There’s no denying that a trucker’s job is demanding, not just physically but mentally. It requires a certain set of skills to do well, whether you are a man or woman. It is a high-stress job that hinges on excellent time management, good organizational and communication skills, expert knowledge of laws and regulations, a focus on compliance and safety, and the ability to anticipate and plan.
And yet, there is one area where fleets are often sorely lacking: Retention. Fleets invest tens of thousands of dollars every year to attract, hire, and retain drivers so that they can keep supply chains moving and business growing. After all, their reputation is at stake.
However, driver attrition and high turnover are an ongoing issue. While signing bonuses and benefits like tuition reimbursements and fuel cards attract new hires, they do not guarantee long-term retention. Trucking companies must get innovative with how they approach retention, especially if they want to hold on to their best and brightest. You’ve got to get into the mind of your truck drivers.
Job Satisfaction is Key for Truck Drivers
Ask anyone why they stay with their company, and job satisfaction comes up often as the number one issue. Truck drivers look for the support to do a job well, coupled with the right tools and coworkers to be efficient, productive, and safe. The secret to employee retention is a workplace culture that empowers truck drivers of all stripes, arming them with what they need to perform at the highest level.
Here are some statistics to consider. Did you know that the trucking industry annual turnover rate has remained stubbornly high at 90% for many, many years now? Furthermore, just 64.9% of truck drivers say they stay with a company a mere 90 days before moving on.
Everyone wants to find ways of keeping drivers happy and satisfied, because happy drivers stay with a carrier, but there is a lot a driver faces to make them unhappy. Some of the stresses are obvious — the long hours of driving and the solitude. So, what is a fleet manager to do to help their truck drivers manage stress, stay motivated, and have a fulfilling work/life balance?
What Truckers Go Through
Consider the various ways truck drivers must deal with the world as they do their job. Complying with Hours of Service (HOS) rules and regulations and balancing the importance of safe driving practices with delivery accountabilities – these are not small tasks. And they are required of truckers no matter how big or small the company or job.
Dealing with on-the-road stresses such as navigating traffic, location addresses, mechanical breakdowns, delays caused by traffic jams, shippers, and slow loading docks. And with the supply chain issues rippling through the transportation sector, the stresses of waiting at ports and loading docks are only magnified. For some, coping mechanisms are hard to come by. Trucking companies that focus on helping their truck drivers deal with these stresses typically keep their people for longer.
Another core trucker skill lies in effective communication. Communicating with dispatchers, clients, repair and mechanics, shippers, and receivers, and maintaining a good relationship with each of them – truckers must do all of it.
From watching the clock, mileage, and using their time efficiently to making snap judgements on the fly as they practice safe driving – responsible behavior is at the core of how truckers operate. And yet, often truck drivers are not compensated for wait times. So they get anxious to keep things moving with as little downtime as possible. Be careful not to fall in the unsafe practices trap because of impatience.
Next, truck drivers must worry about delivering freight on time, but also be frustratingly dependent on external factors to keep a tight schedule, such as shipping and receiving departments, and road conditions. Managing these puzzle pieces is not easy.
What Do Truck Drivers Want
Time spent at weigh stations can translate into a smaller paycheck. The inspections and documentation required at these stops also add to the stress truck drivers must manage and deal with. With over 1,200 weigh stations across states and provinces, truck drivers find they are spending countless hours at these stops, causing significant time loss.
There have been many surveys asking truck drivers what they really want out of their motor carrier. In one study, truck drivers responded with their wants in the following order:
- Better pay
- More time off or home time
- Enhanced core benefits (medical, retirement)
- Company-paid bypass service
- Fuel cards
- A better rider policy
- Comprehensive truck driver training
- A clear pet policy
- Tuition reimbursement
- Company-paid phone cards
Let’s look at one of those factors, a company-paid bypass service. Did you know that individuals are three times more likely to join a trucking company that offers a company-paid weigh station bypass solution, when compared to other equal opportunities in benefits?
We haven’t spent much time talking about the benefits of weigh station bypassing, which is why we felt like now is as good a time as any to bring up the benefits of this less-used benefits.
Benefits of a Weigh Station Bypass System
Companies are continually investing in tools that increase job satisfaction and minimize the discontent that makes truck drivers leave their jobs. Vendors provide systems to help drivers feel their concerns are being heard. Using GPS and mobile internet connection, vendors offering weigh station bypass provide drivers with more bypass opportunities via Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs) and other in-cab devices, such as tablets and smartphones, than they’ve ever had with transponder-based bypass programs.
Truck drivers no longer need to be in the right-hand lane to ensure they drive under the transponder-reader gantry to receive a bypass. A driver with a GPS and internet-based bypass service can receive the bypass from any lane. As simple as this may sound, it has significant benefits.
For starters, it allows truck drivers to continue their route. Merging and switching lanes is a major stress factor for truck drivers, even more so when an 80-foot-long semi-trailer must be maneuvered safely in traffic – but fast enough – to be in the correct lane. The bypass service mitigates this stress. It also removes the frustration of having to slow down and lose momentum only to receive the green light.
Weigh station bypass services immediately relieves truck drivers of the worry of time wasted waiting around for inspections and the inconvenience of the added paperwork. This, in turn, allows them to meet precise schedules and important delivery deadlines. It also provides peace of mind that the truck driver will not violate any state law by missing a weigh station and thus face a fine.
Keeping Your Most Important People in Mind
Employees tend to stay with a company when they feel valued; when they feel their employer is looking out for their best interest. For truck drivers, they want their safety on the road to be prioritized. Truck drivers want to have access to safety notifications. They want in-cab alerts when entering undertaking certain journeys on dangerous roads. Do your current systems provide your truck drivers with such things?
If you consider a weigh station bypass system or other type of fleet software, consider how your front-line workers will engage with the system. Does it provide a noticeable convenience? You do not want to inconvenience your drivers by forcing them to go through extra steps for little benefit. It might not hurt to complete a test run of a new system before you go through with a fleetwide implementation.
Work with a vendor who works with state DOT and provincial partners to geofence areas known to be hazardous for truck drivers. This way, drivers get driving information when and where they need it. This allows them to operate more efficiently and safely. It is incumbent on fleet managers and trucking company executives to make the right moves to keep people happy. There is a key to retaining truck drivers. Has your fleet found it?
Don’t underestimate the influence truck drivers have on each other. What drivers say about a company is that company’s brand. Savvy hiring managers can steer that talk to raise a company’s profile and attract quality drivers. But if drivers feel empowered and supported at their work, they will not hesitate to share their positive experience — and satisfied employees make the best recruiters.