Turning Jobs Into Careers: Keys to Employee Retention in Trucking

As a fourth-generation company, we truly understand the importance of long-term satisfied employees. As we have welcomed the fifth generation into our lives, I wanted to share some insights into what we have found to be keys for success in our industry for employee retention. As a company, we have a core belief around creating careers rather than just jobs.

Benefits Packages

We are in an economic period where many businesses are looking at ways of cutting costs to maintain the bottom line. A line item that has been under considerable pressure is the topic of employee benefits packages. As an industry, we have watched a slow erosion of benefits packages and understand the anxiety this can cause in employee households.

At Munden, we have taken a contrarian approach and have been steadily improving the quality of our benefits packages for our employees and their families. The importance of benefits can be easily overlooked, but it holds considerable weight in why a potential employee considers coming to work for you.

Yes, it costs more as an employer to increase employee benefits, but the increased investment in employee benefits is far less than the costs associated with having to recruit and train new employees as a result of losing quality staff to other opportunities that provide better benefits.

Retirement Savings Plans

As business owners, we often think about our eventual retirement, succession plans, and exit strategies. These same concerns are with all of your employees. Working with your staff to help them prepare for a successful and stress-free retirement goes a long way in developing a stable and happy workforce.

It takes planning and preparation for employees to enjoy their retirement years. While the burden might be on employees to save enough for retirement, at Munden we believe employers should share in the responsibility.

We have worked with our providers to make retirement savings plans available for employees in our organization. An employee retirement plan can be the backbone of your benefits package and an essential ingredient of a positive company culture that increases employees' general well-being.

Hourly Pay for Professional Drivers and Overtime

Overtime for professional drivers has been a contentious issue for years. Many employers have used creative ways to skirt the requirements for paying overtime in the trucking industry. At Munden, we look at overtime for our truck drivers the same way we do with any position in our business.

If you work more than the normal legislated daily hours as a driver, you are entitled to overtime. This makes a difference in how drivers view working extra hours and can have a substantial positive impact on their annual income.

Using Technology in Your Workplace

When you hear the words innovation and technology, it might not conjure images of trucking and heavy-duty mechanical work, but maybe it should. We have seen significant innovation and use of technology in our industry over the past decade, and Munden has been an early adopter and advocate for innovation throughout all aspects of our company.

Our drivers and mechanics were among the first to use ELDs in Canada. One look in our mechanical shop and you will see service techs working from iPads and Chromebooks. Technology is here to stay, and the quicker you can help your employees use these tools, the sooner it can start making their jobs easier.

We find a collaborative approach to bringing in technology works best. Involve employees and team leaders in the decision-making process. Assess available solutions and choose technology that is user-friendly and measurable.

Safety Is More Than Lip Service

Safety first is a popular phrase, but how many of us really practice what we preach? How often do you consider safety issues for your drivers and mechanics? Have you checked your safety practices lately? Are they up to date? Are they still relevant to your current processes?

When it comes down to it, there is more to business than the bottom line. Our employees rely on us to provide a safe environment for them to earn a living. They are our most valuable assets, and their physical welfare should be our top priority.

At Munden, we know that employees understand the difference between lip service and actual commitment to safety plans, training, and equipment. If you want long-term career employees, a big step is to ensure you put their safety first every day.

Training and Advancement from Within

Help your employees outline a potential career path within the organization so they can better visualize their future at the company. Identify specific milestones for achievement and the supporting resources employees will likely need along the way.

Establishing a formal mentoring program might be one of the smartest moves a company can make. For us, our involvement in bringing up apprentice mechanics through SkilledTradesBC and our work with the BCTA and CTA in improving the image of the driver community have been rewarding for the business and for the people we help grow within the industry.

Hard work is a prerequisite for career advancement, but that does not mean committing to an endless series of lengthy workdays. Encourage employees to work smart, maximize efficiency, and leave time and energy for their non-work interests.

What You Can Expect

Long-term employee loyalty begins with a commitment to continuously assessing your operation and practices and striving to create an environment where employees thrive. At Munden, we have regular meetings with team leads to get feedback on how we are doing as an organization. We encourage feedback and open dialogue.

If you are interested in a career with our team, visit mundengroup.ca or send us an email at admin@mundengroup.ca.