How to Attract & Retain Top Drivers

Today’s drivers don’t just want to clock in at a job — they want to feel like they’re part of a family. By asking employees/applicants what they value and building up a company culture, you can ensure you’re hiring quality candidates and giving them a reason to stick around. Below, learn more about attracting and retaining top drivers. 

Focus on Younger Drivers 

There’s a retirement wave sweeping through the trucking industry, and smart fleets must focus on attracting younger generations — especially millennials, which make up the largest segment of the U.S. workforce — to survive. But how to appeal to this lucrative group of workers? Speak in a voice that millennials understand and focus on what matters to them: competitive pay, corporate social responsibility and company culture. 

Improve Company Culture 

Speaking of company culture — put it front and center. Salary and other tangible benefits are still important, of course, but people ultimately want to work for companies where they feel supported, heard and part of a team. A Glassdoor survey found that 77% of respondents consider a company’s culture before applying for a job, and 56% said company culture is more important than a salary as it relates to job satisfaction — and this was before the pandemic. On the flip side, in a recent poll of Truckers News and Overdrive subscribers, a whopping 70% of respondents said their fleet doesn’t respect its drivers or the job they do. Conclusion? There’s much work to be done to improve company culture in the trucking industry. 

Offer Legal Protection 

Most drivers can’t afford to be sidelined. If a driver is forced to handle a ticket in the court of original jurisdiction, that means they’re not on the road working. By partnering with TVC Pro-Driver, your fleet can offer employees the incredible perk of legal protection to safeguard their licenses and livelihoods. Bring this up in the recruitment process! Share how TVC is the only legal protection service for professional drivers that has an A+ rating from the BBB. We also charge no additional fees for covered cases for active members, and our provider attorney network has reduced or dismissed more than 1 million moving, non-moving and serious violations in all 50 states and Canada. To keep this perk top of mind, highlight it as a benefit in your compensation package, reinforce its value with breakroom flyers and mention it on your social media profiles. If your fleet isn’t currently part of the TVC Pro-Driver family, just email sales@prodriver.com to get started. 

Prioritize Wellness 

Show drivers you value their physical health, mental health and overall well-being.  As a TVC Pro-Driver member, you can also tout perks like healthcare discounts, a Driver Rewards Program, and family and spousal coverage. 

Refine the Onboarding Process 

So, you’ve hired a quality candidate — now what? A well-thought-out onboarding process is just as important as hiring the right person. A successful orientation goes beyond procedures, rules and regulations. It shows the new hire how they’ll fit in with the company culture and allows them to get face-to-face with the people they’ll interact with regularly. Additionally, making new hires feel welcome helps with retention; a study by consulting firm Wynhurst Group found employees who had been through a structured onboarding process were 58% more likely to be at the same company three years later. 

Bonus tip: ask top drivers to refer potential new team members and reward them for doing so. This is yet another way to show your employees you value their opinions and expertise — plus, it’s a great way to build a quality workforce!