Recruiting is making a comeback - slow though it may be, and you're going to need to hire drivers again soon. While you've been gone, the driver has gone through a change. A big change. Online recruiting has officially taken over. It's a new comparison shopper, magazine, billboard and radio broadcast all rolled into one. You can chat or phone in a heartbeat. It's fast and it's accurate and any driver can check out any carrier any time of the day or night any day of the week. The Internet has taken a firm hold as the logical option for drivers and carriers who are looking for the maximum return on their advertising investment. There may never be a full "recovery" per se, but you're either going to have to revise what you're doing or watch it pass you by. That's reality.
Let me give you a little insight to today's driver.
- He's online checking out your website and your competitor's website.
- He's socializing, telling everyone what's happening in his world.
- He's tweeting, Facebooking, and Linked-In-ing. Social media has arrived!
- He's blogging about his experiences with you and your organization, for all the world to read.
- He's Googling - not picking up a "truck book".
- He's texting just as much if not more than CB-ing.
- He's Wi-Fi-ing in his truck, at the truck stop, at the shipper, and even at home.
- He's researching his career options after midnight. Thousands of them are.
- He expects great service when asking questions, and does not want to wait for them.
- He can compare your company to another in a matter of seconds on any reputable recruiting site.
- He can come to work TODAY if you can get him approved.
- While you are qualifying him, he is qualifying you, and is probably talking to another carrier.
As you ponder these statements, and make the subsequent excuses about how they don't pertain to your organization; I hope you also think about how you'll answer and respond to them. Recruiting is indeed making a comeback, but not the way it was. Don't take my word for it - ask any daily newspaper.
So, are you prepared for the comeback? Will the new driver go to work for you or your competition?
