Decker Podcast
Walk Safe This Winter (1/13/2020)
Posted byMaximize Your Monthly Bonus Payouts
Do you feel like your working your tail off and not seeing the incentive amounts you were hoping for? Ever hear of the phrase “work smarter, not harder”?
We have no doubt you are working hard day in and day out. Although, just because you are working hard, doesn’t mean you are being productive or getting the most out of your time. I say this with a guilty conscious. I am constantly trying to get more time out of my day to get things done, not possible. We all have the same 24 hours in a day and, well, some of us are better at managing that than others. If you are anything like me, you want to be more efficient and more effective. So, how do we all “up our game” so we can get the most out of the work we put in? Know what needs to be done and determine the shortest path possible to achieve that.
Take a look at the criteria we have for our monthly incentive bonus, we call it our Driver’s Scorecard Bonus.
Your score is based on the number of miles you ran, driver-related claims, driver-related service failures, preventable accidents, and driver-related CSA violations. Knowing the criteria and being aware of expectations from the company as well as your current performance all contribute to YOU meeting YOUR monthly bonus goals. Each division’s mileage breakdown is different, communicate with your fleet manager throughout the month to ensure you are on track. If you wait till the end of the month, you may not have time to rectify the situation and increase your numbers if they are low.* Below is a breakdown of the miles expected and the points associated per division.
Always remember, your fleet manager’s goals are to improve your numbers. They are there to help you. Allow them to be your advocate.
ALL points will be forfeited for any (driver-related) claims, (driver-related) service failures, preventable accidents and CSA violations for the month. Remember this is a monthly bonus, so if you do lose points this month, it will have no bearing on next month’s bonus.
Here are some tips for over the road truck drivers to maximize your monthly bonus payouts by improving your MPG, idle time, miles, claims, service failures, preventable accidents, and CSA violations.
Together we can improve your efficiency and Decker Truck Line’s and see larger bonus payouts for you each month. Call your fleet manager with any questions.
Company drivers can make an extra 1 penny to 4 cents per mile. Owner Operator drivers can make an extra 1 penny to 3 cents per mile. Lease Operators drivers can make an extra 1 penny to 4 cents per mile.
If you are interested in a position with Decker Truck Line, contact a recruiter now, 888.668.0698 or apply online at www.DriveDecker.com.
Written By: Jesse Butler
Jesse Butler is a driver recruiter for Decker Truck Line. She has worked within the trucking industry for over a decade. You can contact her at 406.203.4413.
Apply directly to Decker Truck Line at www.DriveDecker.com
It can be difficult to stay healthy on the road. Let’s be honest, it can be difficult to stay in shape no matter where you are. Having the right equipment and knowledge to live a healthy life could make the difference between wanting to change and actually changing. Here are a few “tools” for you to borrow from our toolbox.
Resistance Bands – Heavy duty pull up assist bands, resistance bands, these bands are great to improve mobility & test your strength as weight lifting bands.
GymBoss – This is a free phone app. It makes it easy to change the number of intervals, sets and time.
Yoga Mat – Offers support in stretching, core and mobility exercises.
We are here to support you on a path to health and fitness. Feel free to download this free workout routine designed for drivers out on the road.
Improve your health even further by cleaning up your diet. Track your diet to see ultimate results.
The amount of exercise will vary from individual but recommendations from American College of Sports Medicine is atleast 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week. That being said, HIIT intervals are proven to be as effective if not more effective then aerobic exercises because of the intensity level.
Driven To Be The Best! The best YOU… Click here for tools to get you there.
If you are interested in a position with Decker Truck Line, contact a recruiter now, 888.668.0698 or apply online at www.DriveDecker.com.
Written By: Jesse Butler
Jesse Butler is a driver recruiter for Decker Truck Line. She has worked within the trucking industry for over a decade. You can contact her at 406.203.4413.
Apply directly to Decker Truck Line at www.DriveDecker.com
Depending on where you live in the lower 48, fall weather can bring hurricanes, floods, snow, ice etc and if you are an over the road truck driver, you need to be prepared for them all.
Preparation starts BEFORE you are even out on the road. You know once September hits, you just never know what kind of weather will be around the corner. The best way to prepare yourself is to stay tuned into the weather forecasts, local stations and keep your equipment in check.
A proper pre-trip is not only in place to prevent DOT CSA violations and equipment breakdowns but most importantly to protect you and others on the road.
Top drivers always do a complete pre-trip inspections. It helps to prevent added unforeseen delays and improves safety but reducing the risk of out-of-control circumstances due to poor vehicle maintenance and wear and tear on the truck and trailer.
When I think of fall, I think of leaves. Keep your eyes open for piles on the road and be sure to slow down, avoid sudden braking or swerving. Piles can hide other debris which can be dangerous. Plus, if it recently rained, they can cause hydroplaning or get you spinning. So, be cautious in slippery conditions. A good rule of thumb is if the road looks wet and there is very little spray coming off your tires, you are more likely to be on black ice. This is more common when the temperature is between 22 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit.
The more water coming off your tires, the less likely the roads are icy, but clearly still wet. Be cautious.
If visibility becomes poor, slow down, turn/keep your lights on, put your hazards on and pull off the road. DO NOT pull onto the shoulder. As other drivers come up on your tail, they may think you are slowing down and still on the road. They WILL run into you. Get completely off the road into safety.
“In the winter, drive your truck based on your skills. Don’t try to keep up with another truck if it is not safe for you,” Nathan, veteran OTR driver and current DTL recruiter.
Know how to chain. Chain to get yourself out of trouble, not into trouble. Make sure you have chains on your trucks at all times, especially if you run in areas subject to inclement weather. North Western states have the chain law into effect as of Sept 1st.
Always check your chains for damage and do NOT go further on your chains than absolutely necessary. A Decker Truck Line lease purchase driver reminds us to “make sure your chains fit before the snow flies”. Don’t put yourself in the, “wish I would’ve” category.
The faster and further you drive on chains, the more likely damage to the chain or tires may occur. Do NOT drive on dry pavement with chains.
Your Windshield should be free of ice, snow, rain and cracks. Inspect your windshield wiper fluids and windshield wipers when you do your pre-trip so you are not adding on to possible visibility issues.
Vehicles that have slowed down because of visibility can be very dangerous. Be sure to give yourself enough room to pass. If you cannot see far enough to determine if you have enough room, you do NOT have enough room. The risk is not worth it.
Also, this time of year it’s more likely to see farm equipment on the road. They are slowing moving and can also create visibility barriers. Pass with caution.
Do not drive in groups. You may not be allowing yourself enough time to react. If the vehicle in front of you spins out and wrecks, the likelihood of you doing the same increases with the number of vehicles traveling together. Suggested: ¼ mile distance between you and other vehicles when traveling this season.
Additional helpful tips and suggestions from some of our Decker drivers:
“The best winter survival skill is prevention. A full truck stop is still better than a ditch.”
“when you stop for the night wait ten minutes and then pull forward. Cause your warm tires will make a groove in the snow and you’ll get stuck”
“Don’t pull your trailer break, they’ll freeze up when you wake up”
“Biggest thing…You’re not Superman slow down”
“And watch the road if there isn’t spray off the tires it’s frozen”
“if your pulling a pass don’t slow down going up just going down, keep your RPMs up”
Written By: Jesse Butler
Jesse Butler is a driver recruiter for Decker Truck Line. She has worked within the trucking industry for over a decade. You can contact her at 406.203.4413.
Apply directly to Decker Truck Line at www.DriveDecker.com
