What is the definition of driver retention? Truck driver retention refers to the long-term employment of drivers. Many trucking companies are experiencing high turnover, which means that drivers leave almost as frequently as they arrive. Improving driver retention and lowering driver turnover should be a top priority for every firm.

According to the American Transportation Research Institute's (ATRI) annual survey, driver retention was the number two issue for motor carriers in 2021. Driver retention is far easier and less expensive than regularly recruiting new employees to replace those who have left. Driver retention must become a priority for some businesses, which are struggling to keep employees for more than a few months—or even weeks.

The good news is that improving truck driver retention will improve your ability to attract and acquire new drivers (just as it does with customers). As you can see, driver retention is an important factor to consider. We'll walk you through some of the best truck driver retention ideas, programs, and strategies in this article.

WHY IS THERE SUCH A HIGH RATE OF DRIVER TURNOVER?

The reasons for high driver turnover differ from one organization to the next, but there are a few consistent factors. Of course, the pandemic is a factor in driver turnover. COVID-19 has unquestionably affected the trucking industry, as well as all others.

Over half of all truck drivers are overweight putting them at a far higher risk of severe or even life-threatening symptoms if they contract COVID. This also means that many drivers have health problems that would cause them to avoid driving and stay at home for the length of the pandemic.

Other considerations include:

• Feeling treated like a machine rather than a person at work
• Discovering their firm has no work-life balance culture
• Spending too much time away from their family
• Poor management and scheduling
• Overwork (which, unfortunately, is often the cause of high turnover in the first place)
• Concerns about ill-maintained equipment
• Knowledge that they are in demand and willing to take better terms at another organization

Four Ways to Reduce Truck Driver Turnover

Truck driver turnover is a problem for many companies in the commercial transportation industry. There are practical methods for lowering truck and fleet driver turnover. To decrease driver turnover, we must first identify the source of the problem. Among the reasons mentioned for abandoning a driving job are:

• Working hours in excess: Humans desire social connection, yet long-distance truckers spend a lot of time alone on the road. The influence of loneliness on truck drivers' mental health is a hotly debated subject that leads to high turnover rates.
• Unfair compensation: If truck drivers are paid per mile, their salaries might be uneven, causing their income to vary. Providing consistent pay might help people budget.
• Health risks: Because fast food is generally the only affordable option for truck drivers, it can lead to health issues such as poor nutrition and weight gain.
• These are only a handful of the causes of high fleet driver turnover. Understanding the cause of the problem will aid in its resolution.

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Advantages of Driver Retention

Consider the advantages of having a reliable driving team. With the quantity of drivers outnumbering need, investing in truck driver retention will set you apart from competition. While others struggle to keep roles on their teams, you can satisfy supply and demand while growing your firm.

The growth of e-commerce creates a significant demand for shipping businesses and truck drivers. You can stay on top by having a consistent number of drivers to keep up with shipments and deliveries, which will help you maintain business and focus on growth rather than upkeep.

The average cost of hiring a new truck driver is around $8,000, and salaries are a major cause of driver turnover. When turnover is significant, fleet managers will frequently pay to hire again rather than raise salaries for present personnel. By paying your staff more or granting performance bonuses, you may solve both concerns at the same time and save thousands of dollars.

Improving driver retention saves money, time, and labor expenses while also improving business morale. Focus on building a community among your employees and providing job stability. You will establish a trustworthy network of drivers and deliver outstanding service to your customers.

Statistics about Truck Driver Retention That You Should Know

According to the American Trucking Association, the turnover rate in the trucking sector is gradually increasing and already stands at 90% for carriers with revenues of more than $30 million (American Trucking Associations). Smaller carriers (with less than $30 million in revenue) are not immune to the high numbers, with an 85 percent claimed turnover rate.

The expense of hiring 90 new drivers may be as high as $720,000. You may spend a fraction of that amount developing and implementing driver retention programs and techniques and still come out ahead.

What Exactly Is Driver Retention?

Simply, truck driver retention refers to keeping drivers satisfied enough to continue with a firm for an extended period of time. Drivers, like any other employee, require a safe and rewarding work environment in order to remain with your firm.

Many commercial drivers switch jobs in search of better pay, benefits, or working hours. But, other from constantly rising compensation, how can carriers maintain outstanding drivers?

Employee involvement is the solution. Drivers who are engaged are better, safer employees who are more likely to remain around.

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WHAT ARE TRUCK DRIVER RETENTION PROGRAMS, AND HOW DO THEY WORK?

A driver retention programs is a strategy devised by a firm to encourage long-term drivers to continue with them. It's critical to remember that every program must be founded on a foundation of honesty, with the goal of always improving as a group.

If you switch to new drivers, you'll see that they leave practically as soon as they arrive. At all times, you must maintain a positive work environment. Your drivers must also be viewed as members of the team, not as individuals who merely show up, check in, and check out. They must share the company's values and be aware of the company's objectives.

How to Keep Truck Drivers: 7 Strategies for Retention

1. Recognize the Value Exchange

Money is rarely the solution. The exchange of value, however, is critical. Your drivers must believe that they are being adequately compensated for their time and expertise. This should include more than simply the money transferred into their account at the conclusion of each pay cycle; you should also think of perks that will make them feel protected and secure.

2. Develop a Culture of Feedback

If you want to increase driver retention, you need to receive feedback from your employees so they can tell you what you're doing right (and wrong), as well as complain when required. Give them a way to contact HR anonymously. There are more advanced options available, but a simple Google Form would suffice.

3. Prioritize health and safety

Trucking is a high-risk career that frequently ranks first on lists of the Most Dangerous Jobs in America. The more you can stress that you're doing everything you can to keep them safe, the better. Schedule routine maintenance, have their concerns investigated when they bring them up, and invest in high-quality safety features.

4. Recognize Outstanding Achievement

Feeling underpaid or in a thankless position, regardless of industry, ruins job happiness and can quickly become a key reason for an employee to hunt for a new job.

It's not enough to simply say "thank you" every time they get out of the truck. Instead, consider rewarding your drivers with milestones and rewards. Offer little gifts to drivers who stay with you for a long time, and make sure you notice when they go above and beyond. Even a simple note from a management expressing gratitude for their efforts will go a long way toward keeping your drivers on the job.

5. Form a group and find a family

Many corporations use the word "family" to suggest that everyone must do as everyone else does or remain quiet if they are upset about anything.

Annual events will help bring your team together and excite new employees, such as an Easter egg hunt for your employees' children, a summer BBQ, a Halloween costume competition, and an annual end of year party in December will help bring your team together and excite new employees.

6. Prioritize work-life balance

One of the main reasons why drivers leave is a lack of work-life balance. They want to be able to work flexible hours and spend time with their family. Managing this will vary depending on the type of work they do and your requirements.

To begin, strive to improve their routes. Reduce journey times and stay in touch with your drivers to help them spend less time on the road and get home faster without cutting corners. Then talk to your drivers about their preferred work schedules.

7. Invest in top-of-the-line equipment

Truck drivers take pride in their vehicles, so if they're the only ones on the road driving an old truck or dealing with old equipment, it will reflect poorly on your business. Another aspect of this is keeping items in good working order, which we discussed earlier in the health and safety section.