America”, an interactive page where viewers can see specific examples of what Roehl hauls and the impact it has on society. Companies like FedEx and UPS have reported stronger driver retention because their drivers feel “closer” to the customer. Simply knowing the story behind the freight and why we show up to work can go a long way. Too often, drivers have shared that “the
only difference is the name on the side of the door” in their experience with carriers. A stronger purpose can start to change that. Te second key needed to retain drivers
is respect. Some studies show that up to 15 percent of driver departures are a result of lack of respect from the carrier. Respect comes in a number of different forms, especially giving drivers a voice and recognizing their efforts. When it comes to having a voice, drivers
want to help the carrier improve, as everyone wins when this happens. Annual surveys won’t cut it here, as the majority of drivers will turnover by the time the survey comes around. Some carriers have started to do continuous surveys, checking in every month or quarter to evaluate driver feedback.
One method that has become popular with
carriers is the “driver advisor council”, a select team of drivers that gathers the biggest issues from the pool of drivers and visits with the company’s leadership about how to improve the driver experience. Eyes get opened on both sides when this sort of experience is shared. With both of these options, carriers can act
on driver feedback and then make decisions “based on what drivers said” as opposed to informing the fleet of changes without cause or warning. Having just a little bit of say truly goes a long way. Recognition is another area that drivers
embrace and carriers across the US have responded accordingly. Whether million mile awards, celebrating truck driving championships, giving surprise hand-written thank you notes or driver of the month awards, drivers are thrilled when recognized. Tis kind of delight influences an entire company culture. When drivers want to stay, everyone wins. Te trucking industry is ripe for a
makeover, not only for how drivers are embraced, but also for how entire companies perform. Te “best practices” of today will not
THE PEOPLE THAT FOCUS TOO MUCH ON
HOW MUCH THEY MAKE COULD BE PREVENTING THEMSELVES FROM ENJOYING THEIR JOBS.
win the challenges of tomorrow, so carriers must be open to innovative approaches to how business gets done. Going the extra mile to make drivers feel
valued in unexpected ways will make drivers remember who they drive for, not just the fact they are a driver. Tat can go a long way to keeping the driver for the long haul. NT
Max Farrell is CEO of WorkHound, a software platform built to retain drivers by giving them a voice to the carrier on the road. Email max@
workhoundapp.com for more tips on driver retention.
Cornhusker International Now Open Sundays in Omaha & Sioux City
www.cornhuskerinternational.com
4502 So. 110th Street Omaha, NE 68137 402-331-8801
3131 Cornhusker Hwy Lincoln, NE 68504 402-466-8461
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NEBRASKA TRUCKER — ISSUE 4, 2015 —
www.nebtrucking.com 9
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