WorkHound, a platform that provides real-time anonymous feedback from over 30,000 drivers, providing data and insights that companies can utilize to quickly remedy and improve operations, recently released feedback on drivers’ top concerns in the first half of 2020. Feedback consisted of over 18,000 comments from more than 7,000 drivers.
1. Logistics
The first area of concern among drivers revolved around logistics, in particular load planning, information, and fuel. Drivers stressed apprehension that there wouldn’t be enough work available and that those loads that do come up would be assigned to company “favorites.” Additionally, drivers felt that dispatchers and load planners were not taking into account hours of service or wait time when planning loads and that the amount of inaccurate information, including wrong directions, just leads to greater frustration. According to WorkHound, drivers also felt that “fuel plans are inefficient and that there is a lack of understanding about how bulk fuel accounts work.” (1)
2. Equipment Issues
21% of comments involved equipment issues such as mechanical failures, maintenance, technology concerns, and uncomfortableness/sanitization fears, especially with COVID. (1)
FACT: Road Scholar Transport does not “slip seat drivers,” meaning our drivers are assigned their own truck, utilizing the same sterile “office space” on each and every move and are thereby not exposed to others’ germs.
3. Driver Pay
Broken promises regarding pay when coming onboard a carrier was a common issue drivers noted, leading them to not trust their employer and feeling “taken advantage of.” This included the “hazmat pay” that many drivers explained they did not receive during the COVID shutdowns.
FACT: Road Scholar Transport created a “Wellness Bonus Program” that provided our drivers, mechanics, and operations bonuses for reporting to work healthy.
4 and 5. People and Communication
As Max Farrell, CEO of WorkHound states, “Trucking is a people business; drivers do not want to be treated like numbers. They are more likely to stay with companies that have the human touch and strive to create personal relationships with them.” This includes equal accountability, fairness, and forward communication and openness, along with a quick response time. (1)
Road Scholar Transport recognizes the importance of truck drivers and, like our families, we want to keep them healthy. That’s why when COVID hit, we took action, providing them with a box lunch program, uniforms that are cleaned daily, clean and disinfected tractors and trailers after every trip, and more.
Click here to start your driving career with Road Scholar Transport and become part of our family today.
(1)https://www.trucker.com/drivers/article/21137835/truckers-cite-top-concerns-for-first-half-of-2020
