Daily challenges faced by today’s truck drivers

Time is Money

In the modern world, time is a precious commodity, and deadlines rule many people’s lives especially in the transport business. Goods have to be collected and delivered to meet a company’s exacting requirements, often because their customers demand a high level of service.

Demanding Consumer Society

The modern ‘On demand’ consumer society is at the heart of this challenge.  Companies aim to hold minimum levels of stock to reduce costs, but consumers expect their latest purchases delivered in an instant. Often this becomes a vicious circle; the more efficient the supply chain becomes, the greater the demand for even better service.                        

The Customer is King!

The huge growth in on-line retailing has played a significant part in recent years but many consumers have little concept of how the goods get to their door once they click the ‘Buy now’ button. Other industries have followed this lead and use the speed of delivery as a big selling point when trying to win new business. The relative ease of shipping goods across the globe has had an enormous impact on international trade, and efficient road transport is an essential part of this process. Now truck operators find that their customers demand strict delivery deadlines, even for the most basic commodities. The supplier and haulier jump because the customer is king. Many modern businesses are governed by KPIs (key performance indicators) and amassing this information has become a big priority. Countless drivers can give examples of being told to deliver an urgent load to a customer and under no circumstances be late because the customer is desperate for the goods, only to find that they have a warehouse full of the same product gathering dust!    

Managing Personal Stress                      

These deadlines create considerable pressure for truck operators, and ultimately it’s the truck drivers that are in the firing line, especially when things go wrong. Learning to deal with this additional responsibility can be stressful for some drivers, especially less experienced new recruits trying to create a good impression with a new employer. There is a fine line between doing your best and taking on too much responsibility. Staying within the law and prioritising road safety are the most important considerations. Coping with busy roads, working long shifts and being away from home for extended periods can take its toll, especially as we get older. Managing personal stress levels is the key to a better quality of life.  Taking work problems home only makes things worse.

Forewarned is Forearmed

A late delivery or a missed collection can be a serious issue for some businesses. Demanding customers may try to levy charges upon the haulier, but if the driver has done their best and other factors have conspired against them, nothing more can be done. Modern vehicle tracking systems should show the traffic office staff that an issue is developing. The sensible approach is to try and forewarn the customer that there is a problem instead of ignoring the predicament and heaping blame on the driver after the event. If the terms of the contract are that strict, think ahead and have contingency plans in place, or better still don’t agree to these terms unless the business is very lucrative. Sometimes large customers put far too much pressure on suppliers and hauliers just because they can, and in the long-term few operators can afford to absorb these additional costs.

Decisions, Decisions…                    

Most drivers' working lives are dominated by time constraints; many are beyond their control. Traffic delays, bad weather, delays tipping and loading all affect truck drivers far more than almost any other group of workers. Other factors, like night time restrictions on certain roads and weekend truck bans in certain European countries, also have an impact on the transport industry. An experienced driver planning their day and thinking ahead can make more efficient use of working and resting time and make life less stressful in the long run. Drivers’ hours’ regulations create the framework for the working day (or night) and the starting time of the next period of work is governed by the time the previous shift finishes. Take the example of a driver facing a five-hour journey to make a delivery the next morning. The truck is loaded by late afternoon, and the driver has two options. They can leave the vehicle at the depot and go home, but the journey home and the return to work is undertaken in the driver’s own time, and they will have to start in the early hours of the morning which can mean spending a relatively limited period at home. Alternatively, with three hours of potential duty/driving time available that day, it is sometimes best to run their time out, park in a suitable place, sleep in the truck and ultimately have more rest. They will still make the delivery on time starting at a more sensible time in the morning. Include other factors such as roads that are subject to heavy congestion in the morning rush hour, and the option of travelling part of the way the night before and getting clear of potential blackspots when the roads are quieter can make more sense.

Playing the Waiting Game                   

Probably the most frustrating situation for any driver, is when they have got up early and kept to a close schedule, arrived at the delivery/collection point dead on time and are kept waiting by the customer, often for considerable periods of time for no apparent reason.

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff                

Dealing with this situation is far from easy, believe me, I have tried over the years. The best policy is to try and appear totally unconcerned if told that you have to wait.  Don’t ask how long, just shrug and say no problem.

Have Your Say

Do you agree with Bob? What are your biggest challenges and frustrations when out on the road? Leave your comments below.