What is a Driver Mentorship Program?

Looking for ways to get your fleet pumped up and motivated for the road? By incorporating a driver mentorship program in your business, you're boosting safety priorities to the top of the list by showing your drivers that you’re willing to invest in their future skill development.

Sounds good...so what is a driver mentorship program?

A mentor comes onboard to help educate and develop a new employee’s skillset. For drivers, this can mean bringing on a highly experienced, certified mentor who can train employees on the latest safety procedures, equipment, software and emergency plans.

The benefits of a driver mentor program are ten-fold. All in all, it can help you save money on training seminars and increase safety. Here are some more benefits…

• Reduced driver insurance rates
• Higher employee retention rates
• Fosters teamwork and positivity
• New employees learn from someone experienced
• New employees better understand common practices
• Drivers feel appreciation and recognition for their work

Isn’t a mentor the same thing as a manager?

It might seem similar, but really a mentor plays a more relaxed role as opposed to a manager, who must maintain a high level of professionalism. Mentors are there to help the employees with their individual development, establishing a safe space for asking questions and fostering learning. It’s a comfortable approach to training that takes the pressure of performance off the table.

Put mentorship to the test

Implementing a driver mentorship program is as easy as 1, 2, 3. After choosing a mentor, have them meet with the managers to formulate a training plan. Establish the goals of the mentorship program, the roles each manager will play and confirm that everyone is on the same page. Have someone monitor the day to day activities and take notes on how the mentorship is progressing, including how ROI has changed. Initiate a workplace survey to assess how the drivers feel about the program.