The ROI of Investing in Driver Experience

When it comes to creating a budget, choosing where to spend and where to save, and prioritizing competing costs, fleets can face tough decisions. While some expenses are straightforward and easily measured, other soft expenses can be more difficult to calculate for ROI.

One area that represents a surprising ROI when you take a deeper dive is how fleet drivers experience a day on the road. Why should fleets prioritize technologies that make their drivers’ jobs more efficient and comfortable? In reality, there are several areas that can be directly improved with a better driver experience, and consequently, supporting a healthier bottom line for fleet operations. For example:

1. Reduced driver turnover

Recent studies show that losing a driver can cost a fleet an average of $8,234 and can range up to more than $20,000 for experienced or specialized drivers. Each driver in a fleet represents an investment in onboarding costs, training, salary, and benefits, in addition to the cost of recruiting, interviewing, and hiring. Losing drivers can negatively impact company morale and have a ripple effect on your other drivers, who might have to take on additional shifts. Your fleet may lose business because it cannot accept any new routes, while existing relationships may be strained by missed deadlines due to a driver shortage. Improving your drivers’ days can directly impact their decision to stay with your fleet, or look for a job elsewhere.

2. Improved safety and compliance

Today’s fleets have the option to choose FMS that integrates new functionality that make routes safer and more compliant. From tools that automate HOS tracking and manage in-cab communication, to technologies that make inspections faster and more accurate, these “nice to have” features can make a big difference in how safe your drivers stay on the road and how many violations they can avoid. Improved safety and compliance result in fewer expensive lawsuits, fewer trucks out of service, a reduced chance of FMCSA investigations, and a work culture where drivers feel their safety is prioritized.

3. More efficient routes

Investing in tools that make a driver’s route more efficient can directly impact your bottom line by improving the quality and timeliness of your fleet’s deliveries. For example, tools that report the status of the cargo to the driver’s cab can ensure customers are satisfied with its condition on arrival, leading to future jobs and referrals. Navigation and weather reporting technologies can help drivers stay on track and avoid unexpected delays that impact delivery timelines. Fuel price tracking can ensure your drivers find the best prices and locations along their routes, helping drive down costs and reduce wasted time.

4. Improved fleet scalability

Many of today’s top fleet management tools focus heavily on scalability, allowing for customization based on emerging needs and goals. As you hire more drivers or see the need for remote training, for example, a good FMS provider will be able to work with you to add functionality to meet these objectives. Perhaps you are getting feedback from drivers that they feel their workflow is clunky, having to log into multiple apps and re-enter the same data multiple times. Flexible fleet management tools alleviate these issues by reducing busywork and adding functionality that responds to driver feedback. By leveraging add-on apps from industry developers, fleets can customize their drivers’ experience based on specific goals and emerging challenges, effectively future-proofing operations for the years to come.

Recognizing the Value in Driver Experience

Investing in your drivers’ experience behind the wheel is not just a nicety; it can have a real and direct impact on your fleet’s profitability and bottom line. Happier and safer drivers, equipped with the tools to do their jobs to the best of their ability, can make the difference in a highly competitive industry. 

To learn more about enterprise-wide fleet management tools that set drivers up for success, visit Platform Science, where drivers thrive.

‍Read more in our blog, Driver Productivity: Ultimate Guide to Boosting Your Fleet’s Efficiency and Performance.