Choosing Your Driver Recruitment Strategy

February 13, 2024

In the dynamic and competitive field of the trucking industry, the recruitment of CDL-A Drivers is a crucial element in driving the success and growth of the trucking fleet.

Trucking companies often face the dilemma of choosing between in-house recruitment and third-party driver recruiting agencies. This decision is critical in a field where there’s a constant demand for skilled drivers and an ever-changing recruitment environment. Our goal is to guide you through making an informed choice between outsourcing and managing recruitment internally.

The Benefits and Challenges of In-House Recruitment

In-house recruitment means having a dedicated team in your organization focused on hiring truck drivers. This team works closely with your company to develop a recruitment strategy tailored to your specific needs, culture, and values.

Pros of Internal Recruitment

Tailored Recruitment Strategy
An in-house team can customize its recruitment processes to target driver, ensuring that the recruitment aligns with the unique requirements of your trucking company.
Cultural Alignment and Company Values
Internal teams are fully aware of your company culture, enabling them to recruit CDL-A Drivers who will not only meet the technical requirements (like 2 years of experience, NO DUI, Clean MVR etc), but also fit well with the company culture.
Direct and Efficient Communication
In-house recruiters can limit the chances of conflicts and misunderstandings , allowing for quick adjustments and responses to the dynamic needs of the trucking industry and driver market.
Creating a talent pool
A major benefit of in-house recruitment is the ability to create and maintain a pool of truck driver candidates for future hiring, including those who currently may not meet all requirements, such as lack of experience or past issues, but could be potential hires later.

Cons of Internal Recruitment

Higher Operational Costs
Establishing an in-house recruitment team requires significant financial investment, such as: office space, equipment and other necessary resources and tools.
Challenges with Resources During Market Downturns
In-house recruitment teams can become a liability during periods of decreased hiring or market downturns, as experienced last year when driver hiring declined.
Limitations in Recruitment Expertise and Reach
In-house teams may not have access to the broader market insights and advanced recruitment technologies that specialized recruitment agencies use, which can be crucial in attracting top CDL-A drivers.

Third-Party Driver Recruiting Agencies: Outsourcing Your Recruitment Needs

Outsourcing recruitment to external agencies can save your business both time and money. These agencies use their expertise and resources to handle your driver hiring needs.

Advantages of External Recruitment

Access to Broader Talent Pool and Advanced Resources
Outsourced agencies have a wider reach and access to a large pool of potential drivers, along with advanced recruitment technologies and market insights, which can be crucial in attracting the best drivers.
Flexibility and Scalability
These agencies offer flexibility, scaling their services up or down based on your company’s hiring needs. This is particularly beneficial during fluctuating market demands
Reduced Operational Costs
By outsourcing recruitment, your company can save on the costs associated with maintaining an in-house team, such as salaries, benefits, and resources needed for the recruitment process.

Disadvantages of External Recruitment

Less Control Over Recruitment Process
When you outsource, you might have less control over how drivers are recruited, which could lead to different outcomes than expected.
Potential Cultural Misalignment
External agencies may not be as deeply attuned to your company’s culture and values, which could lead to hiring candidates who are technically fit but not a perfect cultural fit.
Communication Barriers
Working with an external agency can sometimes result in communication delays or misunderstandings, which might affect the efficiency and effectiveness of the recruitment process.

Optimizing CDL-A Driver Recruitment: Insights from Mad Duck and Rolling Raspberry

From hearing what our clients have to say, it’s pretty clear how much your choice of recruitment and marketing partners can affect your business.

For instance, Dejan from Mad Duck, initially chose to work with an outsourcing recruiting agency but soon encountered obstacles. The core issue lay in the agency’s lack of understanding of Mad Duck’s unique company values and specific criteria, leading to a mismatch in the recruitment process. In response to this misalignment, Mad Duck decided to adjust its strategy. They chose to partner with Truckers Flow, a specialized outsourced marketing agency known for generating leads for CDL-A drivers. By handling recruitment internally and entrusting lead generation to Truckers Flow, they established a more harmonious strategy that resonated with their organizational objectives.

On the other side, Rolling Raspberry it’s a totally different story They have maintained a successful, ongoing relationship with an external recruitment agency, seamlessly blending their CDL- driver recruitment strategies. Additionally, by outsourcing lead generation, particularly focusing on over-the-road (OTR) driver leads, to agencies like Truckers Flow, they’ve enhanced their driver recruitment advertising and digital marketing for trucking efforts. This strategy has allowed them to leverage external expertise while focusing their internal resources on core business operations.

These contrasting examples highlight the necessity of customizing your approach when choosing business partners. The crucial aspect is maintaining consistent communication and selecting a partner skilled in creating targeted ads and successfully recruiting truckers.

In-House vs. Outsourced Recruitment - Finding Your Fit

If your transport company has the resources and a steady need for new hires, in-house recruitment could be the right choice. It’s ideal for those who want to build a dedicated talent pool and have recruiters deeply familiar with the company’s culture.

On the other hand, if your company is in the early stages of development, or you lack recruitment expertise in the transport industry, outsourcing might be more suitable.

Combining Strategies for Optimal Results

You don’t have to choose one over the other. Combining in-house and outsourced recruitment can be effective, especially during hiring surges or when infusing new ideas into your recruitment strategies. Outsourced teams can also assist in setting up an internal recruitment team, sharing their expertise in the process.