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I find the notion that it is next to impossible to find quality drivers hard to digest. I mean if the theory held true that the only trustworthy person to hire is yourself in any business the potential is limited of that business.
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I?m mainly here to research and learn the trucking business, but I?d like to give an opinion here if nobody minds. Right now I?m in the construction business, but let me tell you, the hardest part about running and trying to grow a business, any business, is finding and keeping GOOD employees or even pieceworkers (1099 workers). I think this transcends to most businesses. You?re in for a rude awakening concerning finding, hiring, and keeping, employees. Not that it?s not worth it but it?s not easy. I?m friends with an architect, known him since school, it took him 2 years to find the right person to hire and keep.
I ran an ad in the Baltimore paper once, when I grew to the point of needing help. Anybody that?s tried this approach knows where I?m going with this. I was na?ve; I thought it would be easy. Wrong! You will get everyone else?s trash coming to see you.
I had two guys show up drunk and whining that they haven?t worked in weeks. I had one guy (with rotten teeth from crack) tell me that ?I?ll work all week but no weekend?s because I spend my weekends in the Bar.? There were other winners but those two stick out in my mind.
My best help has come from word of mouth, friends of friends so to speak. I get them green and train them, and just when I feel comfortable to leave them alone on a project they?ll leave to get a ?gravy? job. The process starts all over. ARRRGGG! I realize you probably won?t be able to hire newbies for insurance reasons, but hopefully you can take something from my experiences.
Bottom line is a lot employees don?t care about your business the way you do and this will aggravate you. You?ll probably go through a few before you find the right one. Just getting a ?warm body? approach doesn?t work.
I?m not trying to discourage you at all, I love running my own business and wouldn?t trade it for anything (well almost), but it?s not easy, none of it is, and it?s not for everyone. 8)