Fleet managers often struggle with drivers leaving, whether it’s for a different trucking company, or leaving the industry itself. New drivers tend to quit their careers after just one year as a result of a variety of different factors the driver may not have anticipated about the job. You will have more success with keeping drivers if they feel safe, healthy, and appreciated. You must consider what the long hours behind the wheel do to someone’s mental and physical health and find opportunities to improve working conditions to keep drivers in the industry and with your company. Ready to find out a few ways your trucking company can avoid driver shortages? We discuss some helpful tips on how to improve driver retention below.
1.)Open & Honest Communication
Nothing is more valuable than open and frequent communication, especially right from the start of employment. Be open and honest about a driver’s experience during the recruitment stage; your prospective employees will appreciate the transparency. Don’t forget to mention how your company will help improve day-to-day life on the job. Continue leaving an open line of communication to create strong relationships with drivers and create incentivizing programs for drivers who put in lots of miles to show your appreciation. Ask for feedback from employees to see where you can improve. Keeping this level of rapport will make it more likely for your employees to share their positive experiences with other drivers from other companies, creating an effective opportunity for recruiting you may not have considered.
2.)Ensure Propper Training
Recruiting is only part of the battle since the bigger concern is with keeping your drivers. Having good communication includes training your drivers whenever necessary, and this is often a full-time job. Make sure your employees are set up for success by ensuring they are familiar with the technology you use, such as electronic logging devices and dashcams. You can potentially offer a mentorship program to partner up a new driver with an experienced one. This is an easy way to get new employees hands-on experience where they can ask any questions in the moment while giving your drivers a chance to feel less isolated. Outside of properly operating technology, the onboarding period can be used to educate your trainees on company policies.
3.) Provide Updated Technology
Another common reason drivers leave the profession is due to a lack of updated technology and equipment. Most importantly, drivers need reliable vehicles. If the truck they drive constantly breaks down or needs repairs, the driver will be rightfully frustrated and inconvenienced, especially if breakdowns are happening in undesirable weather conditions. This is incredibly important for safety, so it is vital this is never overlooked as drivers who feel unsafe will likely leave at the first sign of danger. Even though safety should be prioritized, it doesn’t mean you should ignore comfort as well. Investing in high-quality equipment from heated seats to advanced navigation systems will make your drivers feel more at ease.
4.) Consider Employee Working Conditions
It’s sometimes easy to forget about the extremely sedentary life of a truck driver, so showing some empathy and implementing programs to aim for a healthier lifestyle will go a long way in the eyes of your employees. Make sure you offer a strong health insurance package in your benefits, and it doesn’t hurt to add different health programs. Many fleets are focused on prioritizing employee health and offer incentives such as gyms, nutritional programs, and free screenings. It’s vital for drivers to find ways to engage physically while on the road and finding ways to address concerns will make you stand out and decrease the chances of your new employees souring to the career. You can also check for trucks that come with systems that help with working out while driving, like resistance bands.
5.) Payroll Factoring
If your company uses payroll or invoice factoring, you assure your employees they will receive their paychecks on time no matter the circumstances of your business or the trucking industry. There are numerous expenses to juggle at a trucking company, and sometimes invoices for freights delivered aren’t paid on time, but employees still depend on getting paid at the same time every payday. Make sure you can offer your employees financial security no matter what happens.
Additional benefits from payroll factoring that could be helpful in retention rates include avoiding layoffs and preserving savings. Since factoring allows you to get advances, you can prevent pay cuts or letting go of drivers, creating a more motivated and happier workforce.
Advanced Commercial Capital: An Industry Resource
Advanced Commercial Capital is here to help the freight industry continue to grow with confidence. We’re in the business of helping your business grow through fair and honest invoice factoring. We protect our clients from unpaid freight invoices due to fraud, bankruptcy, or delinquency, without any surprises. To learn more or get in touch with our team, call our office at 855.465.4655 or fill out our online contact form today.
If you have a business with employees, then yes, payroll factoring will be beneficial for you, your employees, and the overall success of your business. Advanced Commercial Capital understands the strain that owning a trucking business with unpaid invoices can create, which is why we offer non-recourse freight factoring services.