last 5 or 7 minutes. But, um, what is something that applicants 494 00:48:01,189 --> 00:48:05,989 think will automatically disqualify them for a job at bulk? That might actually not prevent them 495 00:48:05,989 --> 00:48:10,870 from being hired? Are there any trends in that way where maybe you get some people calling in and 496 00:48:10,870 --> 00:48:15,870 they say, well, I didn't fill out the application because x, y, z. And you see that more often than 497 00:48:15,870 --> 00:48:21,229 what you might expect, anything like that come to mind? Yeah. I mean, not to beat a dead horse here, 498 00:48:21,229 --> 00:48:27,769 but experience? Yeah. People all the time ask what are the requirements as far as experience go. 499 00:48:27,770 --> 00:48:33,969 And you know, obviously we've talked about taken on new grads. A lot of people question whether or 500 00:48:33,969 --> 00:48:39,729 not they need experience with pneumatic trailers and you don't. We train on all of that. Got it. All 501 00:48:39,770 --> 00:48:45,809 right. Hot seat time. I've got some scenarios here that drivers may find themselves in during the 502 00:48:45,810 --> 00:48:52,289 application process. And you've got the person here that's talking directly to you drivers. So 503 00:48:52,289 --> 00:48:56,609 when you're listening to this, understand this is the person that's going to help you through this. 504 00:48:56,649 --> 00:49:01,009 If you're thinking about getting a job at bulk, you're going to get some real good practical 505 00:49:01,009 --> 00:49:06,928 advice from Rachel right now. So scenario number one, Rachel, I've had three jobs in the last two 506 00:49:06,929 --> 00:49:13,249 years. Is that going to be a problem? It depends. Which I know is not the answer anybody wants to 507 00:49:13,249 --> 00:49:19,979 hear. But if you can kind of talk me through why you left each job, what happened, You know, if 508 00:49:20,020 --> 00:49:24,659 you've got one job where you were at for a whole year, and then you've got another job where you 509 00:49:24,659 --> 00:49:29,740 were at for a month and realized pretty quickly that's not a good fit. And then you went on to the 510 00:49:29,740 --> 00:49:35,059 next one and worked there for another nine months or whatever. Um, you know, that looks a lot 511 00:49:35,100 --> 00:49:39,459 different than having, you know, one job where you were there for two months and then you were 512 00:49:39,459 --> 00:49:43,219 unemployed for six months, and then you were at another job for a month, and then you were 513 00:49:43,220 --> 00:49:47,579 unemployed again, and then you were at another job for three months. Those are entirely different 514 00:49:47,580 --> 00:49:53,179 scenarios. Details matter, and Rachel wants to know those details. That's I think, where we got to 515 00:49:53,219 --> 00:50:00,059 there. So good stuff. Um, I had an accident two years ago. Should I even bother applying. If the 516 00:50:00,060 --> 00:50:06,979 accident is within two years and it is a dot recordable accident, we would not 517 00:50:06,979 --> 00:50:12,459 be able to bring you on. If you know you had an accident, say you were not at fault for it. Go 518 00:50:12,459 --> 00:50:17,619 ahead and apply. And if you don't have other things that are going to be an issue, that's 519 00:50:17,669 --> 00:50:23,269 probably something we can work with. There you go again. Details matter. Uh, I've been out of the 520 00:50:23,270 --> 00:50:29,629 truck for five years, Rachel, but my CDL is still valid. Should I give you a call? Absolutely. Yeah. Um. 521 00:50:30,030 --> 00:50:34,269 You know, I think of it as, you know, it's like riding a bike. You've got to train with the 522 00:50:34,270 --> 00:50:37,989 trainer on the operation of the pneumatic equipment anyways. So if we need to get you some 523 00:50:37,989 --> 00:50:43,750 additional behind the wheel time and get you up to speed, we can do that. Uh, so, you know, that is a 524 00:50:43,750 --> 00:50:48,070 good point because a lot of companies do look at that and they won't bring on an applicant that 525 00:50:48,070 --> 00:50:54,269 has older experience, but that is something we absolutely can work with. Okay. Great stuff there. 