In recent years the UK Government has taken extensive steps to address a shortfall in registered HGV drivers and the costs of recruiting experienced, capable and licenced drivers has been keenly felt by businesses struggling in the face of many other economic factors. Recruiting and retaining healthy, engaged and satisfied drivers amongst the workforce is essential for the long term success of any aspiring business. So how does a fleet manager go about this?
Driver shortages and a high turnover rate of drivers can be costly to a business in terms of:
- Recruitment costs
- Training costs
- Performance inconsistency and operational inefficiency
- Non-compliance issues
- Morale and productivity amongst existing/remaining workforce
How to manage the wellness of fleet drivers
This all adds up to a major problem for the fleet manager, and means a wellbeing support package is essential in making drivers feel valued and respected. This goes far beyond the legal and moral duty of an employer to be responsible for the health and safety of its employees, including providing a safe and comfortable work environment. This is a basic requirement of an employer. Directly managing the health and wellbeing of drivers should now form part of a contract of employment and a remuneration package which seeks to look after drivers and provide conditions in which they can thrive and grow with the business. For a fleet manager this should include:
- Training – Thorough and comprehensive training programmes to ensure drivers are fully equipped with the skills and knowledge to perform their job, on an ongoing basis, and which therefore includes routine refresher training.
- Risk assessments – The business should carry out comprehensive risk assessments to analyse all safety aspects of a driver’s job and to identify where improvements could be made.
- Accident management – A programme should be implemented to thoroughly investigate any road traffic accidents or near misses. This will investigate the cause and analyse what improvements could be made. It will also involve a medical study and discussions to ensure a driver is willing and able to continue in and return to the same job role following an accident or near miss.
- Vehicle sourcing – The business should source the very best lease vehicles available and should involve drivers in this process, so their needs are considered and they have a loyalty and attachment to the vehicles they will drive.
- Service and maintenance – This is essential in terms of health and safety compliance and financial management, but also ensures the drivers are safe on the road and considered in how vehicles are managed.
- Investment – The business can invest in the latest software and technology to make a driver’s work life better and more comfortable. This can include vehicle tracking systems and communications, so that drivers are always contactable and their location is always known.
- Journey planning – The fleet manager should also use technology to assist with route and job planning. This will ensure drivers avoid fatigue on long or difficult routes, can avoid traffic hold-ups and bad weather, and have time for breaks built-into their journeys.
- Health surveillance – The fitness and wellbeing of drivers should be established upon recruitment, but this should be routinely monitored thereafter, to include general health checks and also tests for hearing and eyesight, which are essential for professional drivers. This programme can highlight health issues which affect an employee’s general health – including physical and mental health - and which otherwise wouldn’t have been known.
- Appraisals – Regular performance appraisals should be carried out which enable two-way feedback and healthy discussion on a driver’s driving behaviour, operational efficiency and accident record. This can be an opportunity to provide objectives and targets for future performance and to review past performance, but combines to demonstrate that the driver is valued and respected as an individual employee.
The benefits of a wellness programme for fleet drivers
Fundamentally this programme protects and values a driver’s health and wellbeing for their personal benefit, but implementing these wellbeing initiatives effectively will also help with loyalty and retention, and ensures that the business is promoted as a good employer with attractive remuneration packages. Furthermore, a driver acknowledging that they are well looked after and are valued by their employer, will be more engaged in their job. This can lead to better morale and productivity, but can also mean that drivers are more likely to:
- Listen to and act upon feedback relating to driver behaviour techniques
- Pay attention to cost-saving measures they can influence
- Adopt new technology and other new initiatives
- Be a professional ambassador and representative of the business on the road and with customers
- Stay in the job for the longer term
If you need any assistance with driver wellness and how to retain good drivers in your fleet managementdepartment, then contact Total Motion and let our experts use their knowledge and experience to help you.
