Truck drivers have concerns, but fleets can figure out ways to address them. A California Highway Patrol officer said one fleet manager had a big smile: “I listened to my drivers. They had a whole list of things on their minds. A big part of my job is making sure they can do theirs. When I listen to drivers, I learn what needs to be fixed. Makes me smile, all the things I might have a hand in improving.”

 

When we listen to drivers throughout the industry, we learn about many opportunities for improvement. The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) does this annually through its Top Industry Issues survey, which in 2022 received responses from over 4,200 industry stakeholders across North America; 42.7% of them were professional truck drivers. What items did they say needed improving?

No. 1 Truck driver issue: Truck parking

Congress made truck parking eligible for infrastructure funding, and the U.S. Department of Transportation has a handbook for accessing that money. Encourage states and cities to prioritize truck parking and tell the trucking story within your own fleet. Show drivers you are actively working with property owners and customers to find safe, convenient, and legal parking along their routes.

No. 2 Truck Driver Issue: Fuel Prices

For owner-operators and independent contractors, fuel pricing is their top issue. Find and purchase discount programs for fuel vendors along routes.

• No. 3 and No. 4 Truck driver issues: Driver compensation and detention/delay at customer facilities
• Detention/delay reduces compensable hours/miles.
• Detention/delay can lead to speeding, which can cost drivers their jobs.
• Look into consumer rating apps to allow drivers to rate customer facilities treatment.
• Use ratings to work with customers on improved driver treatment.

No. 5 Truck driver issue: Speed limiters 

Your fleet may already use speed governors, but the FMCSA will propose mandatory speed limiters in 2023. When the proposal comes out, discuss the issue with your drivers and let them know their input is important. Having a hand in improvements kind of makes you smile, doesn’t it?

Sources: 

https://www.fleetowner.com/perspectives/ideaxchange/blog/21258079/new-years-resolution-listen-to-drivers