How to Keep Drivers Happy While Keeping Fuel Costs Down

What do I do when my driver’s home time is now and I need to get home but I am two hundred miles away? When the cost of fuel is more then driver pay, what do you do? If you don’t move, him he might quit. With rising fuel costs, this has become an even harder decision. It now costs more in fuel then it does to pay the driver. With the average industry turnover of 110% for drivers, it is becoming increasingly important to cater to their needs regardless of the cost of fuel. How can you get the best of both worlds; keep the driver happy and keep your fuel cost down?

The biggest factor in driver retention is home times and pay. Most quit because they missed their son’s birthday or weren’t on time to pay bills.

One thing to remember as a carrier is that most shipments are flexible. Sometimes they always don’t have to deliver on the delivery date. This can help you finagle the schedule a little bit.

Let’s say for instance your truck just dropped a truckload in Chattanooga, TN and the driver lives in Birmingham, AL and is planning on deadheading to make his home time. Instead of deadheading him, find a load that isn’t urgent on its way to Dallas TX, New Orleans LA. or Pensacola FL and let him sit with it for a few days to get in his 34 hour restart WITHOUT losing money on gas by letting him drive without a load.

Just by making this small change, you could save hundreds on fuel costs and still keep the driver happy. Remember, a happy driver is not only loyal but productive.

Next time you are in this kind of situation, call Access America Transport; we specialize in consulting carriers on fleet utilization and meeting driver home times while still watching the bottom line with fuel prices.