Knight-Swift Transportation has introduced an immersive, hands-on training program for drivers with its custom mobile app platform from Eleos Technologies.
Photo: Knight-Swift Transportation
The initial days on a new job can either breed doubt or build confidence. For truck drivers, the stakes are exceptionally high, as studies consistently indicate that over 30% quit within the first 90 days.
Drivers often leave in-person orientations with lingering questions and unclear expectations. This increases uncertainty when they hit the road, leading to mistakes and contributing to early turnover.
Additionally, orientation training often feels like a passive experience, filled with videos, slideshows, and instructor-led sessions that are easy to tune out.
Knight-Swift Transportation, the largest truckload carrier in North America, is tackling this challenge head-on by deploying immersive, hands-on training with its custom mobile app platform from Eleos Technologies.
The company mirrors real-world workflows during the onboarding process, allowing drivers to engage directly with the company’s custom KT Mobile app. This practical experience better prepares them for success behind the wheel, and it’s paying off.
Attention Spans Are Shrinking. Training Must Adapt.
Most fleets use videos and slideshows to maintain consistency in orientation. But the effectiveness of this approach is diminishing. Research shows learners begin to lose interest after just 30 seconds of video.
Jared Bohne, IT Product Manager for Driver App and Truck Telematics at Knight-Swift, recognized this shift. “We needed a way to get drivers truly engaged by walking them through a real-life experience before they hit the road,” he said.
The answer was the company’s existing customizable mobile app built on the Eleos Technologies platform. Already used for operational tasks, Knight-Swift took it a step further by embedding it into the driver onboarding curriculum.
At each Driver Qualification Process (DQP) location, new drivers receive tablets loaded with the fleet’s KT Mobile and Geotab app for ELD access. Using the KT Mobile app as the unified mobile platform, they go through an exercise that simulates the life of a load, from logging duty status, inspecting equipment, navigating routes, to scanning and submitting documents—all in about 30 to 40 minutes.
“They’re doing everything they’ll need on the job. And because they’ve practiced, they’re not confused or overwhelmed when they’re out there,” Bohne explained.
Simulation That Mirrors Real Operations
To power this interactive experience, Knight-Swift’s internal developers built a training environment where every driver works on the same simulated load independently.
“No one conflicts with each other,” Bohne said. “Each session is isolated, but it uses the same live production app with all current features.”
This setup enables instructors to guide learners through a consistent set of tasks. A five-task test-out module ensures that drivers can perform essential functions such as making arrival calls and scanning documents before they ever get behind the wheel.
Mobile-Friendly and Driver-Preferred
While the training is available on company-provided tablets, Knight-Swift supports a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) model. Drivers can access KT Mobile from their smartphones, allowing them to stay connected and manage workflows anytime, anywhere.
Soon, Knight-Swift driver trainees will receive a mounted tablet running KT Mobile and Geotab, enabling drivers to process orders and update duty status from KT Mobile in real-time, just like they would in the field.
Photo: Knight-Swift Transportation
“In the last 60 days, we’ve had about 4,000 logins from personal devices and 1,000 from in-cab tablets,” Bohne shared. “People prefer using their phones. It’s just easier and more convenient.”
That level of usage signals strong engagement and comfort with the tools, which translates into smoother execution on the job.
Fewer Calls, Faster Onboarding
Beyond engagement, Knight-Swift is seeing clear operational benefits. Driver support teams report a drop in calls from both new and experienced drivers, who are no longer stumped by basic app functions.
“Our experienced driver hires don’t have mentors. They’re just expected to go,” Bohne said. “Previously, they’d call support and say, ‘I don’t know my login’ or ‘How do I use this app?’ Now, they remember it from orientation. They know where to go and what to do.”
This familiarity also improves data accuracy. At the first terminal where the new training was rolled out, digital form integration—Knight-Swift’s KPI for accurate and timely load workflow completion—increased by 12% over eight weeks. With thousands of drivers, the benefits of this training are compounding quickly.
“These aren’t just tech issues,” Bohne said. “When drivers don’t submit arrival or departure calls correctly, it creates time-sensitive problems. Now, they know when and how to do it right.”
Simulated Driving Meets Real-World Workflow
Knight-Swift is taking training to the next level through its Top Gun program for less-experienced driver hires. These sessions include full-motion truck driving simulators that replicate real-world driving conditions.
Soon, they’ll include a mounted tablet running KT Mobile and Geotab, enabling drivers to process orders and update duty status from KT Mobile in real-time, just like they would in the field.
“They’ll log in, receive a load, complete trip planning, change duty statuses—all while in the simulator,” Bohne said. “It’s the closest thing to the real job without actually being on the road.”
These simulators cost hundreds of thousands of dollars and represent a significant investment in driver development, with a clear goal: to remove uncertainty before it becomes a problem on the highway.
Learning Together, Not Alone
The benefits of Knight-Swift’s approach aren’t merely technical; they are cultural. The transition from isolated video watching to instructor-guided, peer-supported practice fosters a more collaborative learning experience.
Knight-Swift feels the transition from isolated video watching to instructor-guided, peer-supported practice fosters a more collaborative and effective learning experience.
Photo: Knight-Swift Transportation
“If someone is falling behind, instructors help them. Or even another student steps in,” Bohne said. “It’s far better than just watching a video where no one checks for understanding.”
That peer-to-peer support reinforces the sense that orientation isn’t just a hurdle to clear. It’s a foundation for long-term success.
Results That Matter
Knight-Swift’s investment in Eleos and immersive training is yielding tangible results: fewer support calls, more accurate workflows, and drivers who feel confident from the start.
“We’ve wanted this for years,” Bohne said. “It only took two weeks for a developer to build the training module, and it’s already making a big difference.”
In a high-turnover industry, those early wins are critical. When drivers feel capable and supported, they’re more likely to stay. And when training mirrors real-life tasks, mistakes decline, and efficiency rises.
Bottom Line: Better Training Drives Better Outcomes
Knight-Swift’s hands-on, tech-driven onboarding process demonstrates what’s achievable when fleets redefine orientation training as an experience rather than a mere formality.
At Knight-Swift, drivers who go through orientation don’t just learn; they act. And they don’t just observe; they participate. And they’re not merely handed a device or given a link to download an app; they’re instructed on how to use it in real-world situations.
By equipping drivers for daily success before they even leave the yard, Knight-Swift is establishing a new standard in onboarding.
Credit: Source link
