Keeping hiring strategies innovative and effective is crucial when recruiting in the trucking industry. With many obstacles facing hiring managers, from shortages to the aging workforce, to increased competition due to high turnover. To ensure companies meet their hiring needs, staying current with the times is crucial.
According to American Trucking Associations, the industry must hire nearly 1.2 million new drivers over the next decade to replace those leaving trucking either through retirement or for other reasons. The shortage of truck drivers has resulted in increased competition among trucking companies to attract and retain drivers, leading to higher wages, better benefits, and other incentives.
Overall, the trucking industry continues to face recruitment challenges, and addressing these issues will be crucial to ensuring the sustainability of the industry. Read on to discover how meeting candidates where they are and putting a focus on job content can help trucking companies attract and retain talent by providing a clear and compelling picture of the job opportunities available.
To attract the right talent, companies need to target potential candidates in the right place and meet them where they are. This means being present on platforms and at events where potential candidates are likely to be, such as online job boards, social media, and industry events.
By doing so, hiring professionals can increase the visibility of job opportunities and reach a wider pool of potential candidates. This can be especially important for reaching younger generations who are more likely to use technology in their job search (and may not be aware of traditional recruitment channels). Reaching out to candidates in these spaces can also provide a direct line of communication to potential candidates – while fostering a connection with the potential candidates in a meaningful way.
It’s also an excellent idea for recruiting professionals to look into online communities on social platforms. Platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook have hubs of professionals who use the space to share information with one another. By joining a community or having visibility into one, hiring professionals can foster a connection with top talent with industry professionals who have similar interests.
Tip: 82% of companies attract passive candidates by recruiting through social media, highlighting the importance of being active on social media platforms.
Recruitment professionals in the trucking industry should also look into local hiring events or job fairs. These can effectively target talent in the location the company is looking to hire in. These events allow trucking companies to meet potential candidates face-to-face and showcase the benefits of working for their organization. It also allows companies to get to know potential candidates and provide them with a more personalized recruitment experience. Also, hiring events are a great brand awareness tactic, where companies can use the time to highlight their employer brand to job seekers.
Tip: Ensure the company has a plan for the candidates who share their information. There are many opportunities to reach out to candidates, such as following up with them with an email marketing campaign. Nurturing this connection allows hiring professionals to build a talent pipeline.
Also, it’s beneficial to partner with truck driving schools. This can be an effective way to reach out to potential candidates who are interested in entering the industry. Consider offering internships or apprenticeships to students to help them gain real-world experience and potentially find long-term employment with the company. This way, hiring professionals can foster a connection with an employee, which can help lead to them becoming an employee ambassador and wanting to find like-minded people to work alongside them.
The importance of meeting candidates where they are cannot be overstated. By meeting candidates where they are, trucking companies can expand their reach, increase their chances of finding the right fit for their organization, and attract a diverse pool of talented individuals.
A well-executed recruitment advertising campaign is an essential element for a successful hiring strategy. It helps companies get their job openings in front of the right audience, increasing the likelihood of attracting both active and passive job seekers. With the trucking industry facing a shortage of qualified drivers, it's more important than ever to use recruitment advertising to reach potential candidates.
Hiring professionals should take the time to revise and modernize their advertising strategies. One way to use recruitment advertising is through targeted job postings. By advertising job openings on relevant industry job boards, social media, and job posting sites, companies can attract qualified candidates who are actively looking for a job in the trucking industry. Additionally, utilizing programmatic advertising can boost efforts by using data-driven targeting to reach potential candidates who match specific criteria.
Finding the right talent in the transportation industry can be challenging, but specialized advertising can help bridge the gap between top candidates and the companies needing them.
Radio advertising targeted to truck drivers can be an effective way to reach a large audience. Radio is a popular medium among truck drivers and is a great awareness tactic for hiring professionals to promote job openings and attract candidates. It's important to include a clear call-to-action for potential applicants to ensure the ad is actionable.
Billboard advertising can also be a valuable recruitment tool in the trucking industry. By placing billboards along busy highways and trucking routes, companies can get their job openings in front of truck drivers who are already on the road. This approach is particularly effective for attracting passive job seekers who may not be actively looking for a job but are open to new opportunities. Ensure the billboard is interesting and memorable to candidates, so they remember the company and want to take action to learn more.
In today's highly competitive job market, it's essential to use specialized recruitment strategies to attract top talent in the transportation industry. One effective way to do this is by utilizing niche job boards that cater not only to the trucking industry, but also to specific demographics and age groups. This approach helps to ensure that job postings are seen by candidates who are more likely to possess the necessary skills and experience for the job, resulting in a higher likelihood of finding qualified candidates. Some of these niche job boards include:
Updating career sites, microsites, and landing pages ensures a user-friendly and easy-to-navigate experience for potential candidates. Outdated information can quickly turn off candidates, leading them to move on to other job opportunities. By regularly reviewing and updating these sites, companies can ensure that candidates are presented with the most accurate and up-to-date information about the company and the job openings.
Tip: Companies should ensure that their applicant tracking system (ATS) can efficiently take in and store candidate information. By making the recruiting and hiring process clear, streamlined, and efficient, companies can minimize candidate drop-off rates and increase the likelihood of finding and hiring qualified candidates.
Job descriptions are another critical component of effective transportation recruitment. To attract top talent, companies should make sure that job descriptions not only outline what the company needs from the candidate, but also what the company can offer the candidate. This is where highlighting the employee value proposition (EVP) comes into play. By showcasing the company's unique benefits and opportunities, candidates are more likely to be interested in the job and apply.
In conclusion, companies can increase their chances of attracting top talent in the transportation industry by utilizing specialized advertising, updating career sites and landing pages, creating compelling job descriptions, and streamlining the hiring process. By doing so, they can build a strong workforce and position themselves for long-term success.
Ready to take your trucking recruitment efforts to the next level? Contact Recruitics to help you find the top talent in the industry and streamline your hiring process. Let our team of experts help you build a team of skilled and dedicated professionals who can drive your company's success.
