Why Subscribe to a Blog?

Many online users come across websites and within seconds someone is already asking for your email address and subscribe to this thing called a Blog??? So what is a blog and why is it important?  According to Merriam-Webster a blog is a website in which someone writes about personal opinions, activities and experiences. If you are still unclear, you are reading one.  So how does subscribing and getting updated blog content benefit truckers again?

In many blogs to include Florilli Transportation’s blog, ‘The Truckers Log’, real life stories, updates on trends, and information about the trucking industry are only a few subjects explained to readers.  Blogs can talk about a trucking company's employment qualifications, how to land a job and can even give updates on what’s important to those of us working in Transportation world. Want to know more about federal guidelines in carrying a firearm while being an OTR driver?  Big Load Blog gives you the facts about carrying firearms between different states and separates fact from fiction.  As many of us are aware laws changes from time to time. Law enforcement doesn’t care if didn’t get the updated regulations or memo and breaking the law unknowing isn’t an excuse. Meaning when you are coming down the hill and that same cop is sitting at the bottom clocking your speed. Just because you didn't see the posted speed limited sign or couldn't slow down. Chances are you will still get a ticket. 

Lastly, if you are searching for a good trucking company and looking to find out if they are as good as they claim to be, see if they have blog. Simply stated if a trucking company takes the time to educate and share the latest information with drivers and clearly communicates with them. Chances are they'll do the same when checking into your next orientation and while out on the open road. Haven't subscribed to Florilli's blog yet?  Look to right of your screen, enter your information under the contact form or connect with us on any of Social media channels and keep truckin. 

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Tired of Truck Stop Food? (FourSquare)

The world of downloadable social media sites and apps can be confusing at times. As of June 2016, there are approximately 2.2 million mobile apps at your disposal. When looking at what social media sites you may find useful, SmartInsight a marketing advice and data company suggests 50% of users ranging from 50-65 years of age use some form of social networking. Meaning baby boomers are social media friendly but where to start is an ambiguous process.

Focusing on what social media sites are trucker friendly, Four Square offers a unique tool for those racking up miles and thier appetite. FourSquare gives travelers/truckers a chance to find the hidden and tucked away gems while traveling across the country. You can also give other truckers the 411 on certain restaurants and leave reviews for others to read and enjoy.

If you’ve ran out of hours and tired of processed truck stop food. FourSquare gives you the chance to visit local and authentic food places. Want to grab some souvenirs for the family and kids besides the typical truck stop merchandise and you are sitting near or in Dallas Texas? Click here and explore from the beaten path.  If you are wondering where to sign up for this app called FourSquare, click here. Lastly, FlorilliTransportation understands truckers can’t always take their tractor/ trailer to a majority of locations and businesses in the US. Thankfully American’s have this awesome company called Uber. Click here and have them pick you up.  Excuses are like MVR’s, every trucker has one but some pay attention better than others. As always we appreciate our readers and drivers. ‘Keep Truckin” 

Connecting people and generations

      

        Every minute, there are 100 hours of video uploaded to YouTube and 6 billion hours of video watched monthly. Meaning there are more hours of people watching YouTube videos than the amount of hours/miles a trucker spends on the road throughout his/her lifetime. In 2006, Google purchased YouTube for 1.65 billion. Since then YouTube is the number one Video source worldwide. In terms of its audience or user base, YouTube reaches more people between the ages 24-34 more than cable.

Since the average truck driver is in his or her 50’s and baby boomers make up the majority of the trucking work force. YouTube’s presence and usage may lessen with baby boomers compared to younger generations. However 43% of Baby Boomers have YouTube accounts. Meaning age isn’t a factor but rather a difference of lifestyle.

      So why care? If you are looking to learn anything from math equations to changing your oil in your car, YouTube has videos giving the directions on the how to.  Ever get expansion foam all over your hands and can’t get it off? Yep, YouTube has video for that too. YouTube also gives truckers the ability to upload their own videos and keep the how to collection growing. Lastly, it’s predicted the driver shortage is only going to get worse. YouTube provides a platform for baby boomers to connect with younger audiences. Why not influence the next up and coming generation on trucking and YouTube is a great place to start.

Click Here if you are wanting to sign up for a YouTube account. Look for our last and next posting in Florilli Transportation’s explanation of social media, ‘Four Squares a Day’, and as always we appreciate our drivers and readers. 

