In 1998, the American Trucking Associations launched a program to honor the nation’s truck drivers. Every year since then, one week in September is designated as National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. The 3.5 million professional truck drivers will be honored from September 15 to 21 this year.
Most fleets, including Transervice, will honor their drivers with appreciation lunches, gifts, etc., as a way of demonstrating just how important we think they are. And every successful fleet does value its drivers.
Drivers have a huge impact on a fleet’s profitability. The way a driver operates your truck has a significant influence—some say as much as 30%—on fuel economy. Fostering good relationships with your drivers, not just during National Truck Driver Appreciation Week but year-round, can make that 30% a positive influence on fuel economy.
When drivers feel appreciated, valued, and like they are an important part of your organization, they are going to be more invested in your success and drive your trucks in a way that maximizes fuel economy—not speeding, using cruise control, avoiding hard braking, etc.—as well as driving many accident-free miles.
See also: ATRI launches the 2024 Top Industry Issues Survey
Are you and senior management taking time to speak with drivers outside of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week? I hope the answer is yes. You can learn a lot from drivers about how your trucks and trailers are performing, about ongoing maintenance and repair issues they may be experiencing, and about what they hear when they are making deliveries to your customers. They may even pick up industry scuttlebutt about what others in the industry are saying about your company.
Also, listening to your drivers and actively seeking their input is another great way to make them feel connected and an integral part of the business.
The driver shortage has been—and likely will continue to be—a perennial issue in the trucking industry. And while that does not necessarily mean it will always be difficult to find drivers, it could mean it will be difficult to attract and retain good drivers.
If good drivers—those who drive with fuel economy and safety in mind—are what you want, your best strategy is to spend more than a week a year showing them just how much you appreciate them.
