The American Trucking Association forecasts a record-high driver shortage of more than 82,000 this year. The cost of replacing drivers is even more staggering. One study found that, on average, fleets lose $13,500 each time they fill an empty seat. At this level, a 500-truck company with a 75% driver turnover rate would spend more than $5M every year to train new drivers.
Reducing turnover will naturally lower driver recruiting and training costs, but fleets can get the desired results by working from the other direction. They can improve driver retention by making training more efficient and effective while saving unnecessary expenses.
Many fleets do this with custom mobile driver apps. For example, as soon as recruiters schedule a start date for a new driver, the driver will receive a text or email to download the company’s mobile app. At this point, drivers can access orientation training and other helpful job tools remotely, helping them become familiar with the fleet and the tools they will use on the job.
Drivers complete orientation training by accessing documents and content through the app, either from a learning management system (LMS) or their fleet’s digital media library. When using a neatly organized dashboard within the app, drivers get acquainted with messaging, trip planning, and other tools before official training begins.
When drivers arrive at the office, fleets can often complete any remaining orientation training in a single day, saving hotel costs and getting drivers on the road faster, earning revenue. While on the road, drivers continue using the custom app to get information and training content on equipment, safety topics, and other resources to significantly reduce phone calls and in-person training meetings.
NAPA Transportation (CCJ Top 250, No. 178) gets all these benefits and more from its custom driver app, and gives its drivers real-time mobile access to information, documents and training content to do their jobs as safely and efficiently as possible.
At most fleets, including NAPA, drivers frequently contact their maintenance department with questions about their equipment. Sean Davidson, an application developer helping to manage NAPA’s custom driver app, was approached by a maintenance manager with an intriguing question: Would it be possible to upload vehicle-specific training content to the fleet’s custom app?
