KEN'S KORNER - JUNE 2004
DO THE RIGHT THING
By Author, Educator and Big City Driver Ken Skaggs

Its one thing to give advice, but doing it (or following your own advice), sometimes isn’t easy. But, if you always practice what you preach, you can go to bed with a clear conscience. I recently had to face this type of dilemma, and I’m proud to say that I made the right choice. It was tough to make that choice, but after I did, I felt better.

I applied for a job with a gravel hauler last month, and I got the job. It paid pretty well too, but I turned it down - with great satisfaction. It gave me great pleasure to stand up for everything I believe in. I know there are plenty of jobs out there, and I’m glad I didn’t have to stoop to a low level for this one.

The adventure began on the way to apply. I was in my car, driving down a two-lane country road, about one mile away from the place, when I realized that a dump truck was bearing down on my rear. The speed limit was 55, but I was doing about 59 mph. The tailgating truck stayed about five feet behind me until he could pass. When he got the chance to pass, he did, very quickly, probably going about 70 mph. I looked at the name on the door and noticed it was the same as the company I was on my way to apply for. I love to call and report crazy drivers, so I have a habit of noticing the name on the door when I see someone driving like that (they don’t call me the “Phoneslinger” for nothing). So naturally, I was right behind him as I turned into the driveway because, like I said, it was only about a mile away when he passed me. I wasn’t going to report him since I was trying to get a job there, but I did want to make a mental note as to who the driver was.

Once he got out of the truck, I realized that the crazy driver was the boss I was getting ready to interview with. It was a small company, with about five or six trucks, so the owner drives one too. So, I bit my tongue and went in to apply. During the interview, I handed him a copy of my driving record, which goes back ten years, and showed no tickets (the ad said to bring it). One look at that and he had to ask if I had done much driving over the past ten years, to which I proudly replied, “I always drive for a living and usually average over 100,000 miles a year, and ran 140,000 miles last year alone.” He laughed and said something to the effect of, “That would change working here.”

He went on to tell me all about the job. He explained how they always run overweight and always have to hurry to make decent money. He even got out a calculator to demonstrate how you can make up to an extra five thousand dollars a year by running overweight, and if you only get two tickets a year, costing about six or eight hundred dollars a year, it would still be well worth it. I asked him to figure in all the other losses when you get a ticket, like the load you missed that day because of the time lost sitting on the side of the road while getting the ticket and the load you missed because you had to go to court. He shrugged that off as if I didn’t know what I was talking about.

I was about to mention all the wear and tear on his trucks too, running heavy like that, when he got excited and told me how he will even sell me a truck, for no money down. He pointed at a beat-up truck (that was probably worth $4,000) and told me I could have it for only $15,000. He said it was a win-win situation, because I would make more money if I bought one and he wouldn’t have to worry about the repairs. Again, I bit my tongue, because I did need a job, even though I couldn’t help thinking, “Of course the trucks need a lot of repairs, you push them to the limit every day!”

Then he said that he couldn’t afford to hire a driver who didn’t know “how to hustle”. He explained how his drivers usually get something to eat quickly, like fast-food, and eat while they drive. I was thinking I would just pack a lunch, if I worked here, but I was already doubting that I would. I explained that I always make good time because I don’t waste it when I get out of my truck. I told him I always do the math, and that I know for a fact that you can only save a few minutes per hour by driving erratically, and that it wasn’t worth the risk, to me. I reminded him that I hadn’t had a ticket in over ten years and that I intended to keep it that way. I thought we parted company in complete disagreement with each other.

Well, to make a long story short, the next day he called me, like the bearer of great news, and said that he would like to hire me. I wanted to be tactful, as I said no thanks, but I couldn’t restrain myself. I said, “I don’t think I could work for a guy like you, who pushes drivers to do illegal and unsafe things. The way you tailgated me on the way there, I thought for sure you must have been a new driver. I was shocked when I found out you were the owner, and that you expect your drivers to drive like that too. Like you, I do the math too, only I include all the parts of the equation, not just the parts I want to see. No thanks. I need to work for someone who puts safety first. Driving a truck is about safety, and everything else has to take a back seat. If you put safety first, for real, the money is good, and you don’t have to cheat and bend the rules all the time.”

When I hung up the phone, I felt very satisfied. I wish that everyone who works for these kinds of people would just do some math and wake up (and quit that job). There are plenty of jobs for truckers out there and people get killed in accidents every day. Please be careful - don't become a part of that equation.