526 00:50:54,309 --> 00:50:59,749 Um, I submitted my application a week ago, and I'm getting a little bit, uh, antsy here. I haven't 527 00:50:59,750 --> 00:51:06,668 heard anything back. What should I do? Check your email. That comes from 528 00:51:06,669 --> 00:51:11,949 experience right there. Rachel has sent many emails into the void, like we all have. So be sure 529 00:51:11,950 --> 00:51:18,320 to check that. If you haven't heard. Back in a week. It's probably because 530 00:51:18,919 --> 00:51:25,319 you don't have your voicemail set up. So you did not know that I called or I have sent you an 531 00:51:25,319 --> 00:51:32,199 email. Usually I'll call, but if there's like, you know, glaring issues where there's no possibility 532 00:51:32,239 --> 00:51:37,439 we could ever bring you on. You may get an email, you know, just saying thank you for replying. We 533 00:51:37,439 --> 00:51:43,399 won't be moving forward with your application or something along those lines. Um, but if you haven't 534 00:51:43,399 --> 00:51:49,198 heard from us in a week, give me a call, because it could have been that your application didn't come 535 00:51:49,199 --> 00:51:55,840 through. You know, I am happy to answer any questions if you have not heard back, but that is, 536 00:51:55,840 --> 00:52:01,359 uh, one thing that I say all the time is check your email, set up your voicemail, clear out your 537 00:52:01,360 --> 00:52:06,878 old voicemails so that I can actually leave you a message when I do call. I'll tell you. I know that 538 00:52:06,879 --> 00:52:12,119 voicemail sort of is looked at by this newer generation as an antiquated thing, but for God's 539 00:52:12,120 --> 00:52:16,609 sakes, there were so many of us that grew up going home and pressing a button on an answering 540 00:52:16,610 --> 00:52:22,289 machine and getting all the information we needed from the day. And many of us are still really, 541 00:52:22,290 --> 00:52:27,330 really in love with our voicemail boxes there. Rachel. So I think that's really good advice. Um, 542 00:52:27,370 --> 00:52:32,329 obviously it's hard when things are coming at you from all angles, but if you're looking for a job, 543 00:52:32,330 --> 00:52:37,129 you got to have some of that stuff taken care of. And that voice mail is a very important one. Um, 544 00:52:37,129 --> 00:52:43,129 I've got maybe one, maybe two more for you here. Rachel, I don't live particularly close to any of 545 00:52:43,129 --> 00:52:48,409 your terminals. Does that automatically rule me out? It depends what you're looking for. Obviously, 546 00:52:48,410 --> 00:52:53,049 if you are looking to get home nightly and you live two hours from any of our terminals, that's 547 00:52:53,049 --> 00:52:58,769 probably not the best fit. If you are willing to be out longer. We may be able to work something 548 00:52:58,770 --> 00:53:04,609 out for you. Um, you know, just like what Jeff was talking about, about how things kind of change in, 549 00:53:04,649 --> 00:53:09,370 you know, how our freight works. We have a lot more opportunity to keep you out a little bit longer 550 00:53:09,370 --> 00:53:13,909 right now. So if that is something that you're open to doing. We can absolutely have a 551 00:53:13,909 --> 00:53:20,549 conversation about it. Perfect. And the last one I've applied previously and I wasn't hired. Should 552 00:53:20,550 --> 00:53:27,469 I apply again down the road at some point in time? Sure. Obviously. Details again matter. So 553 00:53:27,469 --> 00:53:32,989 if you were denied previously because, you know, we couldn't get you qualified and some time has 554 00:53:32,990 --> 00:53:38,829 passed and maybe things have dropped off your record, it's absolutely worth it to apply again if 555 00:53:38,870 --> 00:53:44,429 your circumstances have changed and maybe you know, when you applied previously, the schedule 556 00:53:44,429 --> 00:53:49,230 didn't work for your life or something about the actual job didn't work for you, and now it does, 557 00:53:49,350 --> 00:53:56,148 let me know. That's changed. Rachel, great job on the hot seat. Round of applause without question, 558 00:53:56,270 --> 00:54:01,109 and also want to give that same round of applause to Jeff and Kelly for their patience here. I 559 00:54:01,110 --> 00:54:06,429 appreciate you guys standing by while we ran Rachel through the gantlet there. Great stuff. 560 00:54:06,430 --> 00:54:11,399 Rachel, I think anybody listening to this right now, if they wanted to go apply. As soon as the 561 00:54:11,399 --> 00:54:16,879 episode ended, they could head over to Bulk Transit and be very well prepared to do so. So I 562 00:54:16,919 --> 00:54:21,679 greatly appreciate that from you. Um, and as we start to sort of get towards the end of the 563 00:54:21,680 --> 00:54:27,799 interview here, I want to get to why drivers stick around at bulk. We've talked about the process. 