How to Retain Your Best Drivers in 2021
After well over a year of being into the global pandemic, it seems like things are finally starting to go back to normal. Of course, this process will be quite slow. Across all industries, things are slowly beginning to come back to their original state, and the trucking industry is no exception.
However, even though things are starting to look up, the trucker turnover rate did experience an increase. That’s why more and more businesses are looking for ways that will enable them to retain top talent and lower their turnover rates. So, with that being said, here are a few ways you can retain your best drivers in 2021.
Improve employee satisfaction
Needless to say, one of the easiest ways you can ensure that you boost employee retention is to improve overall employee satisfaction. There are many factors that contribute to employee satisfaction and we’ll discuss some of them in greater detail in the upcoming text. But aside from those that we’ll later discuss, there are also factors like driver engagement, fair work dispersion, meeting your drivers’ demands, and so on. Every little thing you can do to make your drivers overall more satisfied should be the first thing on your list.
Improve driver safety
Driver safety is arguably one of the most important factors you need to consider when it comes to successful drivers’ retention. It’s no secret that truck drivers of varying ages and experience levels still experience various struggles when it comes to overall safety. That’s why you need to ensure you employ all the solutions and technologies that will enable you to ensure that your drivers are safe and taken care of at all times. Unless the safety measures you practice and employ are stellar, you can really expect to have high retention rates.
Establish clear communication channels
Similar to the previous point, you also need to provide your drivers with clear communication channels. Propper and streamlined communication is the pillar of any successful business. Not only does it boost employee satisfaction but it also highly contributes to team-building. That’s why you need to establish clear lines of communication within your organization. On top of that, encourage your employees to voice their concerns and dissatisfactions without having to fear any repercussions.
Offer continuous education
Another thing that will greatly influence employee satisfaction is education. By offering your truck drivers a chance to continue to grow and expand their level of education you can expect great things. Of course, make sure that the education you offer is relevant not only to the industry but to your employees as well. Focus on real-life situations and raising awareness of various things that can happen on the road. Encourage your employees to share their experiences with their colleagues. This way not only will your truck drivers get the opportunity to hear and learn something new but they’ll also get a very useful insight into various ways they can tackle various situations.
Reward excellent performance
This one may seem too obvious of a tip to some, but you’d actually be surprised to learn just how many businesses don’t reward excellent performance. Now, that being said, you need to make sure you don’t make the same mistake. If you have truck drivers in your company who are simply excellent at what they do make sure you let them know they’re your top workers – by rewarding the behavior accordingly. You can offer them salary bonuses, extra days off, and similar incentives. Ideally, you can even ask your employees what type of reward they would prefer.
Always provide benefits
Benefits are also high on the list of factors that can boost employee satisfaction and improve retention rates. The most valued benefits include health and life insurance, retirement plans, as well as raises, and bonuses. In the perfect world, work benefits should not be something that’s emphasized as a plus but in the world, we live in they’re not always a part of the deal. That’s why you need to make sure you offer work benefits to all of your employees if you hope to retain your top talent.
No matter which of the tips you choose to follow and how you decide to go about them, make sure you offer your employees fair work conditions. On top of that, ensure that they work in a safe work environment and raise their awareness about the things they can expect on the job. Make sure your truck drivers can always reach out and ask for help and support and don’t forget to reward your top performers.
Author bio
Travis Dillard is a business consultant and an organizational psychologist based in Arlington, Texas. Passionate about marketing, social networks, and business in general. In his spare time, he writes a lot about new business strategies and digital marketing for DigitalStrategyOne.
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