In the latest episode of McLeod Insights, we sat down with Tiffany Giekes, FlowLogix Business Analyst here at McLeod Software. We discussed how technology may be automated to ensure drivers are getting paid fairly and on time.
Tiffany helps McLeod Software customers build out process automation routines using FlowLogix. She works alongside customers who need to determine where automation best fits within their business, and how they can apply it.
Pay for Truckers in the Wake of COVID
COVID forced much of society into a temporary shelter-in-place mode, and it punctuated both our need for drivers and their inherent value. Because of COVID, the industry was forced to begin paying drivers in a reliable, consistent, and fair way.
“Especially as we’re coming out of the pandemic, people are really realizing how important those truck driving jobs and responsibilities are, and how they need to be compensated appropriately,” Tiffany says. “The industry is really turning that corner now, and compensating the drivers appropriately for what they’re doing every day.”
But it’s not just about making sure that drivers get paid accurately and on time. It’s also important for transportation companies to clearly communicate how drivers get paid, so they know what to expect when they sign on.
“Every company is slightly different in how they pay their drivers. I think it’s a common misconception in the industry that the drivers make more than they actually do. A lot of companies are coming out with guaranteed pays, minimum pays, or driver pay incentive programs that help leverage how they can pay their drivers that they don’t necessarily come forward and say, ‘This is how we’re paying you,’” she says. “
I think that’s what’s leading to a lot of the confusion and questions out there today. I know that some of these minimum pay programs and guaranteed pay programs, if the driver qualifies, can really help them get to that next pay tier and increase their satisfaction.
Managing How Drivers Get Paid
According to Tiffany, there are several different ways to manage how transportation companies pay drivers. She says it’s common for companies to ensure their drivers are checking off specific, necessary tasks on a weekly basis for a specific minimum pay.
When it comes to fleets, drivers who simply show up to work daily will get that minimum pay. But that completely depends on the company.
“A lot of companies want more than just showing up to work every day as a reason to pay a driver minimum pay,” she says.
Companies want to make sure their drivers deliver on time and work daily. Tiffany has seen companies utilize various fields within McLeod’s LoadMaster to drive automation during the settlement process. This allows companies to monitor driver behavior and determine whether the drivers are hitting a required minimum of activity.
“It helps driver satisfaction, and ultimately those carriers help their customers with satisfaction as well. If you keep a steady fleet, it can help your customer,” Tiffany says.
How to Get Your Company Started With Payment Automation
If you want to automate your drivers’ pay or add more automation to your process, Tiffany says the process is fairly simple. Automating reports is a great way to get started.
According to Tiffany, automating small things such as reports naturally leads companies to automate more in the future. People must gain trust in the automations in order to see how they work and what the possibilities are.
“What can we automate where we don’t have to have a human looking at our billing? What can we have the system do natively for us, if everything is met without having to touch a single button?” she says. “That’s a great way of using automation moving forward, but it’s always the small steps that get you going.”
To learn more about using automation to help get your drivers paid consistently and on time, listen to the full episode featuring Tiffany Giekes here.