Driver Retention Lessons from the new Best Fleets to Drive For Hall of Famers

The Best Fleets to Drive For program has grown considerably since 2009, when CarriersEdge and the Truckload Carriers Association launched this annual program that recognizes the best for-hire companies for drivers. This year, two new fleets, TransPro Freight Systems and Garner Trucking, were added to the Best Fleets Hall of Fame, which now includes 10 fleets.

What's the Hall of Fame? As more and more drivers nominate their companies for this program, it’s become increasingly difficult to narrow down a list of the Top 20 program winners and select two overall winners for both large and small-sized carrier categories from within that list. This year, we received 165 company nominations from drivers.

With increased participation and so many quality fleets nominated, in many cases, the difference between a fleet ranking 20th and a fleet just missing the Top 20 may be 1% or less in the final scoring. It’s that close, and that tough, to determine program winners.

It’s why last year we introduced the Best Fleets to Drive For Hall of Fame, which recognizes high-performing fleets that have made it into the Top 20 for 10 consecutive years, or seven consecutive years plus an overall award.

This showcases the best of the best. These fleets are consistently innovating and leading the industry when it comes to programs for drivers. Fleets that do make it into the hall of fame need to requalify each year to maintain their place by continuing to demonstrate excellence in their programs and driver satisfaction scores.

Meet the two latest inductees into the Hall of Fame and some of their secrets to success:

Garner Trucking

Since 2017, Garner Trucking of Findlay, Ohio, has been a regular on the Top 20 Best Fleets to Drive For list and was last year’s recipient of the Best Overall Small Carrier Award. This year, Garner picked up right where they left off, placing in the Top 20 again to become eligible for the Hall of Fame.

With a driver satisfaction score of 97%, just shy of the highest satisfaction score of 97.90% recorded this year, Garner has done an excellent job of creating an industry-leading workplace culture.

Here are some of the things that caught our attention that make Garner a Best Fleet:

• Driver benefits begin on the first day of employment and drivers get seven paid holidays per year.
• Garner has a robust new entrants program, including an apprenticeship program.
• Driver orientation involves all departments, which helps support good company culture, and drivers are assigned mentors to help adjust to the company.
• A driver advisory board allows drivers to give the company feedback on decisions that affect their job, including truck specifications.
• The company offer sfinancial and legal assistance and has a private financial counselor available for drivers.
• Garner has several driver and staff reward programs to recognize new, experienced, safe, and productive drivers.
• The company is involved in multiple charitable organizations and host social events for drivers and their families throughout the year.
• Garner has extensive health and wellness coaching options and have gyms available on-site at its terminal.

TransPro

From being a Fleet to Watch in 2013, to 10 consecutive years as a Top 20 Best Fleets to Drive For winner, TransPro has earned its spot in the Hall of Fame through its commitment to continual improvement to create a better workplace culture for its drivers. This year, the Milton, Ontario-based company had a 96.8% driver satisfaction score, well above the minimum to qualify as a Top 20 winner.

Here are a few reasons TransPro is a great company for drivers to work for and now a Best Fleets Hall of Famer:

• TransPro celebrates all the religious holidays that their drivers observe.
• The company hosts weekly barbecues from May to September, where company managers cook for drivers while the general manager makes the rounds, chatting and getting to know drivers better.
• TransPro offers free inspections to help independent contractors catch mechanical issues early.
• Drivers rate every trip. That information is shared with the company’s general manager and sales team so they’re more aware of how drivers are being treated.
• A comprehensive natural disaster plan assists drivers on the road when a crisis strikes.
• TransPro has ongoing development programs for its management teams, which helps leaders continuously evolve business practices, including driver programs.
• The company offers competitive pay, and pays drivers above the industry average for orientation and training.
• Driver safety is a top priority. TransPro uses the latest safety technologies and has several short and long-term safety initiatives in place to support operations.
• The company is involved with many local charities and community projects.

It’s no easy feat to become a member of the Best Fleets to Drive For Hall of Fame. It takes years of success in the program, backed by continual improvement to create a better workplace culture for drivers. Garner Trucking and TransPro have a track record of doing just that, which is why they’re now members of the hall of fame.

About the Author

Mark Murrell is president of CarriersEdge, a provider of online driver training for the trucking industry and co-creator of Best Fleets to Drive For, an annual evaluation of the best workplaces in the North American trucking industry produced in partnership with the Truckload Carriers Association. This article was authored and edited according to HDT editorial standards and style to provide useful information to our readers. Opinions expressed may not reflect those of HDT.