It’s that time of year again to celebrate the people who keep the supply chain moving and the economy rolling: Truck Driver Appreciation Week (Sept. 12-18)!
One question to consider is, how best to show appreciation? More pay, special rewards and bonuses all come to mind. But the best methods might involve intangibles. Make sure drivers fit in and feel comfortable, valued and respected at your organization.
For trucking fleets, why not use this official observance to take stock of your practices regarding drivers. It could be a great motivator to evaluate what you need to do to improve driver relations and better recruit and retain them.
An article from earlier this month in Commercial Carrier Journal suggested the top three healthiest indicators, and qualities to abide by, for good driver relationships are: communication, honesty and transparency. That’s a great place to start.
After all, everyone appreciates being dealt with fairly and squarely. Truckers, given their long hours in isolation and away from standard contact points with their employers, seem to put even more stock in this than most.
To elaborate on the communications aspect, a recent survey determined the most critical aspect of the job for drivers most at risk of leaving their current employer is communication concerns. Bad communication experiences tend to linger and infect relationships. They are a major factor in making drivers feel underappreciated and unvalued.
Here are 7 ways to upgrade driver interactions and get better communication going:
CCJ’s innovator of the year, USA Truck, scored major points with drivers by empowering them to select their own loads. Can you do something in a similar spirit, even if it is seemingly small in scope?
Such efforts are well regarded, cumulative and provide momentum for other changes going forward. Anything that promotes the feelings of “I have a voice” – “I have a say in what I do” – “I matter here” – will lead to greater job satisfaction for your drivers and less motivation to look for a different employer.
But you don’t really need to innovate to treat people well. It really just comes down to the golden rule. Be honest, communicate openly and treat your drivers well. Let them know you care and that they matter, this week and every week!