June 2020 - 10

UPTIME

FROM THE EDITORS

Exceptional maintenance
for driver retention
The basics for attracting and retaining top drivers still apply,
but recent events call for some additional requirements.

By David
Brierley
Editor

@ DavidBrierleyFM

The shortage of truck drivers has been an
ongoing issue in the industry for some time
now, and the COVID-19 pandemic has only
made things more complicated. For fleets,
the goal is to attract drivers and keep those
they have onboard, and that requires using
all available tools at your disposal. It means
making your fleet a place drivers want to
work: having a maintenance program that
effectively keeps trucks on the road, using
late-model trucks with the latest technologies
and creature comforts, and fostering a safe
work environment.

Maintenance and upkeep

Arguably one of the most important aspects
of a fleet is how it maintains its vehicles.
Whether maintenance is handled in-house, by
a third-party, or through a full-service lease
(for more information on fleet vehicle leases,
see the sidebar on p. 28), upkeep of the trucks
has a major impact on drivers.
No driver wants to be left stranded on the
side of the road dealing with an engine derate
or something even more serious. Therefore,
it is imperative fleets have a maintenance
department that performs preventive maintenance (PM) at the proper intervals and
tracks vehicle issues in an attempt at predictive maintenance.
It is also important that the fleet encourages
open communication between drivers and the
maintenance department. Drivers spend the
most time with the vehicle out of anyone, so
they tend to get to know it better than anyone
else. They are able to distinguish when something feels a bit "off," and can communicate
that to the maintenance department the next
time the vehicle is at home base.
No matter how maintenance is handled, it
has to be done so in a constructive way that
keeps vehicles operating at peak performance.
This is not only a smart financial move for the
fleet itself, but it also helps drivers feel more
comfortable knowing they will not be stranded unexpectedly or have to wait while their
truck is down for unscheduled maintenance.

Newer trucks

Since drivers spend the vast majority of their
time in the cab of the truck, it makes sense

10 Fleet Maintenance | June 2020

»Knowing that a vehicle is operating at
peak performanace reassures the driver.
162785808 | Photovs | Dreamstime

The trucking industry
and the world as we know
it are changing, and
that means employers
need to change with it.
to have the most comfortable vehicles possible. Fleets using late-model trucks with all the
newest technologies and features can attract
drivers, and the knowledge that trucks are
replaced before they get too old can keep them
happy where they are.
Newer driver technologies such as automated manual transmissions can attract drivers
who don't know how or don't want to learn to
drive a manual. Advanced driver assistance
systems such as lane monitoring, adaptive
or predictive cruise control, and blind spot
monitoring help drivers operate more safely.
The latest in-cab infotainment systems allow
drivers to stay entertained with their latest
podcasts or music playlists.
For some fleets, that means buying new
trucks every two, three, or four years, depending on the length of routes and mileage accu-

mulated. For fleets who lease it's an even easier
prospect since lease terms typically run out
before a truck gets too old, anyway. Whatever
the case, keeping a fleet fresh shows drivers
their comfort and safety is important.

A safe environment

The definition of a safe working environment
has changed drastically in the last three
months. Since the COVID-19 pandemic took
the world by surprise, making a workplace
safe means taking extra health precautions.
Creating social distancing space in public
spaces is a major consideration in areas such
as work terminals and in the bay. It is also
important to offer and encourage the use of
protective measures such as hand sanitizer,
face masks, and rubber gloves. While drivers may not spend a lot of time at home base,
these measures help show that the fleet takes
the health of its employees seriously.
The trucking industry and the world as we
know it are changing, and that means employers need to change with it. Offering sensitivity to employees who may be concerned
about their health shows that a company
cares about more than its bottom line. These
new practices shouldn't take much effort to
implement, but combined with a strong maintenance program and frequently refreshed
vehicles, can help attract new drivers and
keep existing ones with the fleet.

June 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of June 2020