What motivates and engages drivers?

[thenortherner]

I've worked in warehousing for the past 7 years since leaving uni. I've worked my way from FLM through varying different roles, up to my current role of Operations Manager. All of these roles have been warehoused operation based rather than Transport.

I'm now looking to make the move into a Logistics Manager position. As part of an assessment this Friday I've got to do a presentation based on 'how I'd build an engaged and motivated team' in Transport. For me, this isn't just relate to building a team of managers, more about a wider team including the drivers.

So I'm looking for any useful help or suggestions. What motivates and engages you in your job? What p*sses you off? If you are / were in a management position, what would you look to do / currently do to make this happen?

Cheers.

[Willy Nilly]

You need to do some time on the road so you know what you are dealing with better.

[Willy Nilly]

Just to add....

once in a while, when the boss is away, my number gets given to transport managers because I will have to load their lorries.

Now then, if you ring me and ASK if I will load ONE lorry on a Sunday (which means making a special trip into work when I do A LOT of over time anyway) DO NOT SEND 2 lorries.

When you ring me up and ask what time I will load to and I tell you that I want to be pedalling home by 6pm, DO NOT send a lorry in at 6pm and expect to be loaded. I said I was going home at 6pm, not will start loading the last lorry at 6pm.

When scheduling lorries to be loaded on to a premises that starts work at 7:30am, don't send 4 lorries in at 5pm, particularly when you have asked the person who is loading what time they work until an were told that they normally work until 5pm but on this occasion, to help you out, will work until 6pm.

tts.

[cossy400]

Willy Nilly said:

You need to do some time on the road so you know what you are dealing with better.

This 100000000000000000000000 andf as many zeros you can imagine on the end of it.

Good planners are worth there weight in gold and the best ive come across are the one that have been out on the road and seen and done the job.

Example: We had a bloke doing our routing off the top of his head, we ve now got a computer and some useless critter in charge of it.

I got a 9 hour run Thurs according to said computer I should of been at my last drop for 4pm, I didn't even make my last drop, resulting in a failed delivery.

And I will add its not just me, when I told him it was very unlikely id make it, his reply was computer says you will.

Expect abuse from drivers and just because its an inch on your map doesn't mean "its not that far"

[thenortherner]

Cheers for the replies.

The planners are, in general, very good. A lot of the first line managers are ex drivers. With the operation I'm working in being supermarket deliveries, the routes don't really ever change much. From everything I've seen, I haven't come across the 'computer says yes' scenario yet.

What I'm planning to do tomorrow is catch some of the drivers and ask them the same question as I've asked you guys. Then what I'll present relates to the depot.

I might have a chance to do a run this week depending on how things go. Thanks for the suggestion.

[reckless st]

dont say" you will do this "to drivers we are human too ask if it can be done ,respect your drivers, it,ll go a long way (man managment skills will get the best from your team) give and take

[Terminator X]

Motivation is rarely about money imho. Pay people a reasonable wage and they will be happy. You need to listen to and understand your team and appreciate that everyone is different. What motivates one will not motivate another. The best teams are almost like family ie they will always do the right thing for you even at a cost to themselves because they know you'd do the same for them when it comes to the crunch.

TX.

Edit - example using chap above, if he came in on a Sunday to help out I'd try and return the favour somehow eg day off, meal with gf paid for by company etc.

Edited by Terminator X on Sunday 8th September 22:07

[s p a c e m a n]

If you want to motivate and engage a driver make sure that they want to tell you if they can think of a way to make their run easier and quicker, that they're an important part in the planning of the jobs. They're the ones who are most up to date with the job especially if they have regular runs, you don't have to take their ideas on board but at least listen and involve them a bit. Most of the drivers on my firm tell each other about how much of a stupid idea something is, but don't tell the office because they won't change things and the driver won't get any recognition for it.

I can think of obvious easy ways I could have knocked 3 hours off of my run today so would have been able to do another job, but I can't think of a single reason why I should let the office know. I won't get any thanks for it so I might as well spend those 3 hours browsing PH whilst sitting in a queue, if they did change things around they would probably try and get me to squeeze a 4 hour job into the 3 hours.

Think I'm going to go back to being an owner driver again soon, this wage monkey stuff is making me realise why so many drivers are deranged psychopaths

[thenortherner]

Thanks for the feedback guys. The presentation is Friday. I'll let you know how I get on.