{"id":7797,"date":"2020-10-03T17:35:54","date_gmt":"2020-10-03T15:35:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/?p=7797"},"modified":"2020-10-03T17:35:54","modified_gmt":"2020-10-03T15:35:54","slug":"driver-productivity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2020\/10\/03\/driver-productivity\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 7 Causes of Lost Driver Productivity & Tips to Solve Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

Photo: Gettyimages.com\/kupicoo<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n

Keep up with proper preventive maintenance and comply with company vehicle cycling policies to help reduce the likelihood of significant repairs or the risk of breakdowns.\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

When looking at truck or van fleet operations, you have the driver, the vehicle, and the fleet manager all impacting the overall productivity of an efficient fleet. Like a three-legged stool, each must equally support the overarching goal of a specific fleet\u2019s operation. A shortcoming in any one area will have a cascading effect on all areas of fleet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 1 of this three-part series on productivity digs into driver productivity. A productive driver is essential to ensuring a fleet operation is safe and efficient.<\/span><\/p>\n

Top 7 Causes of Lost Driver Productivity<\/span><\/h2>\n

1. Lack of Training\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The top cause of lost driver productivity is related to training.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA lack of driver training is the first productivity killer, followed by limited driving experience. Drivers need to understand the intricacies of the equipment they operate. With the changes in technology over the years in commercial vehicles, many drivers feel as though they can simply operate the equipment the way they always have. The advancements in truck technology require drivers to have open minds in learning new techniques to optimize the trucks efficiently,\u201d said Dan Klebba, general manager of PacLease Grand Prairie and Fort Worth, Texas.<\/span><\/p>\n

Often, the driver in a typical vocational fleet is not just a driver; they\u2019re likely a skilled technician or frontline employee who performs a unique job function.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn this scenario, it is usually a challenge for drivers to juggle tasks associated with fleet vehicles and the requirements of their particular role in the field. For example, every hour they spend tending to their vehicle \u2014 taking it for service, conducting necessary inspections, completing registration paperwork, etc. \u2014 is an hour not spent focusing on their primary job function. And for some organizations, this problem is significantly amplified if employees possess a niche or highly specialized skill,\u201d said Ed Powell, manager, Business Intelligence and Analytics for ARI.<\/span><\/p>\n

2. Unsafe Driving\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Unsafe driving habits and behaviors, such as distracted driving, have the potential to be disastrous for driver productivity levels.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAccording to a survey conducted by insurance comparison company The Zebra, 37.1% of people surveyed agreed that distractions on a mobile device impaired their ability to drive safely, and 28.6% of people surveyed admitted to doing it. The knock-on vehicle downtime following an accident also leads to lost driver productivity. Regardless of whether the driver was injured or not, the vehicle would need to be off the road to have the necessary repairs made,\u201d said James Brand, product manager for LeasePlan USA.<\/span><\/p>\n

A driver incurring moving violations, at risk for preventable accidents, or unfamiliar with fleet policy may be at risk for self-inflicted downtime. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFleet policy, if not the law, may prevent a driver from operating a vehicle as violations accrue, and depending on the violation. Drivers at risk of accidents or in an accident are at risk of downtime from injury as well as company policy that may deem the driver a risk,\u201d said Alec Walker, senior data strategist for Donlen.<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Mechanical Issues<\/span><\/h3>\n

When fleet vehicles aren\u2019t up and running, neither are their drivers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFactors such as accidents, breakdowns, and mechanical issues that require repairs incur costly downtime that inhibits drivers from doing their jobs and serving customers. In turn, this hurts revenue, driver satisfaction, and customer satisfaction,\u201d said Nate Niese, director, national client partnerships for Mike Albert.<\/span><\/p>\n

Proper maintenance is essential to ensure vehicles stay on the road and operate safely.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cMechanical issues affecting downtime can range from the lack of preventive maintenance to operating and running vehicles far beyond their realistic expectations in terms of age and mileage,\u201d said Jeremy Green, sales & marketing manager for Union Leasing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For drivers, roadside breakdowns, as well as unexpected traffic and congestion, can lead to lost productivity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOther causes include drivers not following their designated route or being stopped at DOT stations for not meeting DOT standards,\u201d said Todd Elmore, corporate rental manager for Enterprise Truck Rental.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

4. Inefficient Processes\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Drivers also lose productivity due to inefficient processes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the areas where this is most prevalent is in logging miles and hours for compliance. Vehicle downtime is another area of concern, especially in the case of trucks that are upfit with specialized equipment. With specialized equipment or vocational vehicles, maintenance shops may need to order special parts, which can significantly extend downtime,\u201d said Lawrence Liu, senior fleet consultant for Merchants Fleet.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tedious tasks that are not directly related to the job divert the driver\u2019s time and focus from getting the job done and keeping customers happy. According to Niese of Mike Albert, these tasks include:<\/span><\/p>\n