564 00:54:27,800 --> 00:54:32,879 We've talked about what goes into the process. Now I want to talk about what the drivers get out of 565 00:54:32,879 --> 00:54:38,719 the process and why they stick around. Jeff, what was the moment for you when you knew that bulk 566 00:54:38,720 --> 00:54:44,519 was somewhere you could see yourself staying long term? Do you remember that day? Probably not a good 567 00:54:44,519 --> 00:54:51,199 question to ask me because I'm going to be honest with you. I was working at a company just north of 568 00:54:51,199 --> 00:54:58,119 the terminal. It was a cabinet manufacturer, and when I decided that I wanted to get my CDL, I had 569 00:54:58,120 --> 00:55:03,199 already had my eye set on bulk because I went by them every day and I'm like, man, I want to get it. 570 00:55:03,199 --> 00:55:09,049 I want to drive. And I and I had already checked in. They said you had to have two years experience, 571 00:55:09,050 --> 00:55:14,929 so I knew I had to do the over the road thing for a while. So I kind of knew that was kind of where 572 00:55:14,929 --> 00:55:20,409 I was wanting to be because it was right close to home and I seen their trucks there every day. So I 573 00:55:20,409 --> 00:55:27,370 knew it was kind of like a daily thing. So, um, I don't know that that would be a fair question 574 00:55:27,409 --> 00:55:33,289 to answer because I'd already kind of. You kind of made your decision there a little bit. Yeah, yeah. I 575 00:55:33,289 --> 00:55:38,289 was like, well, that's kind of where I wanted to end up. Yeah. But I want to say something, if I 576 00:55:38,289 --> 00:55:45,049 might, concerning the hot, uh, the hot seat question with the, the, the location where you 577 00:55:45,050 --> 00:55:51,929 might be, if it can, if you can be considered or not. Mhm. Um, I just want to since this is a 578 00:55:51,929 --> 00:55:58,929 podcast and I hope other people listen. I just was able to be a help to recruiting 579 00:55:58,929 --> 00:56:05,489 for spur. I have a cousin in Texas and I, we tried it once before and it just didn't work out. But 580 00:56:05,540 --> 00:56:12,499 this time things have changed. And he and I told Rachel Zero the other day. He's in the 581 00:56:12,499 --> 00:56:19,220 process of being, uh, brought on board and at the spur terminal, and he's excited about it. 582 00:56:19,260 --> 00:56:26,259 He's he's a prime example of somebody that's needing to be home. And he's been. He's a 32 583 00:56:26,260 --> 00:56:31,779 year experience driver. He's my cousin. And he happens to live 584 00:56:32,620 --> 00:56:39,219 closer to the, uh, Austin, San Antonio area. But there's plenty of 585 00:56:39,220 --> 00:56:45,619 runs from Saginaw that go down. And that's how he lives kind of in the middle. And Bourque was 586 00:56:45,899 --> 00:56:52,860 gracious enough to give him the opportunity. And, uh, it's it this was the kind of 587 00:56:52,899 --> 00:56:57,978 things that need to be heard on the podcast that they are willing to work, as long as things line 588 00:56:57,979 --> 00:57:04,519 up properly with all the necessary, uh, background checks and so forth. Right, Right. And as I 589 00:57:04,519 --> 00:57:08,519 recall, Jeff, the you and I talked about this the other day when we were setting up the interview 590 00:57:08,560 --> 00:57:13,839 here. And, uh, just to to clarify this, this is a tree that you had barked up before with your 591 00:57:13,840 --> 00:57:18,519 cousin and it just didn't work out. You came back and barked up it again. And he's onboarding this 592 00:57:18,519 --> 00:57:24,799 time, right? Exactly. And so I need to mention this too, because this is this is important. He and I go 593 00:57:24,799 --> 00:57:30,440 back and forth with jab at each each other. And I kept telling him the amount of money that was 594 00:57:30,440 --> 00:57:37,088 available over here. He was working for a company that's over the road, and he was basically out 2 595 00:57:37,089 --> 00:57:42,560 to 3 weeks. And he and I'm not going to tell you exact amounts, but I'm going to tell you he was 596 00:57:42,560 --> 00:57:48,919 probably 25 to 30 grand less a year than me. Wow. And and he was with that company. 597 00:57:49,719 --> 00:57:54,039 Uh, Rachel probably knows exactly because she's got the I think he was with that company pert 598 00:57:54,040 --> 00:57:59,519 near, uh, coming up on 16. He was about the same time as I've been here. So we've been back. I've 599 00:57:59,520 --> 00:58:04,489 been I've been jabbing him all along, you know what I mean? You let me know what I'm making. And 600 00:58:04,529 --> 00:58:09,769 you know, he's out there hustling and doing it and making a lot less. So. These people need to hear 601 00:58:09,769 --> 00:58:14,889 that, man. They can make some money here, too. It's and it's it's an awesome company. I mean, it really 602 00:58:14,889 --> 00:58:20,729 is. You know, I'm sorry. I, I know you had another thing for me, but I had to say that. No, it's 603 