Keeping drivers on board is necessary to stop the churn of solid, reliable drivers moving from one fleet to another – or even worse, leaving the industry all together. When looking at truck driver retention strategies, fleets should consider telematics.
Tackling Turnover with Telematics
So, how can a smaller fleet compete with the large carriers? Use telematics to help customize a program for your business that maximizes fleet efficiency, and rewards safety and on-time performance.
Four Truck Driver Retention Strategies Including Telematics
Here are four ways that telematics can support a driver retention program:
1. Reward Top Performers
Rather than dictating rules using a stick, reward drivers with carrots. Use Geotab’s fleet safety reports to identify stellar drivers based on a variety of on-road activities. Drivers can be scored custom-defined factors such as speeding, seat belt usage, braking habits, and acceleration.
Offer bonuses to individuals with high safety scores to help with retention. Another option for recognizing top performers and motivating drivers is fleet gamification.
2. Optimize Routes
Fleet management tools can not only help your business but also your drivers by shortening trip times and routes. Geotab’s patented breadcrumb trail tracking offers the most advanced insight into a driver’s on-road performance. This enhanced level of accuracy can pinpoint savings at virtually every corner. By optimizing routes, you can reduce the time a driver is out on the road. Read about a new planning tool for route optimization in this post.
3. Improve Communication with Drivers
Messaging tools between drivers and dispatch helps to reduce errors, cut down on wasted time, and increase on-time deliveries. Continuous communication takes the guesswork away from the driver and helps them complete their job efficiently and effectively.
4. Provide Better Training
Another great way to keep drivers is to provide better training so that they are learning and growing on the job. Drivers like to be on the road, driving. So, typical training done in the classroom doesn’t work.
Empower drivers by providing real-time in-vehicle alerts so they can recognize behaviors that need correction. Using Geotab’s GO TALK text-to-speech technology, you can warn drivers of violations just as they happen, so they can quickly correct their behavior.
High-performing truck drivers are an asset and incredibly valuable resource to any business. Their role requires constant and heightened awareness and good judgment. Help keep your drivers satisfied and rewarded by using the benefits of telematics in your business.
Author: Derek Spik, Technical Services Engineer – GEOTAB Inc
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