If you’re running a local or long haul trucking company, you need to figure out how to set expectations, find the right driver for your company, and build a support system for your drivers.

In this episode, we introduce Alex Chubenko, aka the Tow Piglet, as a new content creator at TruckSpy and co-host for The Road Forward Podcast. We also hear his story as an entrepreneur in the hotshot trucking industry and knowing what to look for when hiring long haul drivers.

Join us as we discuss:

• Why Alex closed his trucking business
• Onboarding and retention methods for drivers
• Software to improve the customer and operator experience

About Alex

Starting out as a driver in 2015, Alex transitioned to being an owner operator until 2019 when he formed his own company. He started taking on other owner operators and noticed considerable growth until the end of 2020. At that point, the growing cost of insurance is what ultimately moved Alex to shut down his business. 

Onboarding and Driver Retention

Retention of drivers is a huge issue in the trucking industry. One reason is that many new drivers aren’t prepared for long-haul trucking, where they could be on the road for weeks at a time. 

To help with this, some methods that many big trucking companies use when hiring include:

• Outline expectations for new hires right from the beginning.
• Look for the right people and offer needed support to existing drivers.
• Go for the right customers. This can mean searching out customers that are in a more central location to where your company is based, which makes for more consistent routes. 

Building a Company Policy

Having a good company policy is invaluable to the success of your business and overall satisfaction of your drivers. Alex suggests creating a policy right from the start, then adjusting and refining it as needed as your fleet grows. This will likely include a training program for drivers, to get them familiar with what will be expected of them going forward.

“You underestimate as a company owner what a good company policy document can do for you.”

–Alex Chubenko

Using Tech to Grow Your Company

Another key to growing your business is to use the right technology. Alex learned to use various software to his advantage while running his hotshot trucking company, not to mention starting his YouTube channel. 

Platforms such as YouTube can be powerful marketing tools. Alex estimates that by the time he closed his business, around 20% of his customer base was coming directly from YouTube. 

Alex is now bringing his knowledge of technology and the trucking industry as he joins the Truckspy team as well as to host The Road Forward Podcast.  

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