NACFE Thanks All Drivers for Their Hard Work

From Executive Director Mike Roeth

Sunday marks the beginning of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week. Originally conceived by the American Trucking Associations, it is a time when we honor the nation’s truck drivers who currently number about 3.5 million.

It’s great that we take a week to honor the hard work truck drivers do; in fact, we would not have the many necessities or the things we desire without them. It is probably something we should do more than one week a year.

Drivers are vital to a fleet’s success and play a huge role in the fleet’s fuel economy. The seven drivers that competed in the first Run on Less in 2017 are excellent examples of what’s possible when drivers are committed to driving with fuel efficiency in mind.

But beyond contributing to great fuel economy, drivers can help fleets determine which technologies make sense. I suggest involving drivers in your technology decision-making process. They can provide real-world insight into operational challenges that might be solved by changing to a given technology solution.

Ultimately the success or failure of a technology depends a great deal on the driver. If the driver deploys that technology properly, it will perform as designed. That is why, in addition to seeking driver input, fleets need to invest in training drivers on how to use the new technology to its fullest.

The trucking industry is in a time of great transformation, and having input from a wide range of sources — including drivers — will result in better decision-making.

The NACFE team thanks all drivers for the hard work they do every day often in challenging conditions. And we especially appreciate the drivers that have dedicated themselves to improving freight efficiency.

If you’d like to get these insights sent to your inbox, click here to receive NACFE’s monthly newsletter.