This article is designed for those working in transportation, but some themes, like referral bonuses, are applicable to everyone. Let’s explore what our driver Andy can expect from referral and inspection bonuses.
What is a referral bonus? A referral bonus is an offer from trucking companies to their current drivers to invite friends (CDL drivers) to join the company.
Our Over-the-Road driver Andy has been working with his company for over three months and has two friends with CDL Class A licenses looking for a good company. Andy wants to recommend his company and earn a referral bonus if his friends are hired.
The CDL Truck Driver (Andy) can contact the recruiting department and inform them that he has two drivers interested in working as OTR drivers. He should ask if the company offers a referral bonus and, if so, how much.
Note: Most companies offer a referral bonus, but it’s essential to check when Andy will receive the bonus.
Here’s an example of a conversation between Andy (our driver) and Oksana (recruiter):
Truck Driver Andy: Hi, how are you? I have a question about a referral bonus. Do you need drivers right now?
Recruiter Oksana: Hi Mr. Andy, great! How about you? Yes, we have this bonus, and we have a few trucks available right now.
Truck Driver Andy: Nice. Ok, what is the bonus?
Recruiter Oksana: We pay $500 per driver.
Truck Driver Andy: Great. And when will I receive the bonus?
Recruiter Oksana: After three months, if your referral works with us.
Note: All companies want to pay bonuses after some time. You can ask a recruiter to pay your referral bonus, for example, after one month.
Ask for a copy of the contract if you don’t have it and find information about referral bonuses.
Note: Our safety department recommends this method because it’s more professional, and you have a paper confirmation.
Find the company ad by recruiting phone number or company name.
Note: This is an excellent way to check your company’s new offers. Recruiting departments rarely inform you of better offers directly; you need to find out yourself. For example, if the company increases the CPM, they will not call you. They need to hire more drivers to make better offers, and by tracking company offers, you can take advantage of referral bonuses.
To understand what an Inspection Bonus is, you need to understand what a DOT Inspection is. This is part of the CDL Driver and Trucking Companies’ work process. We will discuss how DOT Inspections impact drivers and company records in another article.
A DOT Inspection is a detailed examination conducted by the Department of Transportation to check a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) and Commercial Driver License (CDL) drivers to ensure they are qualified and not a danger to others on the road.
| Level I: North American Standard Inspection |
|---|
| The most thorough inspection, including a check of the driver’s credentials, vehicle’s mechanical components, and overall condition. |
| Inspectors will look at the driver’s license, Medical Examiner’s Certificate, Hours of Service (HOS) documentation, seat belt usage, and vehicle inspection reports. |
| They will also check the vehicle’s brake system, steering mechanism, tires, lights, and other essential safety equipment. |
| Level II: Walk-Around Driver/Vehicle Inspection |
|---|
| Similar to Level I but without the inspector physically getting under the vehicle. It includes a walk-around inspection of the vehicle’s exterior and a review of the driver’s documentation. |
| Level III: Driver-Only Inspection |
|---|
| Focuses solely on the driver’s compliance with regulations. This includes checking the driver’s license, medical certificates, and HOS documentation. |
| Level IV: Special Inspections | Level V: Vehicle-Only Inspection | Level VI: Enhanced NAS Inspection for Radioactive Shipments |
|---|---|---|
| These are one-time inspections focusing on a particular aspect of the regulations, often used for research purposes. | Conducted without a driver present, this inspection is similar to the vehicle portion of a Level I inspection. | Specialized inspection for vehicles transporting certain types of radioactive materials. |
Now that we understand what a DOT Inspection is and why a Truck Driver can receive a bonus, it means rewarding their responsibility and dedication. Let’s discuss receiving a bonus from the company for clean inspections.
When you pass a DOT Inspection and get a clean inspection, you need to inform the accounting department and send them a picture of the clean inspection. Then, remind them to add the bonus to your following statement.
It’s crucial to have a copy of your contract with the company because it will detail how much the company should pay you for a clean inspection bonus.
The best tips for receiving referral and DOT inspection bonuses are:
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