Logistics in the supply chain are under strain due to the nationwide driver shortage. There isn’t a comparable deficit with your fleet. Any driver shortage, however, reduces your company’s production and revenue. You want to transport freight quickly and effectively but risk backlogs if no drivers can take the routes. Even worse, you may have to turn customers away. Truck driver recruitment is a crucial aspect of any fleet’s success. However, attracting drivers can be challenging.
The key is to attract qualified candidates and retain them long-term. Here are pointers to help you get going:
Create a Great Job Description
A great job description is critical to recruiting top-quality truck drivers. It should be detailed enough to get candidates’ attention but simple enough to keep them interested.
The most important part of your job description is the summary. It should provide a clear overview of the job’s purpose, day-to-day duties and expectations for exceptional performance.
Create a Company Website
A company website is a great way to communicate your message and connect with prospective drivers. It’s a place to share your job opportunities and tell the world why your drivers love working for you.
Regarding recruiting truck driver, standing out from the competition is essential. Companies must have the correct application recruitment system to hire the right one for the job successfully. Every job ad you post should include the key features that set your company apart. These include employee appreciation events, training sessions, bonuses, flexible schedules and benefits packages.
Post It on Social Media
Truck driver positions may be effectively advertised on social media. Posting on social media sites will get your company in front of drivers where they are.
You want to create content relatable to drivers and positively shows your fleet. It includes posting stories about current employees, the company wins, discussing your mission and interviewing star drivers.
Make Your Business a Wonderful Place to Work
Another important way to keep your drivers happy is to make your company a great workplace. Creating a positive work environment will encourage your employees to stay at work longer and do their best work.
It means offering perks that appeal to your truck drivers. For example, some companies provide free meals or give their employees arcade tokens as rewards.
Offer a Referral Program
Driver referrals are a great way to increase quality hires, boost retention rates and reduce turnover. This strategy also saves fleets hundreds of dollars daily when trucks sit idle on the lot.
Consider implementing it in a way that is easy for drivers to promote and understand to make the most of your referral program. For example, consider offering incentives for referring new drivers to your fleet.
Offer Flexible Scheduling
Offering flexible scheduling can help you recruit truck drivers and face the shortage of drivers. A tremendous work-life balance helps employees recharge and maintain their morale, allowing them more time with their families and friends.
USA Truck, for example, recently rolled out an initiative that allows drivers to bank home days for use when they want them. The company hopes to attract experienced drivers who might need more capacity to stay on long hauls if forced to make that choice.
Offer a Competitive Pay
If you’re hiring drivers, offering a competitive pay package is essential. It will help ensure that your company attracts and retains the best employees.
In addition to base salary, employers can offer additional compensation like a sign-on bonus or health insurance.
It will help drivers feel appreciated and valued. It will also make them more likely to want to stay with your company longer.
Offer a Great Benefits Package
Offering them exceptional benefits is essential to recruit and retain good truck drivers. These benefits will help build a driver-centric culture, leading to better retention and higher productivity.
Exceptional benefits include health care, retirement plans, paid time off and other perks. They are essential because they show your employees you value their hard work and loyalty.
Offer a Safe Work Environment
A safe work environment is vital to any company’s overall success. Safety regulations should be adhered to by all employers, regardless of size.
A safer workplace promotes employee satisfaction and productivity. It also helps reduce workers’ compensation costs.
When a company’s leaders set the tone for safety, other employees follow their lead. For example, if a trucking fleet requires drivers to wear high-visibility vests and hard hats on the job site, executives should also ensure they wear their own.
Offer a Great Work-Life Balance
Whether your drivers are regional, OTR, or local, offering a work-life balance that suits their needs is essential. It means offering flexible schedules and routes that fit their lifestyles and allowing them to return home at night when possible.
An outstanding work-life balance will help your truck drivers feel happy and healthy and make them more likely to stay with you for the long haul. To promote this, consider a referral program and incentivize it with bonuses or vacation days.