An article by the Wall Street Journal states, there are more than 168,000 interstate motor carriers and more than 2 million trucks in the U.S., according to the American Trucking Association, an industry group. From the truck drivers perspective that's a lot of different employers to choose from. Where can drivers can go online to look for driving positions is plentiful, yet confusing.  When looking at job websites LinkedIn is another great resource.

Within the U.S alone, there are 125 Million users on LinkedIn, and accounts for 37% of U.S digital population. To date there are 195,989 job openings in transportation found on LinkedIn. For the job seekers, the process in finding your next driving position is simple. Click here and first sign up for your LinkedIn account. Next click here, and follow five easy steps in setting up a great and eye popping account. Next you can view openings by state and location.  Looking for a local job and tired of having national carriers calling you?  You can view current openings within the transportation industry and choose who's calling your phone.

Lastly for drivers who are looking at transitioning to a trainer, maintenance or office position at a trucking company. LinkedIn has the openings and you may find another career path while searching for your next driving position. Simply state, LinkedIn is limitless.

Look for our next post, ‘Connecting People and Generations (YouTube)’ , Like us on Facebook and as always Florilli Transportation appreciates its readers and drivers. 

Blue Birds tweet

  

Birds tweet when they talk and social media posts released on Twitter are referred to as Tweets.  Each tweet is only allowed 140 characters per post on Twitter Accounts.  So why should truckers care about some tweeting blue bird and social media posts no bigger than two sentences?  News, weather, road conditions and much more are posted in real time. The difference between getting your weather from the 5 o’clock forecast verses Twitter updates is the real time reports and current information. A lot can happen since yesterday at 5 pm.

What about the news? A case study conducted by (Rebekah DawnGiordano, 2014), 86.82% of tweets posted by those actually on location during the Boston Marathon Bombing (2013) were used by the media as their coverage and live updates.  A large percentage of information was unavailable to media and Twitter users with smart phones feed the American media and people the coverage.  Driving into a large metropolitan area and trying to guess if your route has been compromised or congested? Twitter is excellent for those on the move. You can also give other trucks the 411 on road conditions and news.

Lastly, Twitter offers leisure online browsing options such as sport updates of your favorite team, entertainment and technology.  You can even find other trucking companies posting job offers and opportunities. Unlike Facebook, you don’t have awkward friend requests but followers  and you can follow pretty much anyone. Don’t have a Twitter account? Sign up here and begin discovering while in back of sleeper cab.

Look for our next post in Florilli’s 5 part analysis of Social Media, ‘Link with LinkedIN’. Like us on Facebook and as always we appreciate our drivers and readers. 

           Facebook and Trucking 

     

             By definition and according to Merriam-Webster, Social media are forms of electronic communication (as Web sites for social networking and microblogging) through which users create online communities to share information, ideas, personal messages, and other content (as videos). Going a few steps further according to Whatis.com, Facebook is...

·                 ·     Free social networking site

·      37 different Languages

·      Share Ideas, photos, personal identity

·      Events

·    Information and buying options of current technology

          ·    Promotes brands and businesses

So why care? If you consider yourself a professional Truck Driver and take pride in your career field. Facebook is a perfect outlet for truckers. Facebook offers OTR driver something that wasn’t available until recently. The ability to communicate while in the back of sleeper cab and parked in the middle of nowhere. With over half of drivers owning smart phones, the tools are there. The next time you login into Facebook search words like trucking, trucking humor, trucking accessories and the possibilities are endless. You can start a page promoting your business, idea, or social change. Don’t have a Facebook, sign up here.

Lastly there is the argument that you are too old for technology or it’s just for the younger generation. The tech giant Apple’s CEO Tim Cook is 55 years old and baby boomer. Meaning it’s all about perspective and age is just a number if you allow it.

Look for our next posting “Blue Bird’s help Truckers” in our five part explanation of social media. Connect with us on Facebook and as always we appreciate our drivers and readers. 

Why Should Truckers use Social Media?

             Like it or not social media and digital age have reshaped how people, businesses and consumers communicate. Whether you use it in your daily life most likely depends on your age, regardless it’s not going away. When looking at transportation as a whole. Trucking is one of the few industries struggling to understand usage and the power of social media.