00:58:20,729 --> 00:58:26,049 totally fine, Jeff, because I think it's it's still speaking to what I originally asked you, which is 604 00:58:26,050 --> 00:58:30,849 what's got you wanting to stay. You knew that you wanted to stay before you even got here, and 605 00:58:30,849 --> 00:58:37,489 that's a unique part of it. But it also you you wouldn't feel that way still 16 years down the 606 00:58:37,489 --> 00:58:42,530 road if the company hadn't held up their end. Right. And that's really the important part of it. 607 00:58:42,570 --> 00:58:47,369 I'm glad you said that, because I need to say this. I'm sorry I got diarrhea of the mouth, but it's 608 00:58:47,369 --> 00:58:53,930 important every year that I've been here, every year, 609 00:58:55,210 --> 00:59:01,979 whether it be through an increase by the Pay rate getting increased 610 00:59:01,979 --> 00:59:08,779 or our system is you get a percentage of the load at that. I have made 611 00:59:09,179 --> 00:59:16,099 more money from the previous year, every year. That's one hell of a track record. 612 00:59:16,179 --> 00:59:23,139 And not only that, they have made so many more changes 613 00:59:23,259 --> 00:59:30,018 with the way that they pay for things that benefit 614 00:59:30,019 --> 00:59:36,899 the driver, more so than it ever does benefit the company. I, and I don't know if you can 615 00:59:36,899 --> 00:59:43,139 get a more shining example of why drivers stick around at this company, right, Jeff? 616 00:59:43,859 --> 00:59:50,379 Exactly. Yeah. So you got an opportunity, like when you get into like anybody when they go to 617 00:59:50,420 --> 00:59:55,179 work, they they start out at the bottom. They want to work themselves to the top and working 618 00:59:55,180 --> 01:00:02,109 themselves to the top. Most people are thinking by making more money or by by making more 619 01:00:02,110 --> 01:00:08,870 money, you got to climb the chain of authority or whatever it may be. For example, when I was in 620 01:00:08,909 --> 01:00:14,549 the kitchen cabinet manufacturing, um, I literally started out as a forklift operator. 621 01:00:15,789 --> 01:00:20,549 Uh, I got a two year degree in accounting and business administration. I ended up in the 622 01:00:20,550 --> 01:00:25,709 accounting department. I went from the accounting department to I was production planning. 623 01:00:27,109 --> 01:00:33,909 And every step of the way, my money increased. And but the job also 624 01:00:33,909 --> 01:00:38,948 changed drastically. Every single time you got more. Yeah. That's that's the point you're making 625 01:00:38,949 --> 01:00:44,230 here because you're still hauling pneumatic, but you're still able to, uh, make more income every 626 01:00:44,230 --> 01:00:51,030 single year. Exactly. Yes. And there's always going to be a little bit of something because, 627 01:00:51,389 --> 01:00:58,039 uh, they, they the freight rates change year to year, and actual weight. If it goes 628 01:00:58,040 --> 01:01:05,040 up 3%, that's 3% more that you get your percentage of. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. Great stuff there, Jeff. I know 629 01:01:05,040 --> 01:01:11,080 you didn't answer the question directly, but you answered it indirectly. Very well. I think, um, and I 630 01:01:11,080 --> 01:01:15,279 want to go back to Kelly here because, Kelly, you've been so patient here. I haven't spoken to 631 01:01:15,280 --> 01:01:20,080 you in quite a few minutes here, but there's something very important on my list of questions 632 01:01:20,080 --> 01:01:25,438 that I want to touch on with you from your terminal manager perspective, in four years making 633 01:01:25,439 --> 01:01:31,319 podcasts for truck drivers, there's one thing that I hear, and it's consistent across every type of 634 01:01:31,320 --> 01:01:37,359 hauling across every fleet. Drivers do not want to feel like a number. They want to feel like a 635 01:01:37,360 --> 01:01:42,720 person. How do you implement that at Picton? Because I know we're sitting here listening to 636 01:01:42,759 --> 01:01:48,759 Jeff. He's not the only Pickton driver I've talked to. They feel like that at Pickton and at bulk at 637 01:01:48,760 --> 01:01:53,979 large. So from your seat, Kelly, how do you approach that? How do you make these drivers feel like 638 01:01:53,980 --> 01:01:58,499 they're each an individual person and not just a truck number. So. 639 01:02:00,980 --> 01:02:07,939 As the terminal manager managing 15 different drivers, I address them by name. 640 01:02:07,939 --> 01:02:14,579 I ask their opinions on loads. I ask them questions because 641 01:02:14,580 --> 01:02:21,099 they're they're part of this team and they should have some say so 642 