Golden Compromise

It has been about a decade since I proposed the Gold Card. The gold card is a way of recognizing outstanding veteran drivers. The idea is to allow veteran drivers an exemption from hours of service. The standards to become a gold card driver must be high. 8 consecutive years with no traffic convictions, out of service violations, or DOT reportable AT FAULT accidents would be a good gold standard. Standards need not be limited to gold. We could go silver for 6 years and bronze for 4 years.

 

Gold card drivers would be positive representatives for the industry. Companies that have gold card drivers could market gold card service. Gold card drivers would have leverage. They have displayed responsible judgment over time. Gold card drivers could not be “encouraged” to drive beyond their comfort level. Companies would be lined up to hire them. Safe experienced drivers would command premium pay packages. Successful, experienced executives can demand premium earnings. Gold card drivers would be properly rewarded.

 

The biggest problem the industry faces is the mass exodus of drivers. We recruit somewhere around 40,000 drivers a month. If anything we recruit too many and keep too few. One of the reasons is that good experienced drivers are not highly rewarded. Long term performance should be rewarded with executive type pay packages. This might encourage newbies to hang on through those rough years. Put a GOLD sticker on the side of the gold drivers' cabs. It would identify professional drivers and newbies could get professional advice.

 

Most old dog drivers deserve respect. You can read that better pay packages. Some don't. Not all old dogs are good drivers. We keep hearing that there will be an exodus of drivers with oncoming regulations enforcement. A few will leave, most of those will have been close to retirement. Those that think they can do better than $50,000 per year repeatedly uttering the phase “ You want fries with that?” will probably end up staying.

 

Another problem that we have out here is training. Either we don't have enough trainers, or we see inexperienced trainers with less than a year of experience. In my perfect world, a trainer would need GOLD qualification to train to be a trainer. A driver who meets the qualification, and be willing – would be worth their weight in – GOLD. It would also limit the number of drivers who could be trained. That goes back to my theory that we recruit too many drivers and keep too few. It would create an environment that would raise the standards. Recruits would have to be qualified. Companies, and schools would need to stop throwing good money after bad. The market would set the standard.

 

Any non gold driver would be required to have an ELD. There could be some flexibility in HOS for those who don't quite qualify for the complete gold package. Silver level drivers could flex the 14 hour rule once a week to 16 hours. Any flexibility should be driver – not company or client controlled. You could not flex the HOS in order to cover for a client who held you up at the dock. That client should have to pay for that time. Flexibility could be used for things like avoiding rush hour, or parking where there is indoor plumbing. Flexibility must be earned. Experience should be privileged. That is the most fundamental idea behind the standard. Experienced drivers are better drivers. Reward them and they will stay.

Comments (8)

Jeff Clark

Jeff Clark of Kewaunee, WI has been driving a truck for 24 years. He has been an owner operator for 11 years.

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Jeff Clark

Will, I believe that quality instructors are the bedrock of my dream system. I learned from teaching Sunday School that knowing how to teach is essential. My class of about a dozen 8 year olds proved difficult for me to handle. My partner was a professional teacher. She had them quiet and learning. Teaching, and I am married to a teacher, is more then just knowing the material.

June 06, 2015 6:25:17 AM

Will Pearson

This is a good idea, but just a note here on training new drivers. Just because a person knows the trade won't make him a good trainer. It takes a certain kind of personality to teach. I've worked at a CDL community college as an instructor, and here is my take on the subject. All the instructors where I worked were veteran drivers, and knew their stuff, but very few had the patience, or the ability to teach the skill to others. This led to a lot of mistrust, and aggravation for the students, as well as fellow instructors. One main problem was ego. Ego from the newer instructors, drove many of the vets, (the good guy's) to quit, and the students disliked, in fact hated a lot of ego from the instructors. Most new instructors thought they already knew how to teach, without every having had any formal training. Vet CDL instructors will tell anyone starting, they need to shadow an experienced instructor first, also it would take at least a year to really know how to teach beginning CDL students, or train a new driver properly. Trainers need to develop a stone face, and be objective with students. Some new big rig student drivers will cry, others will get frustrated, some will get ticked off, others will forget which direction is right or left.
If you want to be an instructor or trainer, you first need to be a (people) person. This should mean that you will place the students needs over all as a priority above your own, and make them feel important, like they really matter.

June 05, 2015 15:51:37 PM

Jeff Clark

Thanks-yeah Craig: Wendy and her gubmint - cracks me up. Really though all that would be required from FMCSA is a waiver for a select group of drivers.

Ray - I think we are on the same page here. Governmental policies seem to give preference to recruiting, and turn a blind eye towards the veteran driver. It is the veteran driver who should be lauded by the government. What this would do would set up a distinction that could then be used by the private sector.

June 04, 2015 11:41:08 AM

Ray Gompf

I've said for almost half a century that truck driving should be a recognize trade with accompanying skills development over a career, with a defined career path.

At the very least, your plan would afford some degree of trades recognition. It's a good start.

June 04, 2015 9:21:39 AM

Ray Gompf

I've said for years and years that beside having truck driving recognized as a trade, we need a career path. Your plan would at the very least offer some sadly lacking government recognition of skill and skills development.

June 04, 2015 9:19:08 AM

Craig McCue

See the problem here Jeff is that you are thinking logically. Gubmint (an Wendy Parker calls them) doesn't think logically. Companies don't seem to think logically.

I think this is a great article with great ideas. We need to get you into the FMCSA head chair position and get some of these ideas rolling! Gubmint could use some down to earth logic.

June 04, 2015 9:09:18 AM

Jeff Clark

thanks Shane - We are in a cycle of churning drivers. This is just an idea to start a discussion - not end one.

June 04, 2015 8:49:20 AM

Shane Rizzuto

Excellent idea Jeff!

June 04, 2015 7:16:41 AM