As a trucking company, your drivers are the very heart of your company. You have nothing without them, giving you unique HR needs to address. Furthermore, there is a chronic shortage of qualified truck drivers, with established drivers retiring and many younger people not entering the profession.
Working with a professional employer organization (PEO) can help you improve your relationship with your drivers, as well as your loaders, office staff, and everyone else who keeps your company moving.
How PEOs Can Benefit Trucking Companies
PEOs Help Streamline Administrative Processes
One massive benefit of working with a PEO is that they can handle all of your routine human resources tasks. Many companies only outsource payroll, but a PEO can handle your payroll taxes and submit them for you, and they can also handle benefits administration and compliance.
If you choose a PEO with experience in the trucking industry, they can help you with rules such as driver hours and physicals. A PEO can help free up your in-house HR team to fulfill your drivers' needs and develop a work culture where everyone can thrive. It also ensures that the business owner does not spend time handling HR duties instead of conducting business operations, like meeting prospective customers. It frees up internal time so everyone can focus on growth.
They can also provide real-time support to drivers through a Human Resources Information System (HRIS) to give drivers ready access to their HR while on the road. PRO Resources offers an HRIS called PRO Online+, offering truck drivers an added layer of support in their jobs.
Decrease Risk with Improved Safety & Wellness Programs
Truck driving is an occupation that comes with some risk. Truckers face the risk of over the road accidents, as well as injury from lifting objects, wear and tear from long hours spent in the same position, and poor health from eating whatever they can find on the road.
Solid safety rules reduce turnover and driver downtime, help you attract good drivers, and lower the risk of being sued. PEOs can help you establish good safety rules and provide training to drivers and other staff that reduce the risk of injury. They can also help you with OSHA notices and other safety compliance details.
Also, if an owner sets up a proper safety and wellness strategy, this fosters a caring culture. Again, this reduces turnover and helps you become an employer of choice. Truckers talk to each other about employers. Having a good reputation as a workplace that does not set tight deadlines that forces drivers into unsafe conditions will help you attract drivers and encourage retention.
Offer Qualitative Workers' Comp Packages
Improved safety lowers workers' compensation costs, but a PEO can also offer more cost-effective plans to lower costs further. These reduce costs through economies of scale and mitigating the impact of an accident while still giving your drivers the protection they need. Keeping workers' compensation costs down frees up money you can spend on growth, equipment, or driver incentives.
Cost Savings through Streamlined Operations
PEOs offer expertise and guidance, which help streamline operations and increase efficiency. They can help you support your staff through things like offering healthcare plans that cost less than what you can otherwise afford, allowing better rates through their large buying power. Providing top tier benefits helps attract the talent your company deserves, including experienced and reliable drivers.
Furthermore, good healthcare benefits allow workers and their families to receive regular preventive treatment. It reduces absences from workers' illness and caring for a sick spouse or child. Regular preventative care helps keep drivers healthy and on the road. They can spot problems before they become serious. For example, if sleep apnea is discovered in a routine physical, your driver will lose their medically qualified to drive status until it is successfully treated. Drivers who go to the doctor regularly will discover the condition sooner and be able to treat it before it becomes a problem before they lose their license or get into an accident.
Support Your Drivers with Quality Employee Benefits
Partnering with a PEO helps your trucking company support their staff and attract the experienced, reliable drivers you need to grow your company. Reliable drivers help you provide reliable service and earn more satisfied customers. By working with a PEO, you can create a strong fleet of drivers who will be happy to work for you. Start a conversation with PRO Resources today to learn more about how you can improve your trucking company for the long haul!