01:02:21,100 --> 01:02:27,699 in what they're hauling or where they're hauling to as much as possible. I 643 01:02:28,020 --> 01:02:33,619 understand they have a life. I understand they have family. I understand there's doctors 644 01:02:33,620 --> 01:02:40,019 appointments and and, you know, deaths in the family and things that happen on a daily 645 01:02:40,019 --> 01:02:47,019 basis that you can't just sweep under the rug. Those 646 01:02:47,019 --> 01:02:53,949 are things that need to be acknowledged and Maybe give drivers an avenue to 647 01:02:53,990 --> 01:03:00,949 be able to take a day off, or even just to vent. Any driver here can call me at any point in 648 01:03:00,950 --> 01:03:07,950 time and be like, listen, I need to talk. I need to get this off my chest. I'm not just 649 01:03:07,950 --> 01:03:13,949 here to dispatch. I'm not just here to manage a terminal. I'm here to be part of the process as 650 01:03:13,949 --> 01:03:20,310 well. Yeah, and that family oriented feel that you get. I feel like is really. That's what it comes 651 01:03:20,310 --> 01:03:25,630 from. Kelly is that. Hey, if you just need to vent, you're there too. It's it's not the it's not the a 652 01:03:25,630 --> 01:03:30,069 one part of your job that sits right at the very top of the job description. But it is a very 653 01:03:30,070 --> 01:03:37,070 important part of the job, isn't it? It is. And the reason that that is so important is because if 654 01:03:37,070 --> 01:03:42,908 a driver is out there on the road and they're upset, I want them to be able to call me because I 655 01:03:42,909 --> 01:03:49,310 don't want them driving upset. Yeah, I don't want them putting themselves in a position where maybe 656 01:03:49,310 --> 01:03:55,758 they're not focused on the things that they should be focused on, right? I. I'm am here to. 657 01:03:55,999 --> 01:04:02,559 If you're having problems at home and you need an outlet, I'm here. If you have a 658 01:04:02,560 --> 01:04:09,199 medical issue and there's nobody that you feel comfortable talking to, I'm here. If 659 01:04:09,279 --> 01:04:16,200 your kid graduated kindergarten and you're super proud, I'm here. Um. Doesn't always have to 660 01:04:16,200 --> 01:04:22,359 be bad stuff, right? You can share the good stuff as well. And, um, that's that's what I 661 01:04:23,120 --> 01:04:29,999 like to happen here. I want that to be an open conversation. I want that to be an open 662 01:04:30,040 --> 01:04:36,679 opportunity for anybody who needs it. And it it makes it a 663 01:04:36,680 --> 01:04:43,079 little easier when, when the tough situations happen. Yeah. I can call and be like, hey, look, this 664 01:04:43,080 --> 01:04:49,329 is what's going on. Can you help with this load? Or I know this is going to suck, 665 01:04:49,330 --> 01:04:55,449 but can you handle this? Um, it it just creates 666 01:04:55,930 --> 01:05:02,889 easy communication. Sure, sure. Well, that's great stuff, Kelly. I appreciate once again 667 01:05:02,889 --> 01:05:07,289 the patience as well as we worked our way through Rachel's hot seat segment and hearing a bit from 668 01:05:07,289 --> 01:05:12,569 Jeff there. Uh, you guys, I only asked you for an hour today, and we are right up against it. So 669 01:05:12,570 --> 01:05:16,009 here's what I'm going to do. I told you I was going to break format earlier. We did that a 670 01:05:16,009 --> 01:05:21,089 little bit. I'm breaking it again because they give me the reins around here and I feel like it. 671 01:05:21,090 --> 01:05:26,289 Here's what I want from the three of you. Instead of our final Thoughts segment that we normally do 672 01:05:26,290 --> 01:05:31,729 today, time is a little bit short. So what I want from you, we don't want this to sound like a 673 01:05:31,729 --> 01:05:37,768 recruiting advertisement for bulk, but we do need drivers. And so I want you guys to give me your 674 01:05:37,810 --> 01:05:44,169 1520 second elevator pitch. Why should I or anybody else that's out there looking for a truck 675 01:05:44,169 --> 01:05:50,738 driving job right now, come to bulk and drive for bulk. Rachel, I'm going to start with you. Uh, thank 676 01:05:50,739 --> 01:05:55,860 you so much. As the leader of the recruiting and retention department, what's your elevator pitch 677 01:05:55,860 --> 01:06:00,579 to come work for bulk. I could spend a whole episode giving you an elevator pitch, but I'm 678 01:06:00,580 --> 01:06:05,860 gonna. Real quick, just take it back to what Jeff was saying about bringing his cousin on board. Um, 679 01:06:05,899 --> 01:06:11,899 you know, he had this idea. He knew that his cousin was a good driver with a strong record, and he 680 01:06:11,939 --> 01:06:18,139 