Driver burnout is a major concern in fleet management. It often goes unnoticed until it’s too late. As a fleet manager, you need to know the signs and how to combat it. To help you with this, we’ve gathered some of the most commonly asked questions about it. Have a look.
The early signs of driver burnout include:
Our AI dashcams monitor signs of fatigue, like drowsiness and yawning. Once detected, they release an automated sound alert so drivers can keep their eyes open and focus on the road ahead. The manager will also get reports of these incidents so they can be addressed accordingly.
If one of your drivers is flagged for fatigue, the first step is to pull them aside and talk to them. Try to find out what they feel is causing the fatigue and how the company can help. Ensure they get some rest for a few days. Once they’re back, they should attend coaching sessions so they can know more about the risks of fatigue and how to detect the signs early.
Telematics devices reveal the behaviours of each driver. Through this, you’ll start to notice some patterns. For example, if you see alerts of speeding from drivers, you can check where they were by using GPS reports. From there you’ll notice that drivers often lose their patience every time they reach a specific point, meaning there’s an issue with the route and deadline realism.
Drivers who work night shifts more often than they should don’t get enough time to rest. The body works on an internal clock for sleeping, eating, and other things. The night shift disrupts this internal clock, which can lead to extreme physical tiredness. To combat it, fleet managers must implement forward-rotation shifts (clockwise) to allow every driver enough time to rest.
By speaking to drivers and developing policies that address the signs and risks of burnout, you ensure the signs don’t go unnoticed and give clear direction on the steps to take.
Automated work logs reveal exactly how many hours a driver has worked; they're more reliable than manual logs because there’s less room for error. If there are any labour disputes, you can use these automated logs as evidence to prove that the driver didn’t exceed their HOS (Hours of Service) limit.
Microsleep refers to instances where drivers repeatedly fall asleep for a few seconds while behind the wheel. They often aren’t aware this is happening because the brain needs sleep to last for at least a minute for the brain to recognise it. It can lead to fatal accidents. To prevent this from happening, you need AI-powered dashcams so your drivers get alerts that “wake them up”.
Circadian rhythm dips can result in slow reactions, sleep disorders, stress, and anxiety. This can lead to drivers making more errors on the road, which can cause severe accidents. To avoid this, you must create schedules that align with the natural progression of the day.
Drivers need fresh air to stay alert. When a cabin doesn’t have enough air flowing through it, drivers tend to feel drowsy. The windscreen also gets foggy, which affects visibility. This is why it’s important to replace cabin air filters and maintain vehicle upkeep.
Caffeinated drinks like coffee and energy drinks only mask the fatigue, which makes it worse. The more you drink these caffeinated drinks, the higher your tolerance becomes, and you eventually won’t feel their effects. The only way to fight fatigue is to ensure you get enough sleep.
You need to revisit your scheduling process and invest in fleet management technology to monitor drivers. A properly planned schedule is the first step to ensuring drivers don’t suffer from burnout. Your weekly rotations should work around the natural progression of the day. This means having shifts that go from morning to afternoon, afternoon to evening, and evening to night. The fleet technology ensures your drivers take their breaks in between shifts.
