Getting newly-hired truck drivers engaged in “positive feedback” loops early on in their tenure with motor carriers is critical to preventing what’s being dubbed “hire and retire syndrome” or “early turnover” within 90 days, research firm Stay Metrics suggests.
Based on its analysis of 24,000 drivers employed at 80 carriers using its loyalty and engagement programs, Stay Metrics found that out of 100 drivers, 33 will leave 90 days after being hired, with 22 leaving by the 180-day mark.
To prevent such early turnover, Tim Hindes, CEO of Stay Metrics, explained in a conference call with reporters that trucking company “messaging” needs to be aligned between the recruiting and orientation stages of driver hiring, as well is into the “operation” phase, as a bad first impression is hard to overcome.
“Driver recruits come with a set of pre-arrival expectations, competencies, and experiences that will be shaped by what company says the job will be like,” added Timothy Judge, the firm’s director of research, during the conference call, which was hosted by Stifel Financial.
“Then they look at the interaction of what they thought the job would be like, what they were prepared to deal with, and then what it really is like; that is the ‘encounter’ phase,” he explained.
“Then go through this metamorphosis from their pre-arrival mentality to reality. It happens very early and [that] influences their productivity, commitment and turnover rates down the line,” Judge stressed. “First impressions really matter. A lot of people have a really harsh reality shock: job thought getting into not what presented with, sometimes due to their own false impressions. When that happens there is a big reality shock and expectations gap.”
During this “shock and surprise” period, many new drivers think a lot about whether stay or not. “If they quit, they will quit fairly early,” he said. “That is why turnover so high in the early stage of employment.”
To read the full story, visit http://fleetowner.com/driver-management-resource-center/engagement-key-lowering-early-driver-turnover-rates.