Good truck drivers are hard to find and retain these days. Ask any fleet manager and you will hear how European fleets are casting their nets further afield to recruit good drivers. Their qualifications often need updating or converting to be Euro-compliant, although large fleets gladly offer the necessary training and certification to these drivers in order to secure their services.

It seems like fleets have exhausted the global talent pool for drivers, so what else can they do? The secret to driver recruitment and retention may be much closer to home.

If you want someone to work for you, you give them what they want (as far as you can). And European fleets are realising that drivers simply want to drive. They don’t want to stop. They don’t want to have to diagnose problems or sort out repairs. They don’t want the inconvenience, the blame, or even the danger that comes from waiting at the side of the road after a breakdown. So drivers naturally prefer to work for fleets who are using technology to prevent such interruptions or risks.

The ability of TPMS to drastically reduce the chances of a tyre-related breakdown is often overlooked. With a simple sensor attached to the wheel rim, TPMS keeps both driver and fleet manager advised of the state of the tyres. Most tyre problems can be avoided because alerts provide enough warning to get the truck to a repair shop or garage in time.

The more sophisticated solutions (such as Goodyear TPMS) also include analytics software, which can spot less obvious issues before they become major problems. A very gradual decrease in pressure doesn’t mean you have to interrupt your journey. But it may be a sign of a small underlying problem, such as a hairline crack in the wheel rim or a faulty valve. Because analytics software looks for such signals, it gives fleets a chance to solve the problem next time the truck is back at base. And the driver doesn’t need to even be involved.

It’s impossible, however, to completely prevent tyre problems. The real world is full of hazards – but technology can help minimise the impact of those few inevitable breakdowns. Drivers may find it hard to explain what’s gone wrong with the truck or describe their location, especially if their native language is non-European. Fortunately, technology can do it for them.

TPMS and other telematics solutions can automatically locate the vehicle, enabling fleet management teams to quickly identify the nearest source of support. The drivers are not required to interpret any information, which can cause both delay and distress.

If you want to hire more drivers, you could simply pay more. But looking after your drivers by investing in technology to make their lives easier and safer – whilst also improving the performance of your fleet makes much more financial sense. In summary, technologies like TPMS can ease driver recruitment because drivers are more likely to work for a company that:

• Proves it cares for the safety of drivers and other road users
• Invests in well-maintained and monitored equipment
• Wants the driver to drive, not monitor and maintain the vehicle or wait while it is repaired. 

Also, don’t forget the other benefits of TPMS, i.e. ensuring correct inflation of tyres – which will maximise your fuel economy, thus driving down your costs AND your carbon emissions. So you keep your drivers and your accountants happy at the same time, and do your bit for the environment.  

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