When you’re out on the interstate, have you ever seen those trucks that say “our most valuable asset sits up front?” While Marvin Keller may not have that decal on our trailers, we still do our best to live up to that creed. This involves investing in driver training and coaching and providing all the necessary tools, materials, and equipment needed to effectively do the job. It also includes treating our drivers like valued members of the team who have families and personal lives and who need and deserve a good work/life balance just like workers of any other profession.
We hear horror stories from new drivers who have come from other companies; they talk about being kept out for six or more weeks at a time, sitting for four or five days without a load and without pay, or low-quality “jiffy training” for rookies that only lasts a week or so before they get tossed out on the road to fend for themselves. None of these situations makes for a successful driver and we want to ensure that our drivers are prepared for being out on their own.
Training any employee is an investment. Training a professional driver takes a lot of time, effort, and money. Many trucking companies won’t hire drivers without experience because they don’t have the resources or don’t want to invest the time or money that it takes to properly train them. MK has developed a great team of driver trainers to give one-on-one instruction for up to six weeks, depending on experience level, and we’re always looking to bring on more driver trainers to ensure we can help bring in new drivers, regardless of their experience level. Our in-house CDL training program is a huge investment in our drivers. We now have a permanent in-house trainer to help prospective drivers from the very beginning, training for their CDL while being imbued with MK’s values from the start to get them prepared for their careers with MK.
MK driver managers are working on your behalf to help you in your travels. They work to make sure you have all the information you need and to help you with any issues. They are there to coach you and help you succeed and they act as an intermediator, advocating for your benefit. Your driver manager lays out the expectations for your assignments and follows up on improvement plans. Everyone is given an opportunity to improve as long as there is a good-faith effort to do so. We want drivers to succeed and are investing in the resources necessary to help facilitate that improvement. We always want to make sure drivers feel safe on the road and encourage everyone to get enough sleep and take breaks when needed. Safety is not a priority at Marvin Keller, it’s a CORE VALUE; it is not to be compromised.
While drivers who stay out weeks at a time can make the most money for themselves and for the company, today’s crop of drivers wants more home time and flexibility, so MK has become flexible as well, customizing drivers’ preferred work schedules and even accommodating driver moves to different states when possible. We also allow drivers to bring along their furry family members in order to create the most pleasant job experience possible.
At MK, we work hard every day to try to provide everything our drivers need to be successful and feel valued. Providing the best work experience possible isn’t cheap, but we think it’s an investment worth making.