Have you heard, there is a driver’s shortage in our industry. I have been in the industry for 35 years and this has been talked about as long as I have been around. We have all heard the definition of insanity, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. We all know recruiting quality professional drivers is very competitive, so if your going to recruit and retain the best of the best you need to be the best of the best.
Very clear defined processes are needed with strong and measurable hiring criteria. Let’s not forgot we need to be efficient and accurate in the process as well. Your marketing and message must be one that attracts the candidates your looking for and will have them reach out to your company. It’s very noisy out there in the industry and the market place for hiring is very crowded, your message with any of your recruiting and retention efforts needs to offer a very strong value proposition. This may take a little time but it is worth every minute and the best place to start is with your most important and valuable asset, your current drivers.
Identify your strengths and weaknesses by creating a standard set of questions and ask every driver in your company to participate. Here is a sample of questions to get you rolling;
- What does our company do good?
- What does our company do bad?
- Where can we improve operations?
- Where can we improve in safety?
- What do you like about your career here?
- What don’t you like about your career here?
- What is the number one thing that satisfies you about your job?
- How can we make your job easier?
- If you were talking to a fellow driver what would be the #1 reason you would encourage him/her to come and drive for us?
- If you could fix one thing that is fixable in your mind about our company what would be?
10 questions that’s it. Depending on how you communicate with your drivers it can be done face to face, over the phone, by email, what ever works but put a time line on it and come up with way to get everyone involved. Offer up a $75.00 gift certificate to a restaurant or store for the driver’s participation. The number one reason your doing this is to create valued marketing and deliver a message to the world as to why drivers should consider your company to come to work for. Create a message that can delivered by anyone in your company to recruit drivers.
In North America the Trucking industry is spending over a million dollars a day recruiting drivers. Drivers are flooded with opportunities everywhere they go and the pool needs to be expanded, the message needs to get their attention, excite them and get them to contact your company. Once they have called the next step is to have a buttoned-down process to get them in the door. Recruitment and retention is an art and science. The science is becoming more popular and more and more companies are using advanced hiring technology that is quick, accurate and affordable.
There are many companies out there and more entering the space daily so be sure if your looking at this that you do your homework. We have plenty of experience in this area, if your looking to learn about best in class companies who offer these services give me a call, I will point you in the right direction.
Have a great summer and be safe out there.
