The Importance of Trust
Trust is inherent in our society. We trust that we will wake up in the morning. We trust our partner will not harm us. We trust our family will always be there for us in times of need. We trust that our fellow drivers will not hit us when we leave our driveway or place of work. As Professional Drivers, trust is critical to the company/driver relationship. Drivers trust the company will support them when they are in trouble. Drivers trust that the company will have their back when making a judgement call about the safe operation of their truck in questionable weather conditions. Drivers trust that the company will follow through on the promises that are presented during the hiring process.
Trust is a fragile concept and once broken is difficult to rebuild. How do we protect and preserve trust? How do we build trust in our organizations? How do we ensure that trust is not broken? It is our responsibility to the professional driver that we are very clear about expectations the company has so they can fulfill their responsibilities to the best of their ability. Are the drivers ever asked about their expectations? Drivers’ expectations can vary widely based on the individual. Some drivers just want to get paid fairly for the work given. That is a low bar that some companies still cannot meet. Some drivers have an inherently distrustful nature due to past experiences with other companies. Some drivers have had such bad experiences that they cannot believe it when a company tries to do right by them.
How do organizations overcome this distrust? Most drivers just want clear expectations and want to do a good job for the company. Of course, as in any sector of society, you will have those that take advantage of every loop hole and do all they can to get out of work or skate by on the bare minimum. Some drivers will put little effort into their jobs because they don’t see the value in maximum effort for a company that they feel does not support them. Some drivers also don’t trust that they will be recognized for their hard work.
How do we create organizations that support professional drivers and create an environment where drivers feel supported and trust is part of that equation. We need to treat drivers as human beings and not just revenue generators for the company. They have families, interests, and hobbies. They have likes and dislikes. They like to communicate in different ways. They want to be seen as a name and not a number.
In our industry, companies advertise on this platform. Drive for XYZ company where you are a name and not a number. How many companies take the time to learn about their drivers? As a former professional driver, I can tell you that knowing the company cares for you and will support you is the intangible benefit of driving for anyone. Without that trust, there is no bond of loyalty to the company.
It is our responsibility to build that trust that will lead to satisfied and loyal employees. Keep notes on your drivers so you can ask them about the things that matter to them outside of work. Support the charities they care about. Make sure they have the tools they need to be successful. They can feel the care that the company does or does not feel for them. Satisfaction leads to greater safety compliance and driver retention and all companies in our industry need a little more of that.