It can be a challenge to find quality candidates. You must reach out to the right audience and create an attractive recruitment campaign. You should consider ways to attract truckers, including social media marketing, sponsoring commercial drivers in training, and attending job fairs. You need to do more than post jobs on job boards, though. You need to understand the needs of your target audience and be genuine in your attempts to help them.
First of all, let the new driver know what is expected of him. A driver who is not fully informed of what is expected of him may harbor resentment and quit the company. Make sure he or she understands the expectations, as a failure to do so will hurt the employee’s confidence in the company. When creating the work environment for the new driver, make sure the company’s mission statement is clear and aligned with their expectations. Explaining what tasks are important will keep the employee motivated and inclusive.
To attract a diverse workforce, offer high-quality vehicles. Drivers want a good work/life balance and employers who keep their promises. They also want to feel appreciated and heard when they have a suggestion. As a truck driver, you want to feel appreciated and respected by your employer. By demonstrating this, you will attract new professionals and retain current ones. However, it is important not to over-sell your company and your expectations.
Why are Truck Drivers Hard to Find?
The shortage of truck drivers has been on the rise for some time. According to the trucking industry, the number of open truck driver positions has outpaced the number of new drivers hired. While the shortage of truckers might be a setback for those looking to break into the industry, it is an opportunity for experienced drivers to switch companies. What is the cause of the shortage? It can be explained in two main ways: the shortage is caused by a high driver turnover rate, and the industry is focusing on the retention of current drivers. Ray Haight, the TPP Retention Coach for the Truckload Carriers Association, argues that the lack of new drivers is directly related to a lack of compensation. Truckers are seeking better pay and better benefits, but that pay hasn’t kept up with the cost of living.
The shortage of truck drivers is a national problem, and has plagued the industry for several decades. In 1990, the trucking industry predicted that there would be a shortage of 450,000 new drivers. In 2018, the industry is projected to have a shortage of 60,800 drivers. Many truck drivers say that the shortage is due to a lack of interest in a demanding job. But the reality is much more complex.
How Do You Successfully Recruit a Truck Driver?
First and foremost, you must create compelling advertisements. Your advertisements must engage, educate, and interrupt your audience. Measure your cost per hire to make adjustments before a vacant orientation class. Providing more details about the job will increase your traction and attract more applicants. Here are some tips to help you write an effective advertisement:
Communicate with your driver candidates and ask them questions about their background and interests. Truck drivers dislike being kept in the dark. So, be transparent with all your candidates. Try to make the candidate feel that you care about them. For example, you can start by having a short conversation. You can also ask about their hobbies and priorities. Make them feel like they are an important part of your team. If you can’t meet these requirements, you should look elsewhere for a truck driving position.
Give your drivers incentives and perks. Creating incentives for good performance is a good way to motivate drivers to stick with your company. Drivers tend to trust their peers and would be more likely to join your company if you provide incentives and perks. Consider asking current drivers for testimonials. You can use these in your website and advertising. You can even offer them non-monetary benefits as incentives or team-building.
How Do I Find a Good Driver?
You can advertise your job openings on social media, including Facebook and Twitter. Facebook groups can be particularly useful for recruiting truck drivers. Instagram is particularly useful for attracting younger candidates. However, you must be sure to follow up with applicants promptly after they apply. You must also provide insurance coverage for new drivers. Once you’ve received an application, contact the applicant within three days to discuss his or her qualifications. Make sure to stay in touch with your potential new trucker as soon as possible.
When you’re hiring, take the time to explain how the company operates and what it expects of its truck drivers. Make it clear that the position is challenging and demanding. You need to take their feedback and respond to their concerns in an appropriate manner. If your applicant has a disability or is unsuitable for the job, try to make allowances. Otherwise, be upfront and honest about this. Ensure the benefits of the job are worth their time.
Is It Hard to Recruit Truck Drivers?
While recruiting is important, it is only half the battle. Truck drivers value independence, stability, and pay. More than two-thirds would look for better pay if they weren’t given those benefits. A 401k and respect from their employers are also important. Those are reasons why a fleet should make recruiting as easy as possible. Here are some tips to get started:
First of all, make sure your employees are aware of the job. Do you constantly advertise for new drivers? If so, it may turn people away. It will not be clear whether you’re actively hiring and will hold onto your current staff. If your employees are constantly looking for new people, they might think you’re not serious about maintaining your current staff. Don’t be afraid to tell your employees if it’s not a good fit – many applicants are just as likely to apply to multiple companies.
You can also tap into local networks of truckers. Many drivers are eager to fill a job in their area. This approach is expedient but also results in the highest turnover rates. Hiring directly from trucker networks skips best practices for screening candidates, which can result in a higher turnover rate. Moreover, it’s not advisable to hire candidates who are unprofessional or have a poor work history.
How Do I Recruit And Retain a Truck Driver?
One of the biggest challenges facing the trucking industry is finding qualified drivers. Recruiting them requires a combination of putting out feelers in the right places and thinking strategically about the best ways to reach your target audience. Using social media to connect with trucking schools, sponsoring commercial drivers in training, and participating in job fairs are all excellent ways to target potential candidates. Using more than just job boards to find drivers is also essential to attract and retain the best ones.
While salary is always important, it is only a part of the equation. Many carriers are investing in retention efforts to avoid high turnover and minimize recruitment costs. While vetting applicants is essential, there’s no way to determine the quality of a driver’s performance unless they’ve actually spent a few weeks behind the wheel. For that reason, many carriers are increasingly investing in retention efforts to improve the quality of their driver workforce.
How Do I Recruit Younger Truck Drivers?
Recruiting younger drivers can be challenging. Younger drivers may be seeking out different perks, such as higher starting pay, but also a sense of community. This generation spends most of their time on social media and is encouraged to recruit through personal referrals. Hence, companies must change their recruiting strategies to appeal to the younger generation. Listed below are some tips to help you recruit younger truck drivers. Listed below are some effective tactics to recruit younger truck drivers.
Create a clear process for the recruitment of new drivers. The recruitment process must be simple and straightforward to avoid clunky and inefficient processes. The recruiting message must be compelling and the driver should feel confident enough to complete the application process. Make the application process as simple as possible. The driver candidate journey should include different steps: the ad, the jobs board, an application, a release form, interview, orientation, and day one.
What Do Truck Drivers Want?
The top two complaints among drivers are lack of money and time off. However, this is not an unrelated issue. Despite the aforementioned problems, truck drivers still want to be paid well and have more time off. These are issues that trucking companies and truck drivers must address. Let’s examine these issues and see how they can be addressed to improve the overall driver experience. Here are some solutions to these problems. First, understand what motivates truck drivers. Getting paid well is the most basic human need, but a high percentage of truck drivers aren’t satisfied with their current salary.
Another common concern among truck drivers is safety. Drivers want to feel supported and appreciated by their employers. They want safety notifications and in-cab alerts. They also want to feel respected by their shippers, law enforcement, and fellow drivers. While some companies may not realize it, drivers don’t always receive these benefits. That’s why drivers are demanding better safety standards. They want the assurance that they’ll make it through a job that they love.
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