As a business owner in the transportation industry, you know that there are a lot of potential problems that can arise. From vehicle breakdowns to lousy weather, there’s always something that can go wrong. However, some issues are more common than others. Here are the five most common problems of transportation companies and how to solve them.
Vehicle Breakdowns
One of the most common problems transportation companies face is vehicle breakdowns. It’s estimated that vehicular breakdowns cost the U.S. economy about $40 billion annually. So individual breakdowns can be pretty costly for respective companies.
The average cost to fix a car is around $300 to $500. If you have multiple vehicles or trucks, this can skyrocket to thousands of dollars. While this seems like a significant expense, it can be easily prevented.
Thankfully, you can do a few things to reduce the chances of your vehicles breaking down. First, make sure you’re performing regular maintenance on your cars. This includes oil changes, tire rotations, and anything else that needs to be done to keep your vehicles running smoothly. Second, invest in quality parts for your vehicles. It may cost more upfront, but it will save you money in the long run by reducing the number of times your vehicles need repairs. Finally, invest in GPS tracking for your vehicles. That way, if one of your vehicles does break down, you’ll be able to dispatch another car to its location quickly.
Employee Turnover
Another familiar problem transportation companies face high employee turnover. This is also a problem affecting the entire economy. However, employee turnovers are more common in the transportation industry due to the following reasons:
- High-stress and demanding work environment.
- Lack of training opportunities.
- Poor compensation and benefits packages.
To combat employee turnover, transportation companies should take steps to improve the working conditions for employees. Here are some ways to do that.
Robust Benefits
Transportation workers are often on the road for hours at a time. To compensate for this, it’s vital to offer robust and comprehensive benefits packages that include paid sick days, health insurance, dental care, vision care, disability insurance, and 401k plans.
Opportunities for Training and Advancement
Transportation workers often have limited opportunities for training or advancement within their company. Offering training programs and providing opportunities for improvement, such as offering management positions to current employees, can help reduce employee turnover by making employees feel valued and recognized.
Employee Engagement Activities
Engaging your employees through various activities that make them feel valued and appreciated is also essential. This could include team-building activities like hosted lunches or happy hours, providing flexible work schedules, or holding company-sponsored events that make employees feel like an integral part of the company.
Delays Due to Weather
Weather is one of the most unpredictable things a transportation company has to deal with. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to control the temperature. However, you can do a few things to minimize the impact it has on your business. First, invest in weather forecasting tools so you can plan around upcoming weather events. Second, have a contingency plan for delays due to weather. This might include rerouting shipments or using alternative means of transportation. Being prepared for bad weather can minimize its impact on your business.
Delays Due to Traffic
Traffic is another unpredictable thing that can cause delays for transportation companies. However, you can do a few things to minimize the impact it has on your business. First, you can invest in traffic forecasting tools so you can plan around upcoming traffic events.
It’s also good to have a contingency plan for delays due to traffic. This might include rerouting shipments or using alternative means of transportation. Being prepared for traffic delays can minimize their impact on your business.
Accidents
Accidents are one of the most dangerous things that can happen to a transportation company. However, you can do a few things to reduce the chances of an accident occurring.
Training is one of the best ways to minimize accidents. Make sure that all drivers are well-trained and know how to handle emergencies.
Maintaining your vehicles properly is essential so they’re less likely to break down or be involved in an accident. This includes replacing worn-out parts and performing regular maintenance checks on a schedule.
Finally, investing in GPS tracking can also help reduce the risk of accidents by improving driver safety. By tracking and monitoring your drivers’ location and driving habits, you can identify unsafe behavior before it leads to an accident. However, it can be unlikely that you can prevent all sorts of mishaps. That’s why it’s good to have an injury lawyer around, specifically an experienced spinal cord injury attorney. Spinal cord injuries are prevalent in transportation, making it essential to have such a professional around. They can handle any case and help you file a compensation claim.
While there are many challenges in the transportation industry, with proper preparation and planning, you can mitigate their impact on your business. This can then lead your business to achieve tremendous success in the long run.
