INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVES
Addressing the Nation’s Driver Shortage by Cultivating a Driver-First Safety Mindset By Jill Snyder, Compliance and Safety Director, Zonar
Even with continued supply chain disruptions throughout 2020 and 2021, the trucking industry’s commitment to delivering essential loads as safely and efficiently as possible remains a top priority. These disruptions have been compounded by an all-time high lack of truck drivers. The American Trucking Associations estimates that the U.S. has about 80,000 fewer drivers than it needs– and that by 2030, the gap could be upward of 160,000. To meet this challenge, the Biden Administration announced its Trucking Action Plan in December 2021, providing an outline to help recruit top talent in trucking while addressing obstacles to driver retention. The plan streamlines the processing of commercial driver’s licenses (CDL), establishes task forces to advance women in trucking (which builds on the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act provision to create a Women of Trucking Advisory Board) and implements additional driver apprenticeship programs – including veteran-focused outreach – to build a strong talent pipeline. Through the proposed DRIVE SAFE ACT, Congress is also lowering the age requirement for hauling cargo across state lines, allowing drivers to start at age 18, rather than 21. However, this poses yet another challenge: safety-first education for the next generation of drivers along with the continued safety education of veteran truck drivers. Often fatigue and distracted driving are noted as major causal factors of truck accidents. Truck driver fatigue was found to be associated with 13% of crashes evaluated as part of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Large Truck Crash Causation Study. While lesser known, complacency on the job is another leading factor affecting truck driving safety. In fact, data shows that truck drivers with five to 10 years of experience have more accidents than new drivers due to a complacency mindset. Therefore, as fleets recruit and train new drivers, they must remember to check in with the veteran drivers too. The trucking industry needs to cultivate a driver-first safety mindset that empowers drivers to follow safety guidelines and checkpoints thoroughly each and every day,
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GUARDIAN
providing them with the training, tools and support that builds job satisfaction and keeps our drivers and roads safer.
Put Drivers in the Fleet’s Driver Seat
To retain current talent, fleets should find ways to put the driver first in organization-wide decisions. Companies are typically structured with the CEO at the top of the pyramid; however, in the trucking industry, this structure should be inverted to put drivers at the top. Without them hauling deliveries safely and efficiently, no one else would have a job. Ensure that drivers feel valued and recognized for a job well done. If fleet and safety managers put more emphasis and attention on drivers, these essential workers will likely feel more motivated and experience less monotony on the job.
Technology to Support Driver Rewards
In recent years, more fleets have been providing this type of recognition through high-performer reward and gamification programs. At the end of each trip, the driver’s performance is automatically captured from the vehicle’s telematics technology. That data is then saved to a scorecard tracked by the fleet manager and the driver. This technology brings the idea of the popular “American Truck Simulator” reward system to the real world. Alternatively, some fleets are changing their payment models to drive more incentive among employees. Rather than payment on a per-mile basis, organizations are shifting to a per-hour basis or a salary base to accommodate for stall time if a load isn’t ready for a truck. Previously, issues with stall time would lead to reduced pay and result in a higher turnover rate as drivers looked elsewhere for more consistent payments for each hour they work. Another example is an auto carrier fleet that would pay drivers per car loaded. At the end of the year, the drivers were able to keep whatever money was left after damages were paid.
Reducing False Accusations for Drivers
Carriers are also using technology to better protect drivers from false accusations in the case of a crash. When any commercial motor vehicle is involved in an incident, the ramifications are complicated. Commercial
