This is the third and final installment in the “Turning Data into Action” series based on dispatch software systems. Part 1 covers realtime roadmapping — Click here to see it. Part 2 covers the customer service aspect of dispatch software and how they aid in preventing failures and keeping commitments. Click here to see it. Part 3, below discusses how they can help implement instant rewards for drivers and automated dispatch.
As the recruiting wars heat up, carriers are looking for ways to increase driver wages and incentives – despite only marginal improvements in freight rates. One strategy is using technology to create performance-based pay programs and incentives.
A number of companies that offer TMS systems have applications to design driver scorecards using data collected by the system. Driver scores might be useful beyond monetary compensation; other options may include giving the best-performing drivers the best lanes and first choice of available loads.
McLeod Software offers a Driver Scorecard module for its LoadMaster enterprise software system. The module’s current driver scores are displayed on the load planning screen along with the driver. What load planners do with those scores – such as giving drivers preferential treatment – is left entirely up to them.
Celadon’s driver scorecard consists of eight metrics; one metric, load acceptance, comes directly from its load optimization software by Manhattan Associates. The system keeps track of how often drivers do not respond to a load assignment – or reject it altogether.
Celadon plans to feed the drivers’ scores into its performance-based pay program. The scores also will be fed into Manhattan’s Driver&Load optimization software to influence the matching algorithm. Drivers with higher scores will be given more driver-friendly freight as a reward.
