Most trucking companies face a difficult challenge of recruiting and retaining drivers. While compensation plays a key role in attracting the best drivers, this is not the only variable that is critical in recruitment and retaining drivers. Additionally, this is not an issue that can be resolved simply by increasing wages, since work-life balance is also an important contributing factor.
Often truck drivers leave their companies due to a low rate of job satisfaction. While trucking carriers can take a variety of steps to address the issue at hand, they can gain significant advantage in improving the overall efficiency of their companies and boost their drivers’ quality of life by implementing a comprehensive Transportation management software (TMS).
While there is a long list of benefits from using TMS, here are a few key benefits of a TMS that can help you recruit and retain top drivers.
Improved Safety and Efficiency
A trucking operations can improve safety and operational efficiency by implementing a TMS solution. TMS components and third-party integration with driver-focused features have the potential to reduce accidents, lower insurance costs, and make truck driving a more appealing career especially to young drivers who are far more comfortable with technology.
TMS can also be used to track the efficiency of the driver, thus providing opportunities for growth and reward. Human error is a big part of truck accidents, many of which are due to fatigue. If a driver is fatigued and distracted, this could create a huge safety and liability risk for the carrier. With the data that TMS platforms can collect, carriers can properly monitor their drivers’ workload.
TMS platforms also provide carriers with important data about the status of their trucks. With the use of GPS technology and tracking software, a TMS can provide more clarity into where drivers are and when they will be at their destination. Thus, dispatchers can more effectively plan routes and schedule truck maintenance.
In addition, Electronic Logging Devices (ELDs), a technology that often integrates with most TMS platforms, benefit drivers significantly. It not only reduces the amount of time spent working on paperwork, but they also provide more insight and accuracy. Without the need for constant paperwork, inspections go faster, hours of service are better tracked, and carriers can control their expenses with more accuracy.
Improved Quality of Life
TMS platforms can also make the process of tracking a driver’s schedule easy. Drivers can track hours driven, and management can get a better hold on whether they are overworked, thus improving the driver’s quality of life. Given that human error contributes significantly to truck accidents, often caused by fatigue, a TMS solution prioritize driver safety by monitoring their hours driven. It also allows management to detect when drivers might be on the road for too long and address potential overwork.
Load and Route Planning and Optimization
When it comes to improving driver retention and recruitment, one of the biggest advantages lies in the optimization of route planning and load management. A good TMS solution like PowerPRO includes dispatch software that can optimize load and route planning. This results in fewer dead miles, better use of truck capacity, lower fuel consumption, and decreased operational costs.
Additionally, by effectively optimizing routes and loads, drivers can potentially earn more money. A TMS can help drivers maximizes their earning potential through efficient planning and load management, resulting in drivers more likely to stay and be satisfied with their job. This focus on increasing their income can be a crucial factor in improving driver retention rates.
Accurate and Prompt Driver Payments
A trucking company that struggles with incorrect paychecks and slow payments is likely going to experience a high driver turnover. To ensure accurate and timely payments to your drivers, your TMS must offer comprehensive accounting and billing capabilities. A TMS solution such as PowerPRO provides integrated features to streamline payroll processes resulting in drivers getting accurate paychecks on time and enhance driver satisfaction.
Conclusion
Technology is your friend when it comes to trucking business. By implementing a comprehensive TMS solution tailored to the specific needs of your fleet, you can harness the power of technology to address the driver recruitment and retention. The right TMS will empower your drivers, enhance their job satisfaction, and ultimately contribute to improved retention rates and lower recruitment costs.