Sites such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn can be located on websites, printed advertisement and much more. So why should you care? Social Media is one of the many tools we have available to better research, understand and inform of what's happening around us. According Overdrive’s  May 2016 article, ‘A truckers Guide to Social Media', recorded over half of truck drivers have smartphones and at least 30% have tablets. So why isn’t Social Media popular?

In terms of what each social media platform, how it’s used and how it can benefit drivers may be unclear. Covered in the next 5 postings,Florilli Transportation takes the time to explain each channel and how they can benefit you. For example DOT post’s weather updates and accident reports on Twitter. Won't it be nice know if you have to take alternative route before sitting 3 hours in traffic? Follow us and looking for next posting,'Facebook and Trucking'.

Connect with us on Facebook, and as always we appreciate all of our viewers and drivers.

Online Verification

                        When it comes to the wide range of trucking companies, those who work in recruiting truck drivers are aware of many different carriers. Whether a driver’s past experience is with a larger carrier like CR England or Swift and all the way down to the smaller contractors and mom & papa transportation carriers. There is difference in how trucking companies look at drivers and their past employment history.

                       Most mid-sized to larger trucking companies require some form of verification proving a driver drove OTR, across all 48 states and years of claimed experience. Systems like DAC keep a list of a driver’s past employers. If you have a poor work record and believe it won’t catch up with you, think again. Accident, incidents and any actions reported to a trucking company’s safety department will reflect on driver’s DAC Report. Hit a deer on the road? Well it gets reported too!  It is basically up to the next company you’ve applied with on what they find acceptable and unacceptable.  For those drivers coming from smaller companies and applying at bigger carriers. It’s important to keep records like W2s and paycheck stubs. Smaller carrier are harder to find, reach for employment verification and go out of business. You might want to think about getting the owner's contact info before leaving the company and leaving on good terms always helps.

                         If you or any driver is looking to see what’s on their DAC record before applying for the next driving position, get your info Here and see what’s on your record. While reviewing your records you happen to find false information, click Here and find how you can take action. In conclusion size does matter and where you’ve driven before. If you are somewhere in between, apply at FlorilliTransportation and at least the very least you’ll get a free DAC report!

Connect with us on Facebook, and as always we appreciate all of our viewers and drivers. 

One size doesn’t fit all

            Numerous publications mention the climate change within the transportation industry. Driver shortages heighten DOT checks, lower driving wages and new restricting government regulations. Trucking’s future looks bleak and uncertain. Unfortunately for drivers when changes sweep across the trucking industry a snowball affect takes place and drivers are hit the hardest and last.

           According to CCN’s Money salary calculator which compares salaries between different locations within the United States, where you live verses where you work makes the world of difference.  If you are looking at moving from let’s say Atlanta Georgia to Bergen-Passaic NJ. If you make $50,000 a year in Atlanta, you’d need to make $65,000 annually to live like you did Georgia.  What does all this mean for drivers?

    

         Randall Riley Reports there are 30,000 open driving positions across the country. If you have a clear MVR and are safety conscience, we are in need of a few good drivers. When looking at prospective trucking companies, it’s important to look at where they are located at.  Trucking companies typically pay the same to all their employees’ regardless of driver’s state of origin. Meaning if you live in Dallas Texas and you’ve just accepted a driving position with company located in rural Kansas. It might not work out. Understanding the difference between Kansas’s and Texas’s cost of living numbers might provide clarification on whether the driving position is worth your time and will give you the money to keep trucking. 


Connect with us on Facebook, and as always we appreciate all of our viewers and drivers. 

                

Crawl, Walk, Run 

              

                         We at Florilli Transportation solely hire company drivers but wanted to offer insight on the pros and cons of being a owner operator. Before signing that lease to become an owner operator and making what you think is the big bucks. You might want to consider a few things.  As in any career there is a progression.  Learning the basics before taking on the responsibility of being an owner operator may increase your success rates or change your mind about becoming one.  

                        When it comes to repairs, general maintenance, and system upgrades Owner Ops are paid higher wages compared to regular company drivers, to cover these types of costs. Meaning if you blew the money before it breaks, you should probably look at becoming a company driver and let Florlli take care of the big details. Attention to detail goes a long way before/after pulling out the yard.  An article published by Heavy Duty Trucking states CSA (Compliance, Safety and Accountability) guidelines have placed heavy demands and changes on the trucking industry in general. Owner operators are taking the majority of the hit in the name of safety and money. Twenty years ago over 50% of Owner Ops bought new trucks, today only 20% when replacing equipment.                            

