There’s currently a truck driver shortage in today’s job market. Many trucking companies have jobs, but there aren’t enough truckers to fill them. Are you experiencing this? Signal Connect can help you find the right employees so your company doesn’t have to turn down paying loads. We’ve talked with fleet managers across the country to get tips for hiring the best truck drivers. The advice we share here should help you find the right drivers to sit behind the wheel of your company’s big rigs.
Truck Drivers Wanted!
Before you hang this sign in your shop window, you need to know what you’re looking for. There are some very basic qualifications that ever professional truck driver must have in order to be employed. To qualify for employment with your trucking company, drivers must have/be:
- 21 years old or older
- Earned a CDL-A license
- Passed a road test or equivalent
- Physically able to safely operate a big rig vehicle
- The ability to speak and read English
- A valid motor vehicle operator’s license
- Less than two moving violations in the past three years
- Present a record of any convicted driver violations
No one should be driving your big rigs if they don’t meet these basic qualifications. No trucker shortage is ever as bad as taking a risk on and unqualified candidate. That could jeopardize your company. This is your livelihood we’re talking about here… it’s how you support yourself and your family. Take the time to find the right truck driver(s) to come along.
Interview Questions to Hire the Best Truck Drivers
Asking the right questions, and listening to the answers, is how you find the right people. Any human resources manager will tell you this, and it’s true. If you’re operating a trucking company, you’re probably a trucker at heart. This could be your first time on the other side of the interview table. If this is the case, ask each candidate who wants to drive your company’s big rigs these interview questions:
- Would your previous employer say that you were never, sometimes, or usually late on deliveries?
- Please explain your driving record in detail.
- How do you definite “responsibility?”
- Have you ever been cut off on the freeway? How did you handle it?
- Has a customer ever told you that you brought the wrong order, but you thought it was the right one? How did you handle it?
- What do you like most about being a truck driver?
- When driving at night and turning left through an oncoming lane, what can you do to avoid a run under crash?
- What are your strengths as a trucker?
- What do you do to stay focused on the job?
- Have you ever experienced a near-miss accident? What did you do to avoid it?
- What do you do on your downtime?
- Describe a problem you’ve had with a manager’s decision and tell me how you handled it?
- Why are you a good candidate for this position?
- If you thought or knew an employee was stealing from the company, how would you handle it?
- How do you define a safe driving distance?
- What was your most frustrating experience as a truck driver?
- Is there something you wish I would’ve asked you but didn’t?
Being in a hurry to hire drivers could cause you to hear what you want to hear during these interviews. Be sure to pay close attention to each applicant’s answers to these questions. Take note of any red flags you get from their answers. The way to avoid big problems with employees is to recognize the small signs that show themselves during the interview process.
Marketing Your Trucking Jobs
At this point, you know who to look for and what questions to ask them. Now you have figure out how to reach qualified truckers who are looking for jobs. This could be trucking school graduates, seasoned truckers, and even local owner/operators. The key is finding those who are the right match for your company’s culture. Marketing your job openings and your company to potential candidates is how you do it.
Here are some tips that can help you reach the types of people you want behind the wheel of your company big rigs:
- Use social media to reach out to potential drivers
- Partner with local trucking schools and CDLA instructors
- Add a “now hiring” section to your company website if you don’t have one already
- Post a “now hiring drivers” sign outside company headquarters
- Build an email list and start a direct mail campaign
An effective marketing plan will help you find potential customers and jobs. It also can help you connect with truck drivers who are looking for a job.
Get DIRECTV in Your Company Big Rigs
Salary is the No. 1 reason why people choose their jobs, and benefits are a close second. Having DIRECTV in all your rigs is a great benefit to most truck truckers. DIRECTV’s satellite signal covers nearly 100 percent of the country. No matter where your drivers are, they’ll be able to watch their favorite shows. This is an amazing benefit that can help you attract the employees you need to make those hauls. You might be amazed at how well DIRECTV can help you attract the truck drivers your company needs to make those hauls.
Signal Connect is Your DIRECTV Dealer
Signal Connect is a DIRECTV for Business dealer. We specialize in providing DIRECTV for big rigs and fleets. We do everything that’s needed – equipment, installation, activation, etc. – to get satellite TV in your semi trucks. Once that’s done, we quickly activate each account and much more. Outfitting your big rigs with satellite TV is a big decision. You probably have some questions about this. Our representatives are happy to give you all the information you want. Just give us a call at 888-233-7563.
