Using the trucking industry as a guide for how to engage with remote workers

America is covered in paved surfaces, and on every one of them, you will find the hardest working group on the road and those in control of the most effective tools for our economy: the professional driver and his rig. These unsung heroes of the road have long been the original and ultimate remote workers.

While many people associate remote work with choosing between home and office, few represent the true meaning of working remotely, as do professional drivers and the pioneers of remote work: the trucking industry.

The group who are considered professional drivers have always lived this lifestyle. This presents an opportunity for industries, primarily trucking, to learn from their experiences and contribute to the broader remote work conversation. It’s essential, however, to address the unique challenges faced by this experienced workforce and take advantage of opportunities to develop innovative solutions that will help this industry evolve into the future.

As tools of the trade have remained generally the same, the workforce’s talent and responsibilities have increased due to valuable hands-on experience. But trucking is not immune to change, nor can it ignore the introduction of new technology. The emphasis on connectivity and the reasoning behind being connected is becoming paramount to how employees consider entering a long-term working relationship and who they decide to work for.

Are truck drivers remote workers?

According to a Harvard Business Review report, while 62% of employees believe that working remotely positively influences their engagement, a mere 5% express the likelihood of staying with their current company in the long term. This statistic underscores the importance for companies to elevate their engagement strategies with remote employees proactively. Any attempt to be collaborative and successfully connected becomes even more challenging when introducing the term “long haul.”

A strategic and sustained commitment to remote teams is essential to address this challenge effectively, but the key lies in innovative, even non-traditional incentives and virtual gatherings. Investing in remote employees’ long-term success and engagement mitigates the turnover risk. It cultivates a content and highly productive workforce, even in the realm of long-haul remote work scenarios. Within this comprehensive strategy, particularly in the trucking industry, investing in engagement platforms fosters connectivity and instills a profound sense of value among professional drivers. This aligns seamlessly with the broader mission of improving engagement in a tech-driven era.

The successful implementation of this strategy allows a driver to be seen and heard, creating a stronger sense of belonging within a company.

Navigating the challenges of truck drivers

As the earliest adopters of remote work, truck drivers confront unique challenges that underscore the necessity for proactive engagement and supportive communication. As evidenced by increased absenteeism, higher turnover rates, and safety incidents, disengagement poses a considerable threat to the industry’s general health. Research conducted by Dale Carnegie in 2020 demonstrates that companies with engaged teams outperform disengaged ones by an impressive 202%. With its actively dispersed workforce, the trucking industry exemplifies the struggle to connect and motivate a remote workforce.

Embracing the remote work revolution

Technology is crucial in retaining a remote workforce, especially as tires roll non-stop throughout the country. Working on the road is uniquely different than working from the road and pushes the importance of technology to the top of the list. Working on the road provides flexibility, but its success hinges on addressing feelings of isolation and detachment. Combating loneliness becomes paramount for truck drivers spending extended periods on the road. Platforms that entertain, educate, and engage bring comfort and make remote workers feel valued and important.

Creating communication that lasts

Providing a personalized employee experience is a game changer when trying to elevate the quality and regularity of engagement. Understanding how your team prefers receiving information and structuring learning opportunities that accommodate flexible schedules is essential. This understanding helps tailor a driver experience that caters to your team’s individual preferences and ongoing needs.

Creating engagement and motivating a fleet of drivers goes beyond traditional factors such as pay, promotions, recognition, and appreciation. Assuming drivers are naturally passionate about their work is insufficient to sustain their engagement. Employers should instead focus on recognizing exceptional performance, sharing vital company-related updates, and fostering a fast-moving community through innovative platforms. These actions contribute to a positive work environment and make it more likely for drivers to be more effective remotely and to feel valued and committed in the long run.

Strategies for effective engagement

Leverage technology for connection: Dedicated communication channels keep employees informed, engaged, and part of the larger team, regardless of location.
Incentivize and recognize: Recognition for performance, sharing fleet news, and fostering community through platforms that contribute to improved employee retention and recruitment.
Nurture social bonds: Despite physical distances, fostering team connections through virtual activities, mentorship programs, and occasional in-person events is vital.
Demonstrate genuine care: Building meaningful relationships involves genuine concern for employee well-being, maintaining a healthy work-life balance, and showing interest in their personal and professional growth.
Enhance learning opportunities: Continuous learning is a cornerstone of engagement. Investing in engaging platforms that provide on-the-go company news and information, industry education, and interactive training is necessary.
Provide feedback: Demonstrating responsiveness to employee feedback communicates value and keeps drivers engaged from any remote location.

Unlocking the full potential of a workforce that defines “remote work” demands a strategic and flexible approach with the distinct needs of truck drivers taking center stage. The commitment to remote employee engagement isn’t just a theory; it's the key to cultivating a workforce that's both dedicated and thoroughly content.

The trucking industry, a hardworking workforce that is committed to a remote lifestyle is a unique group but like any other… when given the tools to perform and to excel and grow professionally and personally, they will remain happy and healthy, and continue to be the definition of Remote Workers for the long haul.

Lance Platt is the CEO of EpicVue, a company that has taken an innovative approach to improving the quality of life for drivers in the trucking industry by providing in-cab satellite TV with entertainment options packaged specifically for fleets. His knowledge and understanding of the trucking industry’s plight to recruit and retain truck drivers is viewed through his roots in Appreciative Inquiry, a change methodology that uses the lens of "what works".

Platt has developed a close relationship with the trucking industry through EpicVue’s sponsorship of the Highway Angel program, a program designed to recognize truck drivers who have performed incredible acts of heroism while driving America’s highways and the Best Fleets to Drive For Award, an honor bestowed upon fleets that demonstrate exemplary management skills. He has the pulse on driver retention issues and how to give drivers the “at home” amenities while on the road.

Platt serves on the DIRECTV Dealer Advisory Council and is also the President of Groove Entertainment Technologies, an industry leader in providing in-room technology solutions to the hospitality industry.