Your Drivers Are Your Most Important Asset

by Kristine on December 7, 2022

Blog #31 Your Drivers Are Your Most Important Asset

Automotive industry employees are always on the move. Whether it's in a vehicle or on foot, you're hustling to get that next job done and keep your dealership running smoothly. In order to do this, you need a team of people who can make sure that each task is completed to the best of their ability while still maintaining the highest level of customer service possible—your drivers!

It's no secret that recruiting and retaining great drivers is one of the most important aspects of running an transportation service. But what if we told you that there are actually a number of reasons why your drivers are your dealership’s best asset? Let's take a look at three of them below:

  1. Drivers Can Keep Your Fleet Running Smoothly: When there are a lot of vehicles in your fleet, it can be easy for things to get out of hand. Drivers who understand how everything works together will be able to help keep things running smoothly by managing the maintenance schedule and making sure that each vehicle is performing at its best.
  2. Drivers Can Provide Quality Feedback: Your drivers are not only the ones driving your vehicles around all day; they're also the ones interacting with your customers firsthand. This means that they know what works and what doesn't when it comes to customer service, as well as what their customers' needs are on a day-to-day basis (which saves time).
  3. Drivers represent your dealership's brand: Your drivers are the face of your dealership. They represent your brand and how you want to be perceived by customers. Drivers that are on time, professional and friendly can help build loyalty with customers and encourage them to come back again in the future.

How to Improve Driver Performance and Retention for Dealerships

Retaining drivers is a major concern for dealerships. It's an industry-wide problem, and it's something that can cost you thousands of dollars in lost revenue.

To keep your employees happy and engaged, you need to give them the tools they need to perform at their best. But what are those tools? What does a good training program look like? And how can you make sure your drivers are getting what they need from their dealership manager?

Today will walk you through everything you need to know to improve driver retention for your dealership: from what makes a good training program to how to manage employee performance.

First things first: why is driver retention so important? It comes down to the fact that drivers are one of your most valuable assets. They have direct contact with customers, which means they're key in increasing sales and customer satisfaction. And while it might seem like an easy job—you drive around all day!—we all know it's not as simple as it sounds (and if you don't believe us, ask any of your drivers).

Drivers have an impact on your bottom line, which means they deserve some attention from management when it comes time to decide whether or not to retain them. You might think that driver retention is a simple matter of keeping your drivers happy, but this isn't always the case. In fact, one of the biggest mistakes companies make when it comes to employee retention is focusing too much on perks and benefits instead of training programs.

If you want to improve your driver retention, here are some tips that can help:

  1. Recognize the value of your drivers: Drivers are often the most valuable asset of a company, but they can also be one of the hardest to retain. This is why it's important to recognize their value. When it comes time for your drivers to decide whether or not they want to stay on with your company, they'll be looking at what other companies offer in terms of pay, benefits and perks. If you're offering less than these companies, chances are good that your drivers will leave.
  2. Train your drivers: Driver training is an important part of keeping your employees happy and productive, but it's also one of the easiest ways to improve driver retention. If you have a good training program in place, your drivers will feel as if they're being properly trained and prepared for their jobs every day. This can help them feel more secure about their jobs and less likely to leave them behind for another company that offers better training programs.
  3. Make sure they feel appreciated for their hard work: One of the best ways to keep your drivers happy is by making sure that they feel appreciated for their hard work. This can be as simple as sending them occasional thank-you cards or emails, letting them know that you appreciate all that they do for your company. It's also important to recognize their achievements and let them know how much you value their contributions. For example, celebrate a commendation from a customer. 
  4. Keep them informed about what's going on with the company and their job.: It's also important to keep your drivers informed about what's going on with the company and their job. This can help them feel more invested in what they do and make them more likely to stay with you for a long time.
  5. Offer a flexible schedule so they can balance their work and their life outside of work.: You can offer a flexible schedule so they can balance their work and their life outside of work. This will also help them feel more invested in what they do and make them more likely to stay with you for a long time. Encourage your drivers to take breaks whenever they need one: It's important to ensure that your drivers are taking enough breaks during their shifts.
  6. Create an environment that feels safe and comfortable for them to bring up issues or concerns without fear of retaliation or being blamed for anything negative that happens in the future because of this conversation today!

Integrating driver management software

A driver management program is an essential tool for any dealership. In addition to providing employees with the tools they need to manage their drivers, it also helps them retain the great drivers who are crucial to your business.

By integrating driver management software, like Quickride, into their operations program, managers will be able to increase the overall performance of their shuttle or fleet.

Quickride is a tool that helps dealerships manage their drivers and their vehicles. It helps them keep track of who's where and what they're doing. It also helps them track vehicle maintenance and repairs, so that the vehicles are always ready for service when needed.

By integrating Quickride into your operations program, you'll be able to:

  • better manage your employees and make sure they get where they need to be on time
  • track vehicle maintenance and repairs for greater efficiency
  • monitor driver behavior for safety reasons

If you already have a driver management program in place but aren't sure if it's doing everything it could for your dealership, don't hesitate to contact us at Quickride today! We'll be happy to help you evaluate whether or not your existing solution is giving you all of its benefits or if there are other solutions out there that would be better suited for your needs.

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Conclusion

Drivers are the secret sauce to your success!

Your drivers are your most important asset. They are the ones that deliver the product, they are the ones that ensure your customers have a positive experience, and they are the ones that keep your business running smoothly.

You want to retain these great drivers by giving them all the tools they need to succeed. This means giving them opportunities for growth and development, as well as compensation and benefits packages that show you value their hard work.

When you keep your drivers happy, everyone wins: you get more satisfied customers, more repeat business from customers who were impressed by their service experience, and happier employees who feel appreciated for their contributions to your success.

Topics: customer experience, dealership shuttle service, benefits of a shuttle service, dealership management software, customer retention, fixedops, safe drivers