Truckit: Some Clues To Driver Retention

I started reading a Roadking article about the perils of a rookie#driver. I started reading it expecting a feel good personal interest story but got something more. Here is what I found.

Some of the clues to a#successful#retention#program are hidden, not just in what is being said in article, but who gets involved on the topic of young drivers.

Accordingly, tips were given in the article to new drivers from experienced drivers who remember how it felt to be a rookie. On top of that, additional comments by experienced #drivers were posted in the comments section beneath the article.

So where am I going with this?

Well..a few thoughts:

The treatment of the#older#drivers can make or break you since THEY will determine the global opinions of your younger drivers. Treat them the way a pro team treats a star athlete, with patient concern, training, and constant rewards.

Start a#mentoring program with reward incentives for experienced drivers to work with new recruits. If a young driver stays so many months, maybe reward the senior mentor driver with a restaurant gift card or comfort item for their truck.

Make sure the rewards are set up at#different time increments to continue incentivizing the older drivers to mentor the younger drivers.

Constantly, regularly listen to#experienced#drivers and document what they face as well as what rookie drivers face. Compile this into training materials so there are no surprises on the road which could discourage newer drivers.

Read the article I am referencing, while a few weeks old, it is still pretty good. Click here to go to it.

-Michael Saks

#Trucking /#transportation topics editor

msaks@ectts.com

“The Rookie: A new driver looks back at his first year on the road” (December 31^st,2012) http://roadking.com/2012/12/the-rookie/