Having trouble recruiting truck drivers? A bit of creativity may help
The shortage of truck drivers has found its way into the news quite a bit lately, causing some of the top news sources to refer to current conditions as a “trucking crisis” or “critical driver shortage.”
While some blame the pandemic for making it hard to find and retain drivers, others credit an aging workforce and truck driver lifestyle. The Journal of Commerce adds that “nearly every period of economic growth is accompanied by a driver ‘shortage,’ including the recovery that began in 2009.”
No matter what the reason, if you employ truck drivers, you may be wondering what you can do to draw in more applicants. Here are a few ideas for recruiting truck drivers that extend beyond the same old advice to pay more, offer better benefits, or make your company a great place to work.
Post videos featuring your current drivers
If you have drivers who have a unique way of approaching their job, make short video clips featuring whatever it is they do. Let them share their talent with the world.
Not only does this show prospective drivers that you celebrate your employee’s individuality, but it also sparks interest in your company. Post these videos on your website and social media pages. Encourage others to like, comment, and share.
Create a FAQ webpage for interested applicants
One study found that, after reading a job post, 64% of candidates will research the company before deciding whether they’ll apply. If they’re unable to locate the information they want, it’s the end of the road for 37%.
To keep as many potential applicants engaged as you can, dedicate an entire page of your website to answering the questions that job seekers typically ask. Topics you may want to touch on include benefits, flexibility, growth opportunities, company values and culture, your management style, and any other things that come up often during the interview process.
Collaborate with other local businesses
Hold a recruiting drive on your own and you might not have many people show up. Partner with other local companies that are also hiring and not only are you more likely to draw a bigger crowd, but you might even spark the interest of a job seeker who didn’t know you were hiring or who hadn’t considered driving.
As a group, rent a local hall or meeting room. Draw up materials to market your recruitment event and ask everyone involved to share them via all of their marketing channels. Create even more buzz by sharing the event with local media (TV, radio, news) and inviting them to attend.
Reach out to an influencer
Find an influencer in the trucking industry and reach out to them to see if they are willing to assist you with your recruitment efforts. If you’re not familiar with this term, an influencer is a person, group, or business with a large social media following and, as a result, can influence their audience’s actions and decisions.
Maybe they could interview you about a hot trucking topic, giving you the ability to also talk about how you’re looking for new drivers. Or you could supply a blog post about a trucking-related topic which they then share online. Do a search for “trucking industry influencers” and contact one or two.
These are just a few options to consider. Hold a brainstorming session with your colleagues and see what other creative ideas you can come up with to recruit truck drivers. Try them out and you may find one that works!
If you are still having trouble recruiting, we can help. Our Centerline team are experts in finding the most qualified drivers for the job. Get in touch now to see how we can help your business.