contacted me. He contacted Sean, the ops director, and said, hey, let's figure something out. And, you 681 01:06:18,140 --> 01:06:23,178 know, we were willing to work with him. And Shawn had a good conversation with him on kind of 682 01:06:23,219 --> 01:06:29,938 figuring out a plan for that, because, again, going back to we respect our drivers as people. They're 683 01:06:29,939 --> 01:06:35,179 not just numbers to us. And, you know, if you have an idea for the company or you have a referral 684 01:06:35,179 --> 01:06:42,099 that's a little outside of the box, we can talk through it and, um, hear you out. And, uh, do you know 685 01:06:42,139 --> 01:06:48,959 what we can to to make this feel like everybody is a part of the team. And the elevator just hit 686 01:06:49,120 --> 01:06:53,679 floor number one, I am sold. I'll give you the round of applause as well as the floor number one. 687 01:06:53,679 --> 01:06:59,039 Ding! There. Great job, Rachel Dellaposta, thank you so much for joining us. As always. We appreciate 688 01:06:59,039 --> 01:07:03,479 all the time and the help that you give this podcast behind the scenes, because that's a very 689 01:07:03,479 --> 01:07:09,919 important part of this equation as well. Kelly Cordova, a terminal manager out there at Picton. 15 690 01:07:09,920 --> 01:07:16,319 second elevator pitch from you. Why should I come work at Picton? Uh, here at Picton, we are 691 01:07:16,759 --> 01:07:22,799 we are focused on safety. We're focused on, you know, getting our freight from one point to 692 01:07:22,840 --> 01:07:29,159 another, getting you back home to your family. We understand again, things happen in life. 693 01:07:29,199 --> 01:07:36,199 We typically are pretty flexible. If you need a day off, you know, here's a day off. Our 694 01:07:36,199 --> 01:07:42,529 loads pay very well. Here. We if if there's a point in time that we 695 01:07:43,050 --> 01:07:49,928 don't have a lot of loads for a day. I try my best to work with the other terminals and I 696 01:07:50,010 --> 01:07:55,929 typically don't have drivers sitting. We want you to get out there and make money. We want you to 697 01:07:55,970 --> 01:08:01,370 move freight, and we want you to come home and enjoy life with your family. And there we are at 698 01:08:01,370 --> 01:08:06,529 floor number one once again with the ding and the round of applause. Kelly Cordova, thank you so much 699 01:08:06,530 --> 01:08:10,889 for the time today. I know you've got a lot on your plate, just like Rachel does. We greatly 700 01:08:10,889 --> 01:08:15,530 appreciate every minute that we get to spend with you here on Always pneumatic, never Static. Thanks 701 01:08:15,530 --> 01:08:21,089 for joining us today. Jeff, it's your turn. Uh, driver out of Pike and Jeff Linne joining us 702 01:08:21,089 --> 01:08:25,329 here on the show. Give me your elevator pitch, man. What did you tell your cousin? Hey, I'm just out 703 01:08:25,330 --> 01:08:32,209 earning you, and I'm out earning circles around you. Is that all it took? Oh, I listen, 704 01:08:32,209 --> 01:08:38,890 I've been poking him for a while. He's been cursing me. I had to I had to do something 705 01:08:38,890 --> 01:08:45,739 right. No, no. My pitch would be that I have to agree with, uh, 706 01:08:45,819 --> 01:08:52,659 Rachel and Kelly. And I think the word is or couple words 707 01:08:52,660 --> 01:08:59,018 is, um, flexibility. What I mean by that is everything that Kelly said 708 01:08:59,019 --> 01:09:05,419 about being able to work with somebody, schedule within reason. You can't go because some people 709 01:09:05,419 --> 01:09:12,339 can kind of play the game. Mhm. And flexibility within reason of being able 710 01:09:12,339 --> 01:09:19,219 to hire somebody depending on where they live in proximity to a town. It's kind of hard to be 711 01:09:19,220 --> 01:09:26,099 outside of the, of somewhere. Um for the most part. But I understand in the Texas area it's a little 712 01:09:26,100 --> 01:09:32,538 different. So, uh, that's where we ran into just a tiny little bit of a road bump there, but. And 713 01:09:32,539 --> 01:09:39,269 then money. I mean, I'm, I'm almost put my paycheck on it I because I did it once 714 01:09:39,270 --> 01:09:46,149 before. We are competitive with any company in the Midwest 715 01:09:46,669 --> 01:09:52,869 as far as making money, and this is something that's very important. It's not just the money, 716 01:09:52,869 --> 01:09:59,549 it's the other little things that you, the insurances and things of that nature that a lot 717 01:09:59,589 --> 01:10:04,949 of a lot of drivers drive and they let their spouse take the insurance. That's what like part 718 01:10:04,950 --> 