Working with Truck Driver Recruiters
As the truck driving industry evolves, more and more trucking companies are engaging the services of dedicated truck driver recruiters.For drivers who are currently or soon to be searching for new driving jobs, working with a driver recruiter can make the process more successful.There are some tips to consider when deciding whether or not to work with a professional driver recruiter.
There are different types of truck driver recruiters. In-house driver recruiters work for the company that is hiring drivers. Their job is to identify the best Commercial driver candidates, and they should be experts on the carriers they represent. The downside is in promoting their particular trucking company, they won’t give much useful information about other carriers. Third-party recruiters work for outside agencies to help trucking companies find drivers. For this reason, they will be more familiar with numerous different companies.
When choosing to work with a recruiter, rather than simply completing and submitting a driver application, there are some points to keep in mind.
Experience: How long has the recruiter been working in the field? Have they always recruited truck drivers? Have they ever worked as a truck driver?
Capabilities: What can the driver recruiter help with as part of the driver recruitment process? Can they assist with creating a professional driver resume and giving a strong interview? Will they go to bat for a candidate throughout the interview process? Will the truck driver recruiter guide the candidate to beef up important skills, endorsements and experience?
It’s important to know if the driver recruiter is filling an actual opening or just gathering applications/resumes for future positions. Many driver recruiters collect driver applicationseven when they don’t have carriers that they are actively recruiting drivers for. The driver recruiter should be able to give a definite timeline for the CDL application/interview process, and he/should be accessible for any questions or follow-up. Asking the clear questions up front will save communication mishaps down the line.
Once a truck driver has decided to work with a driver recruiter, it should be a painless process in which each side has trust in the other’s ability to recruit drivers for great CDL Jobs.