                          On the flip side, company drivers for the most part rely on their employer for support. Yet in the course of a breakdown, when miles aren’t being accumulated, wasted time is lost money.  Another appealing factor of being an owner ops is personal ownership. Meaning people typically take better care of equipment personally owned verses those who are just borrowing it. Regardless of your decision, trucking isn’t going anywhere. For those just starting out, it wouldn’t hurt to become a company driver at Florilli Transportation. If you can maintain one of Florilli’s trucks as if it were your own, then maybe you’ll become one heck of an owner op. If you don’t care from the beginning of your career, your bad habits will be hard to break and eventually catch with you. Simply stated, you either sink or swim as an owner operator and only the best swimmers survive. 

Connect with us on Facebook, and as always we appreciate all of our viewers and drivers. 

Not Much has Changed?

The way employers and job seekers activity look for work has changed.  The days of swinging by, filling out a paper application and the chance at a Face to Face with the hiring manager is a thing of the past. Today majority of employers have applicants go through third party online recruiting companies or links directing applying members to fill out online applications. So what does this mean for those of us who remember a simpler time?

To better understand the process here are a few things to consider while filling out that online application. For starters verifying a driver’s past employment history is accessible through DAC and other online data bases like it.  Your word as your bond verifying past work history isn’t good enough. The downside is that smaller companies are required to pay fees for these online reporting services. Drivers coming from smaller companies may find it harder to get their past work history verified. Depending on your relationship with smaller companies during your time of departure, burned bridges are still visible. Meaning if things weren’t good when you left, it will most likely follow you and trucking companies take the word of other transportation companies before the drivers.

Lastly with safety concerns for motorist on the raise driving records are easily accessible  and for the most part accurate. How can you find out what’s on your driving record for free? Apply for a truck driving job with Florilli Transportation and find out more. Overall not much has really changed with the exception of better record keeping and an increase of wide spread communications via the Internet.  Simply stated, it’s harder to hide.

Connect with us on Facebook, look for our next three part posting, 'Owner Operator verses Company Driver’, and as always we appreciate all of our viewers and drivers. 

Why Facebook
Online Perception

Like it or not, Facebook has changed the way we communicate in the 21^st century. Checking news feeds, watching your favorite videos and commenting on your favorite statuses and posts. Facebook has given us a chance to connect with others in ways never predicted. There are also unintended consequences associated with its growing presence such as depression and cyber bullying.

According to an article published by NPR, in 2014 trucking was one of the most common jobs in the United States.  Since trucking is commonly found across most 50 states. In terms of it being a competitive market is less likely. However it’s a flooded market lacking millennials replacing baby boomers and your Facebook’s appearance can play a role in the hiring process for younger drivers.  Research and an article published by LisaBaragar states in 2013 only 39% of employers where using social compared the increase of 52% in 2015. As younger drivers start reporting to CDL and trucking schools across the country, millennials make up the majority of social media users.  From a recruiting standpoint, researching a candidate’s profile can reduce hiring costs and gives employers another screening resource. For example an employer finds your Facebook and photos suggesting the profile’s owner uses drugs. It simply saves costs verses getting a driver to orientation and then popping hot on a drug test.

Whether you agree or disagree with technology, how it’s used and social media’s influence. It isn’t going away any time soon and how things used to be is the past.  Cleaning up your profile, changing privacy settings, and managing your online appearance can’t hurt while job hunting. Lastly before you decide to post those late-night  photos of you drinking or an emotion status, once it’s posted there will always be record of it. How do you want others to perceive you?

Connect with us on Facebook, look for our final posting, 'Online Job Applications’ of our 3 part section, ‘The Internet, Fact or Fiction', and as always we appreciate all of our viewers and drivers. 

The Internet Fact or Fiction
Part 1, The Source

                 

                   If it’s online then it must be true, right? Never before has the Internet given us the freedom to tell others what we may think of particular products, persons or locations.  Social Media sites like Facebook are known for users sharing their opinions and feelings on a variety of topics and subjects. However there are a wide number of reactions ranging from positive to negative and what’s right or wrong is merely matter of opinion or even money.

