How to Retain Drivers with a Truck Driver App

What is a truck driver app?

A truck driver app is any mobile app that is intended to help truck drivers or those working in the trucking industry. Common trucking apps include truck stop apps that communicate upcoming rest areas and weigh stations, or apps that alert drivers to nearby truck parking spots. 

While these can certainly be useful, some of the best apps for truck drivers are offered as part of an all-in-one platform. This can be a great trucking tool to empower your drivers and further connect your trucking business.

Some truck driver apps, like Samsara, can help improve driver productivity by giving truck drivers the right information at the right time, while tailoring your drivers’ experience with diverse configuration options and open APIs. And since this type of mobile app is typically already part of an integrated telematics solution, it can easily connect your drivers with the rest of your workforce.

The importance of keeping your fleet connected with a mobile app

At its core, a great driver experience is all about keeping your drivers safe and making their day-to-day tasks as easy as possible. That’s why mobile apps can be effective tools to help drivers streamline their activities and stay connected to dispatch. When you adopt trucker tools and build workflows that make drivers’ jobs easier—from routing to logging hours to collecting documents—you show your drivers that you value their happiness and well-being. Furthermore, drivers who feel appreciated and supported are more likely to stick with your company, which can help reduce driver turnover. 

Partnering with a telematics platform, that includes tools to help streamline drivers’ daily workflows, is a great way to make sure driver needs are met. But partnering with a telematics solution that includes a driver-first mobile app can set the pace for a driver-first culture. The most effective driver apps strike the right balance to give drivers all the information they need to be productive while presenting it in a way that minimizes confusion. That’s why platforms like Samsara offer a great solution. With Samsara, administrators can use a drag-and-drop interface to define which tasks you want drivers to complete, and in what order. 

Help drivers increase efficiency with the Samsara Driver App

Consider partnering with a telematics provider that offers a driver-focused, all-in-one app that helps truck drivers get the right information at the right time. Learn how Samsara's Driver App helps fleets create and streamline driver workflows to increase connectivity, productivity, and efficiency:

• Streamline workflows with a single app: Samsara’s free app works on any iOS or Android device. High-speed WiFi hotspots are built into every Samsara Vehicle Gateway, so you don’t need a separate cellular plan to keep your team connected and productive.

• Centralize operational insights: Find opportunities to improve on-time performance and customer satisfaction, with centralized insights into route performance and driver behavior. Streamline recordkeeping and keep information synced between your customers, drivers, and back office.

• Simplify HOS compliance: With Samsara’s FMCSA-registered ELD, drivers don’t need a proprietary device to log and track Hours of Service (HOS). The Driver App is intuitively designed, with countdown clocks and in-app reminders that help drivers avoid violations by keeping HOS top of mind.

• Improve driver communication: Share real-time updates with drivers like upcoming jobs and share information with your back office, with app-based document capture and two-way instant messaging.

• Send the right driver to the right jobs: The Samsara Driver App makes it easy for drivers to see exactly where they need to be, and when they need to be there. Upcoming routes, tasks, and job details are updated instantly and can be accessed in one place.

• Faster resolutions and fewer breakdowns: Simplify pre- and post-trip inspections. Drivers can add photos, make notes, and certify reports using just their smartphones. Paperless DVIRs help drivers save time and can be viewed instantly by mechanics.

Design a mobile experience that suits your drivers with Samsara

Delivering a great mobile experience for your professional drivers is a great way to bring a driver focus to your business. Truck driver apps that are integrated into a telematics solution bring a driver-first approach to your fleet while providing drivers with an optimal experience.

This rings true for food distributor and Samsara customer KeHE Distributors, LLC. KeHE ships specialty organic foods to grocery stores in all 50 U.S. states. With a fleet of more than 550 trucks and 700 drivers, KeHE needed a telematics solution that more seamlessly integrated with their existing workflows while incorporating the driver. With Samsara plug-and-play hardware, KeHE was able to self-install Vehicle Gateways (VGs) and AI Dash Cams across their fleet in only two months. Plus, the Samsara Driver App increased flexibility by providing one central place for drivers and back-office staff to complete workflows.

KeHE drivers can now log hours, track their routes and deliveries, and message with dispatch in a single place. The payroll team no longer has to cross-reference driver logs against reported miles, saving them nine hours per week or 468 hours annually. “The drivers find the app very intuitive. It’s easier for them to log their hours which makes the work of our back-office easier, too,” said Greg Sikorski, Director of Transportation Safety and Compliance for KeHE. 

The Samsara Driver App works on both Android and iOS and is part of our Connected Operations Platform. If you are not yet a Samsara customer but want to see how we can help you improve your driver experience, get in touch to request a free trial today.