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Unless you work for a transportation company, you might find it a bit surprising to learn that hiring truck drivers is often an especially difficult task. To some people this may seem surprising, but the truth of the matter is that it is hard to find someone willing to go through everything truck drivers must endure.
Being a truck driver is not only a thankless job, it is also physically demanding. Many people see it as just driving around the country. However, it is so much more than that. Truck drivers work very long hours, often during the nighttime, which can take a heavy toll on their health, plus the fact that they are often far away from their homes and families.
Hiring a truck driver is different from hiring for any other position for several reasons, but primarily because of the specific requirements that the job has.
The Truck Driver
There are many reasons why a person might want to become a truck driver in the first place. According to research conducted in 2017 by Randall Reilly together with Commercial Carrier Journal, the main reason why people join this particular workforce is a call or desire to be in the open road. Other contributing factors include the income they receive from it, the fact that it is a ‘family tradition’, meaning that they were influenced by another member of their families, and that they wished to have the opportunity to work something other than the typical 9-to-5 job, without being in a conventional office with a boss breathing on their necks.
By definition, a truck driver must possess the license and permits necessary to operate such vehicles which can be obtained at local government offices provided they demonstrate that they possess the necessary skills. But this job takes so much more than just a license.
Things to Keep in Mind
When hiring a truck driver, the recruiter must be very specific about the type of vehicle they will be using, the distances covered, the travel times, and even the type of goods they will be transporting. A good truck driver must be able to work on a tight schedule and they also need to be self-reliant should an emergency occur on the road.
Attracting Truck Drivers
Most truck drivers work in one of two ways nowadays: they either work as part of a company with their own fleet or they are leased owners or operators, similar to how a freelancer works. Regardless of the way they work, they face similar challenges. According to the aforementioned Randall Reilly and CCJ study, most drivers consider that the two main negative aspects of their job are regulations that make their work harder and the fact that they feel underappreciated.
Unlike other conventional candidates in the modern work market, the thing that truck drivers seem to care about the most is their salary rather than other benefits. However, the problem goes a little deeper than just money. According to the study, the second most popular thing that attracts truck drivers is a work environment where they feel respected, cared for, and supported. Working alone and away from home can take a toll on any person’s psyche and many drivers feel their employers just don’t care enough about them.
The Answer
The main reason why hiring a truck driver is so difficult is because many recruiters just don’t know how to reach nor engage them. They need to understand that they are not hiring someone to work in an office or any other conventional work space. We often say that each type of position has their own specific needs and requirements, this is especially true for truck drivers.
Being out on the road can get very lonely, truck drivers need to feel like they belong to a team and that they have someone that has their backs. When a recruiter starts engaging a potential truck driver, they need to make it clear, and with all honesty, that the company they are representing understands their needs.
If you want to attract truck drivers, we strongly recommend a simple application process; all the information you really need from them is whether they have the proper licenses and references from previous jobs. Diversify your sources and focus on leads, there are plenty of websites where truck drivers publish their information for recruiters to go out and reach them, it just takes a call to have them notice you.
Use your employer brand and your EVP to your advantage. Create a reputation for yourself as an employer that will care and understand the particular needs of this workforce.
Final Thoughts
It takes specific skills and considerations to hire a good truck driver. Most recruiters fail when trying to hire them because they have special needs and requirements that are completely different from those of a regular worker. Remember that truck drivers care about knowing that their employer will have their backs whenever they’re out on the road. Understand what is important to them and prove that you will support them through thick and thin.
Eduardo Rojas
Content Marketing Editor
Being a truck driver is not only a thankless job, it is also physically demanding. Many people see it as just driving around the country. However, it is so much more than that. Truck drivers work very long hours, often during the nighttime, which can take a heavy toll on their health, plus the fact that they are often far away from their homes and families.
Hiring a truck driver is different from hiring for any other position for several reasons, but primarily because of the specific requirements that the job has.
The Truck Driver
There are many reasons why a person might want to become a truck driver in the first place. According to research conducted in 2017 by Randall Reilly together with Commercial Carrier Journal, the main reason why people join this particular workforce is a call or desire to be in the open road. Other contributing factors include the income they receive from it, the fact that it is a ‘family tradition’, meaning that they were influenced by another member of their families, and that they wished to have the opportunity to work something other than the typical 9-to-5 job, without being in a conventional office with a boss breathing on their necks.
By definition, a truck driver must possess the license and permits necessary to operate such vehicles which can be obtained at local government offices provided they demonstrate that they possess the necessary skills. But this job takes so much more than just a license.
Things to Keep in Mind
When hiring a truck driver, the recruiter must be very specific about the type of vehicle they will be using, the distances covered, the travel times, and even the type of goods they will be transporting. A good truck driver must be able to work on a tight schedule and they also need to be self-reliant should an emergency occur on the road.
Attracting Truck Drivers
Most truck drivers work in one of two ways nowadays: they either work as part of a company with their own fleet or they are leased owners or operators, similar to how a freelancer works. Regardless of the way they work, they face similar challenges. According to the aforementioned Randall Reilly and CCJ study, most drivers consider that the two main negative aspects of their job are regulations that make their work harder and the fact that they feel underappreciated.
Unlike other conventional candidates in the modern work market, the thing that truck drivers seem to care about the most is their salary rather than other benefits. However, the problem goes a little deeper than just money. According to the study, the second most popular thing that attracts truck drivers is a work environment where they feel respected, cared for, and supported. Working alone and away from home can take a toll on any person’s psyche and many drivers feel their employers just don’t care enough about them.
The Answer
The main reason why hiring a truck driver is so difficult is because many recruiters just don’t know how to reach nor engage them. They need to understand that they are not hiring someone to work in an office or any other conventional work space. We often say that each type of position has their own specific needs and requirements, this is especially true for truck drivers.
Being out on the road can get very lonely, truck drivers need to feel like they belong to a team and that they have someone that has their backs. When a recruiter starts engaging a potential truck driver, they need to make it clear, and with all honesty, that the company they are representing understands their needs.
If you want to attract truck drivers, we strongly recommend a simple application process; all the information you really need from them is whether they have the proper licenses and references from previous jobs. Diversify your sources and focus on leads, there are plenty of websites where truck drivers publish their information for recruiters to go out and reach them, it just takes a call to have them notice you.
Use your employer brand and your EVP to your advantage. Create a reputation for yourself as an employer that will care and understand the particular needs of this workforce.
Final Thoughts
It takes specific skills and considerations to hire a good truck driver. Most recruiters fail when trying to hire them because they have special needs and requirements that are completely different from those of a regular worker. Remember that truck drivers care about knowing that their employer will have their backs whenever they’re out on the road. Understand what is important to them and prove that you will support them through thick and thin.
Eduardo Rojas
Content Marketing Editor