Truck Driver Recruiting Tips 2023

Most shipping companies are experiencing a shortage of drivers and struggling to recruit reliable team members to get the job done. So, if you’re like most of the industry, you’re probably looking to hire some new semi-truck drivers in 2023. But how can you find the right talent in this difficult labor market? While there’s no perfect answer to that question, we do have a few helpful recommendations that might improve your odds of success. Keep reading to learn more about Arrow Truck Sales and our top tips for recruiting new truck drivers for your shipping team.

Use Digital Recruiting Tools

The vast majority of job hunting is now done online, so it’s essential that your business is making use of digital tools to connect with the right candidates for the job. Use platforms like LinkedIn and Indeed to push your job postings to fellow industry professionals. However, don’t hesitate to turn to other social media platforms as well; promoting your open positions on Twitter and Facebook can often get your job listings in front of the right people or lead to word-of-mouth recommendations. You can also use these platforms to reach out to potential hires, so be proactive about making contact with these individuals.

Communicate Openly with Potential Hires

Employees value open communication from their employers, and that expectation is in place even before they’re hired. A lack of communication from you can often drive away top-quality candidates, so make sure you don’t make them wait around, uncertain of their application’s status. Update them on the status periodically; even a quick email to say, “We’re still reviewing your application and seriously considering you for a position,” can go a long way towards helping you land those exceptional drivers your team needs. Do your best to give them an estimate of when they can expect to hear back about your decision as well, and try to stick to that deadline as best you can.

Build a Company Culture that Stands Out

Regardless of the industry, employees today want to work for companies that offer more than just a salary and basic benefits. A company culture that is unique and appealing can go a long way toward drawing in those candidates. Ask yourself, “If another company is offering the same pay and benefits, why would a candidate choose to come work for me?” Find something you can offer to help you stand out from the crowd. This can include ongoing training programs, support for furthering education, mentorship programs, and more.

We know that being a shipping company means that most of your team members are out on the road on any given day, so you might not feel like you can build a strong company culture. However, that’s not true. While you might not be able to hold team-building activities like businesses with a traditional office, you can create a culture that makes your drivers proud to be a part of the team.

Offer Improved Driving Schedules

Work-life balance is more important to modern employees than it’s ever been before. Unfortunately, providing that balance in the trucking industry can be difficult, which may be why many young job candidates don’t express an interest in this career path. With the long hours of driving and days (or weeks) of being on the road, having a good work-life balance is difficult.

In order to attract new candidates, you can offer improved driving schedules based on the length of their employment. This can help you not only to find more candidates for your team but can also help you to retain your best drivers, thanks to the ability to improve their work-life balance based on their seniority within the company. Even if the newest recruits have to drive the more difficult schedules, they can do so knowing that, in time, they’ll be able to select a more balanced schedule that works better for their life.

Emphasize Your Company’s Benefits

Of course, even with great company culture, you need to be able to compete in terms of salary and benefits as well. The current shortage of drivers means that those entering the industry have a lot of options available to them for their careers, and you need to make your company the most appealing option out there. In addition to a highly competitive salary, you should consider offering some (if not all) of the following benefits:

• Family leave

• Paid time off

• Health insurance

• Dental and vision insurance

• Life insurance

• 401(k) plan with company match

• Sign-on bonuses

• Quarterly or annual bonus structure

If you’re a member of Arrow Truck’s PRIME program, then you have even more benefits that you can advertise to your recruits. Every company that enrolls in Arrow Truck PRIME can offer the following benefits to each and every one of their drivers:

• Free 6-month/50,000-mile warranty on all PRIME-eligible trucks. This comprehensive limited coverage includes protection for the engine, transmission, rear ends, injectors, fuel pump, and more.

• $1,000 PRIME allowance. You and your drivers will receive $1,000, which can be applied to your first payment on any truck or trailer financed through Transport Funding. Or, if you prefer, you can take a discount of $1,000 on the internet price of any truck or trailer.

• $500 off NTP warranty purchase. If you or your drivers decide to add any NTP warranty to the purchase of a semi-truck, we’ll take $500 off of the price.

At Arrow Truck Sales, we understand how hard it can be to find and retain the right talent, especially during the current trucker shortage. The more benefits you can provide to potential recruits, the more your business can stand out in the job market. That’s why we provide these perks to all of our PRIME members and their drivers. Contact us to learn more about the perks of the PRIME program and other financial services and how they can benefit your company and your team members.