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.