It's obvious that fleets are driven by drivers unless they are autonomous vehicles. But as far as manually driven vehicles are considered, a lot depends on drivers as they keep the operations running.  Another aspect like customer satisfaction is also influenced by drivers. But it has been seen that drivers are not encouraged enough which leads them to leave the job. The job of driving a truck across the country to deliver goods on a tight schedule is much more demanding than most people assume. But ironically drivers are held more responsible and paid more attention to in case of accidents or high fuel expenditure than towards their productive & critical contribution towards business enhancement. 

Why new drivers leave the job? 

Basically, the job of truck drivers involves dealing with strict work schedules. Truck drivers also have overheads like constantly watching out for other motorists, carefully balancing their cargo loads, maintaining their rigs, finding the fuel stops, and countless other challenges each time during their work drive. In such a stressful atmosphere, drivers have to spend days and weeks at a stretch from their families. Also, there is the probability of several health issues arising from long hours of driving that can affect drivers and make trucking a less-than-attractive career option. Thus drivers are prone to leave the job more often than not. 

Role of GPS trackers in driver retention 

The following ways a GPS tracking system assists you to increase driver retention: 

Optimize Driving Hours  

Much to the surprise of many, GPS tracking system can assist in retaining drivers by regulating firstly Driving Hours. The most common grievance of truck drivers is the long & erratic driving hours in order to follow the fleet schedules. GPS tracking system allows you to monitor time spent on driving which can help managers to assess work hours & provide regular rest schedule. Drivers can be provided with sufficient time for rest which will reduce stress and prevent health issues arising due to lack of sleep.  

Customise Driver Compensation Models 

The best motivation for drivers is their compensation. Hence to retain them, a prudent compensation model is important. Paying by the hour can prove to be expensive for companies especially with the risk of it being misused by drivers. Also if the compensation is given on km basis, drivers often have to wait for long hours at the delivery locations to offload goods, the time which is not compensated.  GPS tracking system can provide you with the required data that can help businesses devise a compensation model in the interest of both driver & the business. 

Making the Fleet Management Task Easier 

GPS tracking also helps in mapping an efficient route that takes off the overhead of drivers of finding directions. Navigating through urban areas with dense traffic is made easier. Also with a pre-defined route, drivers know exact gas station to stop. Thus drivers can navigate easily saving their time and avoiding confusion & extra efforts.  

A Freshly-Serviced Fleet 

A GPS tracking helps you to keep maintenance record and also reminds of the due date of servicing well in advance. A freshly serviced vehicle eases & makes the driving experience pleasant for drivers besides minimizing the risk of vehicle breakdown which can be exhausting, time-consuming & tedious for drivers. 

Controlling & Maintaining Emissions 

Drivers are exposed to gas & diesel fumes coming from vehicles as they drive. It not only has health hazards but also makes driving uneasy. GPS tracking system can help to control carbon emission of fleets. (hyperlink for carbon emission blog). With controlled emission from vehicles, drivers can have ease of driving & save themselves from health hazards. Maintaining a green fleet keeps a business environmentally friendly. 

Besides the above-mentioned steps of driver retention, other steps like making them feel connected with the company, providing insurances for drivers, promoting rest, providing a healthy balance of work and personal life can help in a greater way to retain drivers. With the help of a GPS tracking system, drivers can be encouraged to display exceptional driving performance and be rewarded accordingly. This will create a positive atmosphere that the employees would want to stick around.