01:10:10,789 of the problem with getting people in Python is like Kelly was saying, the, the, the pool is so 719 01:10:10,789 --> 01:10:16,829 rough to get anybody to turn because they may be driving, making $1,500, but that's all they're 720 01:10:16,829 --> 01:10:23,470 doing, though they don't get no, uh, chicks holiday paid. They don't get no 721 01:10:23,470 --> 01:10:27,910 vacation. They're just getting paid as they haul and they're and their spouse is taking care of 722 01:10:27,910 --> 01:10:33,989 the insurance or whatever. So this is the combination of all of that. Flexibility, pay and 723 01:10:33,990 --> 01:10:38,410 benefits is what you're talking about. And I'll tell you right now, if I'm out there looking for a 724 01:10:38,410 --> 01:10:43,889 job, I'm sold. I think that does that summarize it, Jeff? Pretty well. 725 01:10:45,689 --> 01:10:52,169 Absolutely. I'm. I'm glad I have you to back me up and put the three words out there. No problem. 726 01:10:52,289 --> 01:10:57,609 Jeff. Rachel. Kelly, thank you all for your time today. This has been fantastic. I think we did 727 01:10:57,609 --> 01:11:02,609 exactly what we needed to. If you're listening to this and you're thinking about it, go over to Bulk 728 01:11:02,649 --> 01:11:09,128 Transit Comm. Click the button, give Rachel a call, ask some questions. Figure out if it's the right 729 01:11:09,129 --> 01:11:14,649 fit. We got seats open and we're looking for drivers once again. Plane city and Picton. Kelly 730 01:11:14,649 --> 01:11:19,489 Cordova, Rachel Dellaposta, Jeff Linne. You guys are fantastic. Jeff, you be safe out there on the 731 01:11:19,490 --> 01:11:24,369 road. Rachel Kelly we'll get you on here again next time and talk more about the recruiting 732 01:11:24,370 --> 01:11:29,768 process at Bulk and Spur. We'll be right back with more. Always pneumatic, never static. Right 733 01:11:29,769 --> 01:11:30,649 after this. 734 01:11:38,540 --> 01:11:44,059 You know, I've said this so many times to so many people at Bulk and Spur, whether it be when I'm 735 01:11:44,100 --> 01:11:49,778 talking to Brian or Brad or Andrea in a meeting or I'm trying to set up an interview and I'm just 736 01:11:49,779 --> 01:11:55,579 having a conversation with a driver or a terminal staff employee, I tell everyone, if I could bottle 737 01:11:55,580 --> 01:12:02,299 your guys's enthusiasm for this show and spray it on everybody that I work with outside of 738 01:12:02,299 --> 01:12:07,619 always pneumatic, never static, I would, and I would probably be a very rich man selling that serum. 739 01:12:07,620 --> 01:12:14,619 What a fantastic segment there from Kelli Cordova, Rachel Dellaposta, and Jeff Linne. Three 740 01:12:14,620 --> 01:12:20,259 different perspectives, three entirely different perspectives on what the recruiting process is 741 01:12:20,299 --> 01:12:25,379 and how it works. And if you're looking for a gig right now, bulks got them. And if you're sitting 742 01:12:25,380 --> 01:12:31,059 there looking at your shiny brand new CDL thinking, how would I ever get into pneumatics 743 01:12:31,059 --> 01:12:36,589 fresh out of school. Well, you call Rachel and you have a conversation. You figure out if you're 744 01:12:36,589 --> 01:12:41,390 qualified and you get down there to Pickton and start working with Kelly and Jeff and figuring 745 01:12:41,390 --> 01:12:46,989 out what this whole thing is all about. It's that simple. Uh, cannot thank them enough for such a 746 01:12:46,990 --> 01:12:53,990 great interview. You know, in the lifecycle of a podcast as it grows. One thing that 747 01:12:53,990 --> 01:13:00,509 I always look for with a guy that's probably got, I don't know, somewhere around 5000 podcast 748 01:13:00,509 --> 01:13:07,230 episodes under my belt in my broadcasting career, not to mention eight years worth of daily 749 01:13:07,230 --> 01:13:13,629 four hour radio shows. It's a lot the same what you look for as the next show comes and the next 750 01:13:13,629 --> 01:13:18,788 show, or the next episode and the next episode. You want it to get better. You want it to get richer. 