Driver absences can either disrupt your entire week or be a minor speedbump, depending on your strategies. In today's transport and logistics industry, recent driver shortages have highlighted the need for effective strategies to maintain efficient operations with the limited manpower available. If your business isn't set up to be flexible with the right tools, an unexpected missing driver can have knock-on effects for days.

Improving driver satisfaction and streamlining business processes are essential to keeping your operations running smoothly. By focusing on these areas, you can mitigate the impact of driver absences and ensure that your business remains resilient and efficient. Here are some best practices to help you adapt when drivers are out, along with how Stratum's solutions can support you.

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Develop a Clear, Actionable Plan (with the right tools)

A transparent plan is crucial for managing driver absences effectively. Utilizing Stratum TMS allows you to centralize all transport operations on a single platform. This centralization ensures that all team members are on the same page, reducing the risk of miscommunication and errors. Clear daily reports generated by Stratum TMS provide insights into driver availability, vehicle status, and job progress, helping you make informed decisions quickly. Additionally, planning and optimizing routes and load plans in advance ensures that deliveries are made efficiently, even with driver absences. The Stratum TMS dispatch dashboard provides real-time visibility into all operations, making it easy to reroute or reorganize tasks as needed.

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Gain Comprehensive Visibility into Your Drivers and Fleet

Having visibility into your drivers and fleet is essential for effective resource management. Stratum TMS tracks driver qualifications, including CPCs, ensuring that only qualified drivers are assigned to specific jobs. The system provides alerts if an unqualified driver is assigned to a job, preventing potential compliance issues and ensuring safety. Maintaining a comprehensive view of your fleet's status, including maintenance schedules and compliance records, helps you manage resources effectively and avoid unexpected downtime.

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Optimize Office-Driver Communication

Effective communication between the office and drivers is key to managing driver absences. Integrating lightweight solutions like WhatsApp ensures quick and easy communication, keeping everyone informed and able to respond to changes promptly. Stratum's InCabPro app allows for seamless job assignments, walk-around checks (WACs), and proof of delivery (POD) capture, reducing the need for drivers to return to the office and saving time. Centralizing communication with easy-to-use tools and clear processes helps avoid confusion and inefficiencies, ensuring that all relevant information is accessible in one place.

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Simplify Holiday and Leave Coordination

Coordinating holidays effectively is crucial to avoid being left without the right driver for the job. Stratum's Holiday Module provides a centralized view of all leave requests, making it easy to manage holidays, sick leave, and rest days. The module sends automatic alerts and notifications during job planning to avoid scheduling conflicts with pre-existing leave requests. This proactive approach ensures that you are never left without the right driver for the job, maintaining smooth operations and high levels of service.

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Adapt and Thrive

Adapting to driver absences requires a combination of strategic planning, effective communication, and the right tools. By implementing these best practices and leveraging Stratum's comprehensive solutions, transport managers can ensure that their operations remain smooth and efficient, even when faced with unexpected challenges. With centralized planning, full visibility into your drivers and fleet, enhanced communication, and streamlined holiday management, you can maintain high levels of service and keep your business running seamlessly.

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