                  

                 Job hunting and trying to find the best employer without a visual, we turn to the internet for advice.  Google searches, employer reviews on sites like Glassdoor, Indeed and even Facebook are just a few places we commonly look.  The problem with Google in an article published by Search Engine Watch is that 92% of all garnered traffic is on the first page and drops to 27% of users clicking page 2. Meaning, we typically don’t bother looking too far. Google Ranking and businesses reaching the first page when for example a user is googling ‘Transportation’, getting a business to pop up first takes hiring an Ad Agency, a sizable ad budget and one heck of a SEO campaign. Meaning it isn’t always the truth.

               

                So what does this all mean for you? When looking at transportation companies and trucking in general there a few things to take into consideration. For starters when reading a review, find the website’s "about" section and read who and what makes them qualified to make the claims on their site. Would you take medical advice from a website who says they aren’t real doctors and it clearly says under their about section? Secondly, find out if you can, who wrote the review and come up with a better conclusion. For example click on a Facebook review, find their profile and suddenly you realize its a fake profile. How creditable is that source? Lastly, when clicking on a website, and there seems to be agenda, for example everything is overly negative, positive and/or even slanted towards one side. Take a further look, read multiple opinions or websites, and most importantly make an informed decision based off your research, not just from a complete stranger.

        Connect with us on Facebook, look for our 2^nd posting Why  Facebook’ of our 3 part section, ‘The Internet, Fact or Fiction', and as always we appreciate all of our viewers and drivers. 

Advantages

Advantages

It all started with a phone call…

       Often trucking recruiters hear the horror stories from applicants when gathering their past employment history. “I wasn’t paid what they promised or my route was changed” is commonly heard while companies are screening for qualified applicants. Those of you who have years’ worth of experience in the transportation industry understand nothing ever works out perfectly. Despite some of the downfalls with working in transportation, below are few tips for Drivers. Especially those looking for driving positions in today’s competitive market.

What’s true and not true?

       Recruiters are hired to screen applications and find drivers who meet company hiring policies. Trucking Company’s disqualifications vary but the majority of midsize to larger ones typically follow the same guidelines. For example you have a recent DUI and/or a suspended license and a recruiter say you are qualified? Best advice is to change career fields for a while and excuses are like tires on a semi, it’s full of them.  Shifting towards the subject of pay, what’s a realistic figure? According the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly income of a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver is $43,660 annually. At Florilli our OTR drivers on average make anywhere from $38,000 to $65,000 annually and depending on the driver's performance. Researching your job market is your responsibility and helps separates facts from fiction. Lastly when considering your next employer, make sure you are comfortable with equipment they are currently operating with.  Whether it is Peterbilt verses International or APU’s verses nothing. Asking your recruiter these types of questions reduces the chances of you wasting your time. Isn’t your time worth something, why waste it?

        Connect with us on Facebook, look for our next 3 part posting, ‘The Internet, fact or fiction’ and as always we appreciate all of our viewers and drivers. 

   Florilli's The Truckers Log

If you are wondering why trucking companies are blowing up your phones, filling up voice mail inbox and you literally just applied for only one driving position two minutes ago?  You can thank technology and the declining numbers of Americans wanting to become truck drivers.  Why is this happening?

According to the American Trucking Associations majority of today’s truckers are baby boomers and ages 44 to 65. Hiring shortages for qualified drivers is hurting the transportation industry as a whole.  Think about it, what happens in 20 years if no one takes your place behind the wheel?  Trucking companies have scrambled to shift their focus on the Millennials (Born 1978 to 2000) and different campaigns to attract fresh blood. Yet driving habits, government regulation and even technology advances have made a lot of millennials stray from long hours on the road. Looking north and bordering the U.S, Canada reports they’ll be short 48,000 drivers by 2024. Meaning the problem isn’t going away and it’s wide spread.

             In reality there is nothing a baby boomer can do about the shortage and bursts of phone calls. However since younger people aren’t rushing to become truckers. Why not play it to your advantage?  Remember in most job markets, older generations are threatened by the newer generation of job seekers. You can pay them less, they have little life experience and most importantly they are impressionable. Why pay someone older more and has bad habits, when you can pay someone younger less and impressionable?  The trucking industry is one of the few exceptions. Inevitably it’s up to you whether you answer the phone or not. Regardless, opportunity has no problem passing you by, especially when it’s beating down your door.

Look for our next post entitled ‘Advantages’ and learn how drivers can benefit from the hiring shortage. Connect with us online!