Safety In An Aging Workforce: How to encourage safe practices amongst veteran drivers.

Aging workforce. One of the most critical challenges we face in the transportation industry. With a majority of drivers moving steadily towards the retirement age, managers and companies are facing challenges. Recruitment has become more difficult and the appeal of the trucking industry isn’t quite reaching the younger generation, like it used too. The question becomes, how can managers and companies utilize the workforce they have without burning out the veterans?

While the solution is complex, there are things to be done. Below we’ve listed some steps you can take to ensure the longevity of your fleet while retaining safety. 

1. Continuous Training. We’d all like to think we know how to do what we do, but skills can get rusty and safety regulations and technology can change. Implementing continuous training for your drivers no matter their age or experience is a great way to keep skills sharp.
2. Regular Driver Evaluations. Conducting driver evaluations on an annual or semi-annual basis encourages drivers to stay up to date on procedures and maintain required capabilities. This also provides you with a way to assess your fleet and assure that everyone is operating at peak performance. If you identify knowledge gaps early, you can guide your drivers to improvement before those gaps increase. 
3. Listen & Communicate. Opening the door for active and honest communication builds trust within your team and allows you to keep tabs on issues before they spiral. Prevention is often the best course of action and open communication contributes to that. 
   
   

The issue of the aging workforce is an ongoing problem but with regulations, vigilant monitoring, and consistent training, you can protect yourself and your fleet while investing in everyone’s future.