When your job relies on you being able to focus for long stretches of time, it’s very important to have an employer who looks out for you. In the trucking industry, it’s becoming more and more difficult to hire talented drivers and retain them for the long haul. This is not only because there’s a shortage of industry trained people, but it is also because it’s a demanding job that can take its toll if you aren’t looked after in your place of work. Whether you’re trying to stay organized with your fleet, or you’re aiming to retain many of your top drivers, you need to take action and keep them happy and motivated.
Managing drivers can be quite a task because they’re out on the road and have very little contact time with their bosses. This can make it very tricky to carry out general wellbeing checks and keep in touch with your employees on a regular basis. Although it might be hard, it’s not an impossible task and there are a number of positive steps you can take. Staying on top of some of the most successful driver management practices will help you to keep your team happy, healthy, safe and motivated whilst on the job. This will ultimately lead to a successful business that has a team of enthusiastic workers who are always willing to do their very best.
Provide Your Drivers With Appealing Benefits
When you’re working in a demanding role on a daily basis, there needs to be some work perks that go hand in hand with the job. Providing your drivers with a range of appealing benefits will not only encourage them to stick around, but it will also keep them happy whilst they’re on the job too. Whether you’re providing them with a useful fleet card to pay for their fuel, or you’re opening up more opportunities for vacations, there are so many benefits you can explore. In most cases, it makes sense to improve and increase the benefits as your driver’s progress through the company. Each year they may receive a bigger bonus or an additional perk to enjoy, from health insurance to paid vacation time with their family.
Do Your Best to Keep in Touch With Drivers Whenever You Can
Being a driver can be an isolating job, so it’s important to check in with your drivers whenever you can. This isn’t about making sure they’re staying on top of their schedule, it’s more about managing their health and wellbeing. When your drivers are well informed about changes in the company, they will ultimately feel more valued. Arranging regular catch up sessions with your drivers helps them to stay in the know, and gives them an opportunity to raise any concerns they may have too.
Always Welcome Communication and Be Open to Conversations
As well as talking to your drivers, you also have to be willing to listen to them too. Being an approachable and open minded manager will help you keep them happy and motivated at all times. Listening is such an important skill when you’re working in such a fast paced and demanding industry, as it can help you to nip small problems in the bud before they get out of hand. When you allow your drivers to express their thoughts and feelings with you, they are more likely to stick to protocols and do their job to the very best of their ability. You should never underestimate the power of treating everyone as an individual human as this will help them to feel content and satisfied in their job role.
Take Scheduling Seriously
Having drivers who are overly tired and stressed out can cause issues in terms of health and safety. A tired driver is not only at risk of causing an accident, but it can also have longer term impacts on their physical and emotional health. Having an acute awareness of what your drivers’ needs are in terms of scheduling is so important, especially if you want to keep them happy, healthy and motivated at all times. Of course, you always want to maintain optimum efficiency when scheduling your workers, but you should always be aware of the impacts it can have on them as individuals. Making sure you allow enough rest time in between their jobs and factoring in potential busy periods on the roads is also important. This is where modern technology can step in and take a lot of your stresses away as a business owner. Using an advanced scheduling system for your fleet can help to keep track of their hours so that they aren’t overworked or tired. It can also factor in their rest breaks and create realistic travel times based on GPS systems and real time data. Embracing the power of technology will not only improve the efficiency of your business, but it will also help you to take better care of your hard working employees too.
Create Career Progression Options
In any job you do, you want to make sure you’re going somewhere and you’ve got a number of options ahead of you when it comes to progression. Your role goes above and beyond hiring a driver to transport something from one place to another. You are also responsible for helping to shape someone’s career and provide exciting opportunities along the way. Creating a career plan for new starters will help them to reach their goals and progress through their chosen pathway. This is a great way to keep motivation levels up and ensure you retain your best workers.
Provide Thorough Training and Ongoing Guidance
Training and ongoing support in the trucking industry should never be underestimated. There are always going to be changes to rules and legislations, and these need to be passed onto your teams at any available opportunity. Due to evolving technology and systems you may also find that regular training sessions help your drivers to stay on top of the latest goings on in the industry. Providing your drivers with safety checklists is also a fantastic way to ensure consistency across the workforce. Making sure everyone is fully clued up and aware of the current protocols will help them to stay safe and happy whilst they’re working for your business.
Reduce Stress Factors
Trucking can be extremely stressful and isn’t like any other traditional working environment. It is your job as an employer to reduce as many stress factors as possible so that they can carry out their job to the best of their ability. Keeping the morale high at work will always be beneficial to your business too, but how can this be achieved when a lot is out of your control? You may want to take more time to gain feedback from your drivers about the elements that are stressful during their job. Whether it’s unpredictable traffic, or not being able to get in touch with family and friends, they will be able to provide you with more details on what they need from you as their employer.
Warn Against the Dangers of Distractions and Mobile Devices
It doesn’t take an expert to realize that distractions on the road can be extremely dangerous. Unfortunately, trucking is considered to be a high risk job, so the relevant safety training must be provided to all of your workers without fail. Using mobile phones whilst driving should never be tolerated. This is considered to be a serious distraction and it can have fatal consequences. If drivers are ever suspected to be checking their phones, scrolling social media or taking pictures this needs to be addressed in a formal manner so that they understand the severity of their actions. Although you aren’t trying to ruin their fun or take away their freedom, there are certain circumstances which need to be addressed immediately in order to keep them and others in close proximity safe from harm.
The Benefits For Your Business
Ultimately, when you take the time to encourage your drivers to be healthy, happy and safe your business will reap the benefits. Although it’s also your legal duty to provide a safe working environment for your drivers, you’ll also get to experience many improvements within your business too. As well as boosted team morale, you can also expect to see fewer sick days amongst your drivers too. Your workforce will become more stable and loyal, meaning they will stay with you for longer. Most of all, you’ll also earn a great reputation in your industry for being a positive place for drivers to work. Your business will soon be a top competitor in your sector and the best talent will want to work for you because of how you treat your employees.
Hopefully, the thoughts, ideas and tips mentioned above will provide you with some guidance to improve the wellbeing of your drivers right away. Whether you’re opening up discussions regarding healthy lifestyles or you’re committed to teaching them about safety on the roads, there is so much you can do to create a happy, healthy and motivated workforce both now and in the future.
Tammy Litke is a Dallas blogger, blogging since 2008. She loves to watch movies, play video games, spend time in the kitchen, and travel. Between recipes and reviews you’ll find many helpful and some just plain funny posts on her blog. Welcome, pull up a chair and stay for a while!