Fleet driver incentives - the key to good fleet management

Your drivers have untapped potential. Their willing cooperation in your fleet management strategy can improve both the safety and efficiency of your fleet while also creating happy employees. 

All too often, drivers are simply expected to follow the rules and then reprimanded or penalised for breaking them without further intervention. This approach has several problems, one of which is that poorly performing drivers don't receive appropriate feedback or coaching that explains why they are underperforming, reducing their chances of long-term success. 

One way to counteract this is to have fleet management systems in place to monitor driver behaviour, but this should be seen as only one piece of the puzzle. Achieving tangible, long-term results requires more. It requires buy-in from drivers and for them to understand and support your goals as part of their own future success. 

Luckily, most drivers want to do well and, therefore, respond favourably to engagement. This approach can be strengthened by adding a reward component. Driver incentives, whether monetary, physical, or public recognition, have been proven to build morale and motivate drivers to keep on improving. 

In-Vehicle Monitoring System 

Many fleet operators currently use Powerfleet's In-Vehicle Monitoring Systems (IVMS) to improve overall performance. Some pair their IVMS with our driver engagement app, which allows drivers to track their progress and engage in healthy competition by comparing stats with other drivers. 

However, fleet operators may find it sensible to use solutions like these, but drivers who think they are under the watchful eye of a "Big Brother" system often resist the idea. 

Fleet Driver Engagement & Incentive Programme 

One of Powerfleet's customers, a leading tour and bus charter company, decided to challenge their drivers' perceptions by introducing a driver incentive programme. Part of the programme involved placing TV screens in the drivers' lounge, which showed everything from the location of each motor coach to occurrences of harsh braking or excessive idling. 

Soon drivers started to understand how the data collected through monitoring their behaviour can help the company improve performance and profitability. They also saw how managing those aspects could keep them safe on the road. 

Leading by Example 

From there, the company set up an incentive programme that would reward drivers based on fuel savings. Monthly driver reports were used to determine the top performers. These top performers were subsequently paid out cash bonuses on a quarterly basis –  a win-win situation that saw a massive improvement in driver behaviour as well as lessened fuel consumption. 

The Benefits of Fleet Driver Incentives 

The moral of the story is that a driver incentive programme that offers the right tools and incentives to improve drivers' behaviour on and off the road can strengthen fleet performance and your company's bottom line by reducing fuel consumption, collisions with associated costs, insurance premiums, and more.