The Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Annual Convention is one of the largest gatherings of fleets, drivers, technology providers, and insurers each year, focusing specifically on full-truckload carriers.
If you weren’t able to make it this year, here’s what you need to know and the topics that fleets expressed the most concern about:
#1 Finding Quality Drivers in a Shrinking Pool
Truckload fleets are facing the twin problems of drivers aging out of the workforce and unsatisfactory performance from the young drivers entering the workforce. Shippers will need to improve their training modules to accommodate the youngest generation of drivers who don’t have the decades of experience older generations do.
How to Retain Your Best Drivers
#2 Nuclear Verdicts and Insurance Costs
As we discussed in a previous blog post, both nuclear verdicts and insurance costs are on the rise, in no small part because trucking-related deaths are too. Fleets are looking for ways to decrease all three while improving safety outcomes for all.
In order to achieve these goals, you need to convince insurance providers (and a potential jury) that you understand your driver data and are doing everything you can to stay safe. Read here to learn what you need to do to master your data and how it can help you avoid a nuclear verdict.
Be Prepared for a Nuclear Verdict
#3 Learning How to Interpret Data
We’ve explored the pitfalls of relying too heavily on one source of data before, and these concerns were echoed by TCA 2020 attendees. There’s a firehose of data coming at fleets every day, and managers are looking for ways to interpret it effectively. More than anything, they’re looking for one, unified risk score for each driver so they know what their data means when put together.
See Idelic’s Single Driver Risk Score
#4 AB5 and the Owner-Operator Model
AB5 is a California law which states that in order for a worker to be classified as a contractor, they must “perform work that is outside the usual course of the hiring entity’s business.” This is important for truckload carriers who hire owner-operators as contractors, because their work is very often in “the usual course of the hiring entity’s business.”
This bill has been a hot topic in the industry for months, and the conversation hasn’t died down. A US District Court Judge ordered and extended a stay on the implementation of this California law in January. Though it appears likely to be overturned permanently in Court, the industry is worried about a potential federal iteration of AB5.
#5 Coronavirus and Market Uncertainty
People are concerned about the effects coronavirus will have on the driver population, as truck drivers are frequently visiting hot-spots across the country. At the same time, fleets are also worried about a volatile stock market and the impact the virus will have on global supply chains. Diesel has already been affected by this, with prices up and supply chains down.
If you’re interested in improving safety outcomes for your fleet, register for a 30-minute demo of the Idelic Safety Suite. Safety Suite is more than just a dashboard because it lets you add and edit all your driver data in one platform. It also uses artificial intelligence (AI) technology to flag at-risk drivers, identify why they’re at-risk, and assign training to address their specific needs. Sign up for a demo here.