A good fleet manager knows that keeping your drivers happy lead to a more efficient and successful fleet. Drivers who enjoy their work and feel valued in their jobs will take more pride in their work and be more diligent. A mistake that many companies make is painting all employees with the same brush – the same goes for fleet managers and drivers. If one driver lets them down, companies and fleet managers tend to distrust all drivers. This is unfair and doesn’t benefit anyone as the drivers are unhappy and the fleet managers are frustrated because drivers are no longer motivated.
Companies who want their drivers to be happy and engaged in their work, need to make changes in their management style and procedures. Below are a few tips on how to keep your driving force motivated:
1. Salary
This is a universal truth and counts for all industries: do not short change your staff. Drivers who earn below the industry standard won’t be happy for long and will lead to a high turnover rate. The only way to build up a loyal team of drivers is to ensure they’re at the very least earning the industry standard rate and treated well. Companies who pay above the normal rate are more likely to retain top-notch drivers.
2. Driver schedules
Make sure your drivers have reasonable schedules and avoid excessive overtime. Employees who are overworked are more likely to make mistakes, which is very dangerous if you’re a driver. Companies who consistently overwork their drivers will see a higher accident rate as well as a high staff turnover. The amount the company saves in salaries will be nothing compared to accident cost and the cost of continually having to train new drivers.
3. Engage with your drivers
Unless you’ve been a driver, you don’t really know what life is like on the road. Get to know your drivers and make sure they understand that they’re valuable to the company. Fleet managers with a good working relationship with their drivers often run the most successful fleet. This is because drivers will feel comfortable bringing up problems and concerns, which can then be addressed before it becomes an even bigger problem.
4. Respect their time
Most drivers, especially long-haul, spend the majority of their time away from home. Last-minute scheduling changes that keep a driver from going home when he/she was expecting to can create a lot of resentment, especially if this happens often.
5. Streamline policies and procedures
Consult with the drivers before implementing new policies or procedures that directly affect them. They’re the ones out on the road all day and if new procedures are more of a hassle than they’re worth, it’s going to lead to frustration. Drivers need to know why procedures are in place, so discuss it with them and get their input.
To create a loyal and happy team of drivers there has to be clear and regular communication between the fleet manager and drivers. It’s been proven time and again that employees who feel trusted and valued deliver better work.
