LOWER PROVIDENCE >> J.P. Mascaro & Sons is meeting an industrywide shortage of truck drivers head on with employee enticements that go well beyond a hefty paycheck.
“Our benefits do go above the norm for every employee,” noted Frank Sau, J.P. Mascaro & Sons director of communications. “If you’ve been a loyal employee, the company will commit back to you.”
To that end, the waste management company headquartered in Audubon has long been a magnet for job seekers by offering competitive wages, health and dental insurance, paid vacation, life insurance and a 401(k) retirement plan with an annual company financial match between 20 and 35 percent.
“We also offer a free legal assistance program for our employees with our in-house legal department, financial planning, and a reimbursement program, where a new employee would work six months accident- and injury-free or without any issues with attendance. If they’re interested in learning we would pay for up two classes per semester, whether they pass or fail,” explained Sau. “A lot of corporations give tuition reimbursement towards (the field) you work in, but employees also have to maintain a certain average, where we just say if you’re interested in taking that psychology class, we’ll pay for it. It’s a way for us to hopefully attract a better caliber of employee.”
The company has also established an employee scholarship program.
“If you work for J.P. Mascaro & Sons and you want your child to go to a private school or a college or university where you can’t afford tuition we actually set up a scholarship fund for the families,” Sau said. “We have close to 800 employees, so that right there is a lot of family members.”
As with many industries, licensed CDL truck drivers and Class A and B mechanics are the lifeblood of the company, but with fewer young candidates drawn to the business these days, J.P. Mascaro is facing an unprecedented lack of applicants in recent years.
“We are experiencing a shortage unlike ever before,” noted Director of Operations Mike Mascaro. “The quality of candidates seems to be eroding while the transportation industry is expanding and the economy grows.”
A basic operator’s license and a tool box are no longer enough for interested candidates, president Pat Mascaro allowed.
“Today’s modern trucks are highly computerized and sophisticated, and individuals to drive them and mechanics to repair them need much more than a basic operator’s license and a set of wrenches. The technology training necessary to operate, maintain and repair modern computerized trucks today is far different than what was required of drivers and mechanics in the past.”
As Sau put it, “It’s been said to me that the mechanics almost have to be like medical surgeons when working on a truck engine.”
Besides following the usual routes to find workers who can handle the new demands, Mascaro interacts with local CDL training schools like Automotive Training Center in Exton, Lincoln Tech Institute in Allentown, Berks Technical Institute in Reading and Driver Training Services in North Wales and even Montgomery County Community College to attract applicants.
“The schools do a great job of teaching theory and work study programs are great for the hands-on real world applications,” noted Mike Mascaro, who added that today’s youth don’t seem to be aware that driving careers are legitimate middle class jobs.
“Starting salaries, once individuals are trained, can compete with college business degrees. Drivers with experience and work ethic can make $60,000-plus a year with a few good years of training.”
For more information, contact J.P.Mascaro at 1-888-627-2276 or apply online at www.jpmascaro.com.
