How to Improve New Driver Onboarding (to Reduce Turnover) in 5 Steps
If you’ve paid attention to any news about the trucking industry over the past couple years, chances are high you’ve seen one repeated once, twice, or a few hundred times:
Of all sectors of US business, the trucking industry suffers perhaps the worst rates of employee turnover. The number of drivers leaving their jobs year by year surpassed 100 percent in 2015, meaning that companies were replacing personnel as quickly as they were hiring them. And while recent headlines have expressed relief over the fact that the rate has dipped to a 5-year low of 81% (for large carriers), trucking turnover remains extraordinarily high by any measure.
The industry has dealt with this problem in several ways. Startups and research institutes alike have introduced efforts to help fleet owners retain drivers through advanced data analytics. Regarding rigorous compliance standards as obstacles, trucking associations and interest groups have lobbied for reductions in federal regulations, achieving mixed results.
While these endeavors serve their functions, we at Compli have witnessed our customers effectively handle turnover through arguably simpler and cheaper methods. Specifically, we’ve seen how new employee training, orientation, and support can overcome even the most challenging of regulatory hurdles. Turnover, meet onboarding.
Just a Reminder: We’re not your lawyer (of course, right?) Since we’re not, remember that this article’s for informational purposes and not intended to provide legal advice.