Why professional driving is important ?

The road freight transport company has a highly relevant professional in its staff: the driver, driver of the vehicle that handles the loads, and it will be through the performance evaluation in the performance of its activities that the fleet manager will be able to measure their contribution in this context of transport.

Company managers who carry out goods transport have a challenging task: hiring a good driver. One of the reasons for becoming challenging is the lack of professionals' qualifications to control vehicles that are, increasingly, modern and technological. Also, of course, because it demands a lot of responsibility from the driver in front of the truck and the cargo carried during the entire journey.

To obtain the best result with these drivers, we need to create an action plan to choose the most qualified for the company's staff and evaluate these professional drivers' performance in carrying out the work.

What is the definition of a professional driver?

A professional driver is a worker who carries out his professional activity in driving a road vehicle, being delimited by the profession's rights and responsibilities.

It was driving a vehicle with skill, zeal, and observance of defensive driving principles in professional truck driving school. These are the duties of any professional driver.

Requirements for the selection of steering wheel professionals

Analyze professional qualification: To hire drivers for the company, it is essential to find people qualified to exercise the position. First, one should look for interested parties who have the corresponding driver's license for trucks.

After that, take practice tests to see the performance of each candidate. After all, a professional with years of experience may not know how to drive modern trucks. Also, consider the candidate's understanding of traffic laws, mechanics, economical driving, defensive driving, etc. Evaluate the professional's work history to know the average time spent in each company. Be together with an HR professional when carrying out this hiring challenge, nothing better than being accompanied by a person who understands and can identify the candidates' profile, who is the human resources professional.

Many of them are trained in administration or psychology. They can relate to the company's needs with the candidate's characteristics and assist in this process. The experience, as I said before, the experience of years and years may not be everything. With the evolution of technology (GPS, trackers, etc.) and vehicles with several modern features, an older person's experience may be lacking.

Therefore, young people can be better prepared with trucks with a high technological level. But, if the professionals interviewed are already familiar with the new trucks, the experience criterion can be decisive at the time. Understand the candidate's aspirations: It is essential to know what the driver's wishes are to know if the candidate fits well with the vacancy that is being offered.

How to recruit the best professionals?

The importance of the selection process for the recruitment of drivers. The driver is an essential part of a transport company.

These professionals' selection process is essential for companies' success because candidates must have the necessary skills to perform their functions.

Choosing the best among the recruited is a strategic role of the Human Resources area for its results.

Of the various stages that make up the drivers' selection process, the practical-operational assessment performance is critical.

Stages of the selection process - Some precautions

Screening: Candidates must demonstrate the required experience and education and submit the requested personal documentation and demonstrate an appropriate posture and good looks.

A pre-test or practical test planning: The examiner must provide a suitable place for candidates' reception and provide the resources needed to carry out this activity.

Preliminary guidelines: The examiner must make the presentation. Subsequently, define what a is pre-test. "It is a selective test, which applies to all candidates for the position of the driver. Because the characteristics of each one are diversified by their own experience and experience in the job".

Application of the practical test: It consists of operating the vehicle in a predetermined urban or road period, under normal traffic conditions.

As two examiners, one of them and an observer and an evaluator will also act as an intervener in the face of risky operations caused by the candidate and guide the itinerary.

Evaluation factors of the pre-test: The factors to be observed during the pre-test are directly linked to the vehicle's driving, respect for traffic legislation, and the professional's posture.

Psychological factors that influence the pre-test: The selection situation itself triggers a series of feelings, which interfere with the candidate's performance. Some of them even interfere negatively in their performance, such as nervousness, tension, fear, anxiety, apathy.

Examiner's posture: The examiner's ethical stance is critical at this point. Avoiding "pranks," situations that are purposefully difficult or embarrassing, do not contribute to the selection's objective, which is to choose the best candidate. At this point, the examiner must put himself in the candidate's shoes to facilitate his best performance in the pre-test situation.

How to perform a driver's performance evaluation after being hired?

After hiring the professional, it is up to the fleet manager to create the best environment for receiving this employee. Introduce the company, the equipment, the team of employees in the sector. In addition to how to obtain the necessary resources for the activities. These are some of the duties of the fleet manager when the employee arrives.

Ability to do essential maintenance: Although there are people who work to keep the fleet in shape, many situations arise on the road, and drivers must know how to deal with them. Simple things like changing a flat tire, fuse, lamp, and fluids are necessary skills for the job. The potential driver also needs to be able to at least perform basic diagnostics like what is wrong with the vehicle to forward the solution to the problem.

Ability with people: Although they are isolated in the truck cabin most of the time, they still have to deal with people during their journey - from the contractor to the end customer.

Inspiring confidence and self-motivation: The driver must be reliable and motivated. Organizational capacity also falls into this category. A good trucker must be able to handle his paperwork and electronic record, in addition to organizing his schedules efficiently. He must also keep his skills up to date to do his best.

Readiness: This is important for any driver, but when looking at a truck driver, this is vital. Being attentive to work is essential for safety and arrival at the destination in time. There are many factors to consider. Truck conditions, what is happening on the road, and what other drivers in the surrounding area are doing. He must be alert to standard conditions if anything out of the ordinary happens. Whether it's a strange smell or just a different way for the truck to behave on the road, it must be able to recognize that there is a problem and deal with it.

Adequate qualifications. Essential job requirement includes having a driver's license in the category that qualifies you to drive a particular vehicle. It ensures that potential drivers are aware of the rules and regulations necessary to drive heavy vehicles properly.

Conclusion

The transportation segment currently seeks maximum productivity with minimal costs. Task was assigned to the fleet manager, who needs to be skilled and have the same focus.

Dedicate more time to planning and have trained staff. The drivers of the fleet vehicles must meet the expectations and needs of the carrier.