According to the American Trucking Association, the United States experienced a record shortage of 80,000 truck drivers last year. While the shortage has prompted many carriers to step up their recruiting efforts, data suggest that focusing on retention may be even more beneficial.
Carriers frequently have turnover rates of more than 90%. Carriers must understand why drivers are leaving to combat this staggering statistic. Asking them is the best way to find out.
Tenstreet is well-known in the recruiting and retention industry. The company provides carriers with a comprehensive suite of driver engagement tools, including quick, easy, and accessible surveys. While surveys may appear simple in theory, for Meiborg Brother’s recruiter Shawn Broach, this tool has made all the difference.
“It’s given us a chance to get to know the drivers and give them a voice,” Broach said. “I was a driver for 20 years and understand how important that is.” Many drivers believe they have not heard or that their opinions are unimportant.”
Drivers frequently leave carriers because too many “minor” issues have gone unresolved. Providing an easy way for drivers to communicate minor irritations and address them is critical to creating a supportive environment and promoting retention.
“When I have a driver leave, I usually look back and see the warning signs that I missed before,” Broach explained. “The more we can automate, the better we can connect with our drivers and ensure they are heard before they quit.”
However, more than simply sending out surveys is required. As the trucking industry has become more technologically savvy, many companies have begun to prioritize data collection. Having data from drivers is useless if it is trapped in an unnoticed spreadsheet. Indeed, asking questions and failing to act on the answers may be worse for driver morale than never asking any questions.
Broach has followed up on the information gathered from the Tenstreet surveys, speaking with drivers to reassure them that their concerns are being addressed.
“Without the surveys, these issues are overlooked because drivers do not stay long enough to bring problems to management’s attention,” Broach explained. “The surveys allow the driver to get their issues off their chest.”
As a direct result of driver feedback, the company has already made small changes, such as adding portable toilets to their drop lots.
Tenstreet’s driver surveys include a standardized set of questions and responses, allowing carriers to aggregate data and track trends over time easily. This can be done on an individual driver or fleetwide basis, allowing carriers to identify specific employees who may require additional assistance.
Hiring and retaining employees in any industry is a complex, human-centered process. Managers can spend more time and energy focusing on the people themselves by automating the most repetitive parts, resulting in better outcomes for everyone involved.