751 01:13:18,829 --> 01:13:24,350 You want the experience that you give the listener to grow over time. Now, I told you in the 752 01:13:24,350 --> 01:13:28,909 intro that we got a couple of really nice compliments on some recent episodes from Mike 753 01:13:28,910 --> 01:13:33,799 Short and Jeff Linne and I. I can't tell you how much that means to me. Guys, I encourage you to 754 01:13:33,799 --> 01:13:40,240 reach out if you got anything out of an episode. Tell a friend about it and let me know so that I 755 01:13:40,240 --> 01:13:45,838 can pour more of that into subsequent episodes. I want to keep making that happen for you. And on 756 01:13:45,879 --> 01:13:52,559 that note, I think today's episode is another one in that rack. It's better than the last one. It's 757 01:13:52,560 --> 01:13:56,959 more rich than the last one. It has more information and better questions than the last 758 01:13:56,960 --> 01:14:03,399 one. This podcast is growing right in front of our eyes, and it is you guys that are making it grow, 759 01:14:03,439 --> 01:14:09,199 not just the people that join me here and give me the great content like Rachel, Jeff and Kelly did 760 01:14:09,240 --> 01:14:13,599 today. But those of you that are out there listening and actually getting something from it, 761 01:14:13,600 --> 01:14:20,199 like Mike short, shoot me a message and telling me that is critical to make this podcast better for 762 01:14:20,200 --> 01:14:25,719 you every single time we throw the mics on. And I can't thank all of you enough for being here with 763 01:14:25,720 --> 01:14:32,410 me. Um, you make a guy feel real special. And I also feel like part of the family. I don't feel like a 764 01:14:32,410 --> 01:14:38,970 truck number. I feel like everybody knows my name. It's cheers out here. Uh, whether I'm in Plain City 765 01:14:39,009 --> 01:14:45,490 Pike in Saginaw, it doesn't matter. I feel at home and, uh, really appreciate everyone 766 01:14:45,529 --> 01:14:51,489 under the Bulk and Spur moniker for taking part in this podcast, listening to this podcast, telling 767 01:14:51,490 --> 01:14:58,289 a friend about it, uh, filling out a quiz to get entered for our $400 Amazon gift 768 01:14:58,289 --> 01:15:05,169 card drive. Every single bit of effort that you guys put into this, even if it's just clicking 769 01:15:05,169 --> 01:15:10,929 download or listening on the website, matters to me. Uh, much like you heard Kelly say that all the 770 01:15:10,930 --> 01:15:17,329 input from her drivers at Pickton matters to her. Okay, it's a lot the same. And that's how this 771 01:15:17,330 --> 01:15:23,689 company runs as such a well-oiled machine. You got drivers out there smiling. Everybody's happy. 772 01:15:23,689 --> 01:15:28,990 Everybody's working together. Everybody's filling their role. It's a beautiful thing when it all 773 01:15:28,990 --> 01:15:34,469 comes together. And, uh, well, we here at the podcast thought, why not try to sweeten the pot a little 774 01:15:34,509 --> 01:15:40,349 bit and throw a $400 Amazon gift card drawing at the drivers that are out there listening? It's 775 01:15:40,350 --> 01:15:47,189 real simple, I told you in the intro. But I'll remind you again, podcast sitcom is the website. 776 01:15:47,230 --> 01:15:53,389 Each one of these podcasts comes with a quiz. You fill out that quiz, you click submit. It doesn't 777 01:15:53,390 --> 01:15:59,509 matter if you're a good student, poor student, nobody cares. You're still entered for it. You can 778 01:15:59,509 --> 01:16:04,869 get zero out of however many questions there are, and we're still going to get you entered for that 779 01:16:04,869 --> 01:16:11,869 $400 Amazon gift card drawing. So get your quizzes in. And once again, 780 01:16:11,910 --> 01:16:17,109 you're not fortunate enough to know exactly when this will be drawn just yet. But I'll come back 781 01:16:17,110 --> 01:16:23,029 with that information at some point in time. In the industry here, we call this a tease. I'm just 782 01:16:23,029 --> 01:16:26,719 teasing you a little bit so that you come back and listen next week and maybe the week after 783 01:16:26,720 --> 01:16:30,839 that. And who knows, maybe one of those weeks will be the week that we pull a name out of the hat 784 01:16:30,839 --> 01:16:37,559 and hand somebody a $400 gift card to Amazon. Really appreciate everybody that clicked download 785 01:16:37,560 --> 01:16:43,279 today. Remember to tell a friend and get those quizzes in because it's here. We will be drawing 786 01:16:43,279 --> 01:16:48,919 very soon. All you drivers be safe out there. Keep the shiny side up. Thank you so much for tuning in 787 01:16:48,960 --> 01:16:55,159 to always pneumatic, never static. We will be back here next week, same time 5 a.m. local time, with 788 01:16:55,160 --> 01:17:01,439 another hour at least of content for you from always pneumatic, never static. Be safe out there. 789 01:17:03,200 --> 01:17:09,159 And that's all she blows for today's episode of Always Pneumatic, Never Static. Your number one and 790 01:17:09,160 --> 01:17:15,079 probably only Pneumatic Trucking podcast, brought to you by Bulk Transit. Thanks for rolling with us 791 01:17:15,079 --> 01:17:19,839 today. Till next time, stay safe. Keep those lines clear and keep it pumping.