What are the key concerns facing todays refuse truck operators?
Aguilar: Safety, but that’s pretty much taken care of because we have monthly safety meetings for all of our drivers. Maloney: Traffic, and making sure your truck is up to par and everything is safe. When you’re out in the field, you have to really concentrate. You don’t get a break, and you are vulnerable. Rehbein: The main thing that I have noticed in the past three or four years is trying to find able-bodied drivers. People that can drive the route, drive the equipment and operate everything safely. We’ve really started working a lot more on training in the past few years, [but] it’s tough trying to find drivers. Schrader: Trying to pick up new customers and make sure they are satisfied. Sometimes you have to bend over backwards to make them happy, because that’s what keeps you in business. Updike: Traffic is getting really heavy for us. We also have a lot of new guys and have difficulty finding anyone with experience, so we need to train longer. It’s competitive up here. I’ve had o
