Raben cares for drivers

A driver is one of the most mobile professions in Europe. One the one hand, it's a never-ending adventure, travels, great views, discovering new places and meeting people. On the other hand, it is great responsibility and permanent life on the road. That is why, according to the report from the second edition of the survey “Profession barometer[1]” carried out in Poland, the profession most frequently indicated as being in short supply is the profession of a truck driver. At present, the priority for most transport businesses is to acquire and retain drivers. Raben Group is aware of the gravity of the situation hence since 2015 it has been conducting dialogue sessions which include drivers as the key stakeholders. They result in actions undertaken by the company.

How to attract the best

Persuading a driver to start work is just a partial success. The next thing to do is to set up permanent cooperation, establish a rapport and bond him with the company. In order to achieve that, Raben Group has designed a special incentive and loyalty program for drivers who cooperate with the company. It consists of three elements: a dedicated informational newsletter, educational trainings and a contest for drivers. The contest aims at selecting and awarding drivers which have the best results in their respective depots in the area of provided transport services. The criteria taken into account include timeliness of deliveries, number of loading/unloading places and other. The contest covers two categories: drivers of “small” vehicles (delivery trucks and vans) and drivers of “large” vehicles (tractor-trailer sets and BDF trucks). The awards, prepaid Sodexo cards and the handshake of the boss, are presented to three best drivers every quarter. 

New activities are also planned as part of the program and they include developing a dedicated clothing line for Raben drivers. The clothes were designed jointly by drivers and work clothes specialists.

Focus on physical activity and rest

One of the main objectives of the responsible business strategy in Raben Group is care for health and guaranteeing safety, which is reflected in the company SHE strategy (Safety, Health and Environment). Thanks to it, a robust safety culture is developed among employees and suppliers, as well as their pro-health attitudes. This also applies to drivers as it was with their health and rest in mind, Raben depots opened dedicated rest zones. Drivers can use vending machines with coffee and snacks and a comfortable place to relax or work because they are equipped with a computer with internet access, a TV and a printer. Communication is extremely important in Raben hence the zones also have notice boards and they are the location of weekly meetings with branch managers, during which drivers can submit their ideas and problems. And those are not the only conveniences available for drivers. The company pays much attention to sport hence the idea to build outdoor gyms for drivers. They have already been opened in Gniewomierz, Gądki and Stryków and two more will have been built by the end of the year.

Raben also organizes dedicated events for drivers and their families in cooperation with the Truckers Life foundation and the MAN Trucker's World Club. Recently such an event was held in September 2017 in the Service Station of Raben Transport in Gądki. Its aim was to present the work of professional drivers and draw attention to the specifics of their lifestyle and the opportunities they have on the road with reference to exercise and healthy eating.

[1] The barometer has been prepared by the Regional Job Centre in Krakow based on information from District Job Centres, private employment agencies and institutions responsible for contacts with investors.  It presents a list of professions where employers may have real difficulties finding appropriate candidates for work and also jobs in low demand, where it might be difficult to find employment.