100% of satisfied drivers would recommend a career in trucking, compared to only 15% of drivers who are not satisfied in their current roles. Driver attrition is something every carrier worries about, especially with the current national driver shortage on everyone’s minds. Making sure your drivers are happy and satisfied with their jobs is one of the best ways to keep truck drivers from leaving for greener pastures and attract new drivers to the trucking industry.
Unfortunately there’s no single solution for attracting and retaining drivers and reducing turnover rates. Every driver is different, and everyone wants different things from their job. Below are some retention strategies that we know are beneficial to most trucking companies, but make sure to talk to your truck drivers so you can personalize the solutions to your fleet.
The most common reason people leave jobs is money, so it’s obvious one of the best ways to retain employees is by offering competitive pay. This is true in every field, and the trucking industry is no different. Bonuses, incentives, and extras are all great ways to boost morale and keep your driver turnover low. And remember that health insurance, matching 401k, increased vacation time, and other benefits are just as important as base pay.
Your truck drivers are spending a lot of time in their trucks. And if those trucks are old, uncomfortable, missing helpful technology, or frequently need costly maintenance and repairs, your drivers won’t be happy. Regularly investing in quality equipment and making sure your drivers know that their comfort is important to you is another way of showing them respect and demonstrating your appreciation for their work. And making sure your fleet management team regularly maintains existing equipment and replaces broken or obsolete equipment is also critical.
One of the hardest things about being a long-haul trucker is the schedule. It’s hard not just on drivers, but on their families, too. In fact, 34% of drivers say that home time or downtime is their most valued benefit or perk they consider when choosing a truck driving job. Providing drivers with regular schedules, and keeping promises of time off, so they can make plans with their loved ones is a great way to improve job satisfaction, work-life balance, and driver retention. Talk to your drivers and find out what kinds of schedules they would like. It may not be possible to give everyone their preferred schedule every month, but talking to them and making an effort to improve their schedules can be worth a lot.
A great way to keep employees happy and loyal to your company is to offer opportunities for advancement. Make sure your managers are always on the lookout for drivers who would make good dispatchers, managers, trainers, and other leaders. Recognizing great performance and acknowledging ambition will keep the best drivers on your payroll for years.
Above all, communicate with your drivers. Make sure they all know that you want to hear from them about anything good or bad regarding the company. When employees are unhappy, sometimes the simplest solution is just listening to them and finding solutions to the things that are negatively impacting their job satisfaction.
Communicate clearly what is expected of each of your drivers, and hold the rest of the company to the same (or better) standards. It’s tough when you have to communicate bad news, but everyone would rather know than be kept in the dark. Respect your drivers by being direct and not misleading them about potential issues facing them or the company.
And communication goes both ways. Foster a company culture that encourages communication. When CDL drivers voice concerns or frustrations, make sure to listen to them. Invite feedback, both positive and negative, by creating an open door policy. You can even send out a survey for drivers to complete periodically. But make sure those surveys don’t just disappear. Drivers need to know that their voices are being heard. Share the results as well as the steps the company is taking to change things because of their feedback.
Remember that these tips are not one size fits all. Find out what works for your trucking company and your drivers by talking to them and asking them how you can keep them happy. Create a good work environment for your truckers by letting them know that the company cares about their wellness, happiness, work-life balance, and emotional well-being. The bottom line is that truck drivers are like most people in that they want to know that they matter to their employers. They don’t want to be just another number on a screen. Personalize the truck driver retention strategies to your company and your truckers to improve your retention rate and keep your drivers happy.