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MODERN WAYS TO FIND GOOD TRUCK DRIVERS AND RETAIN THEM

July 28, 2022 by admin0truck businessTrucking

Retaining your drivers is one of the best ways to keep your trucking business running successfully. Truck driving is a challenging lifestyle. Truck drivers give up most of their family time, driving for long solitary days with limited access to healthy food options.

Also, they often feel disrespected by other drivers on the road and their employers. These challenges make many of them quit their job, making it difficult for trucking companies to find qualified truck drivers.

Additionally, trucking companies with truck drivers find it hard to retain them. This is due to the truck driver shortage that the United States is currently experiencing.

Although finding and retaining truck drivers is no easy feat, commitment and making your drivers a top priority can change everything. Continue reading as Global Multi Services explain the modern ways to find truck drivers and retain them.

HOW TO FIND TRUCK DRIVERS

TARGET OTHER DEMOGRAPHY

According to statistics, the average number of new truck drivers is around 35years. But that does not mean you should only target the demographic. Consider underrepresented groups like female drivers, who comprise less than 10% of truck drivers, according to the ATA.

RECRUIT YOUNG DRIVERS

Recruiting young drivers is the key to long-term success as older drivers retire. You can recruit them through training programs, mentorships, or local outreach. But the only downside to these is the issue with insurance carriers’ driver eligibility.

USE MULTIPLE PLATFORMS

‌One of the best ways to find truck drivers is by being visible. That is why it is paramount to post your listing in many places. Here are a few platforms to post your visibility.

Company Website

Your website is one of the most suitable places to advertise job openings. Have the following sections on your website.

  • The “Apply” section should be in the headers of your website.
  • Job description and application process

Social Media

‌Social media platforms are an efficient place to use in the hiring process. According to statistics, 80% of people use social media to search for job postings. Additionally, 90% of companies use it to recruit employees.

‌Social media can be challenging to maintain when using all the platforms. Therefore, choose two or three platforms. LinkedIn and Facebook are common recruiting platforms. You can start with them and add more later.

Job posting board

Job posting boards advertise openings in your company and increase the likelihood of finding the best candidates. Some posting boards are only for truck drivers. Here are a few job posting boards:

  • Flex Job
  • Google for job
  • Every Truck Job
  • Truck Driver Job 4all
  • CDL Jobs

MAKE THE APPLICATION EASY

We all know information is important when hiring someone. But, getting all that information during the first application process is unnecessary. No one enjoys filling in endless applications, and potential employees might move to another company if your application is too long or complex. Therefore, keep your applications easy, short, and straightforward.

EMPLOYEE REFERRAL PROGRAM

Your current truck drivers and staff are the most valuable resources when considering how to find truck drivers. Many of them know someone fit for the job prescription. So, creating an employee referral program makes it easy to suggest candidates. But it must come with a referral reward for these to work.

TIPS FOR RETAINING TRUCK DRIVERS

INCREASE PAYMENT

Every employee is at work to make a living. So, how much you pay your drivers determines if they will work in your company. Therefore, offering more per mile, incentives for meeting specific goals, and other significant benefits is paramount.

COMPENSATE YOUR DRIVERS

Compensating your drivers motivates them to work smarter and stay loyal to you. You can create a list and categories. For example:

  • The most professional and dependable drivers
  • The best fuel mileage and pre-trip inspection

These improve your business and increase your driver’s pocket. You can also consider providing a gym membership. That means they do not have to pay for one out of their paychecks.

OBTAIN NECESSARY PERMIT

Permits are mandatory for trucking companies operating intrastate or interstate. It prevents illegal operations and ensures truck drivers adhere to government regulations. Obtaining all the necessary permits like UCR Permits, IRP Plates, and Motor Carrier Permits allows your drivers to haul across multiple states without detention.

PRIORITIZE THEIR HEALTH

‌According to CDC reports, long-haul truck drivers are likely to be chronic smokers, obese, and develop high blood pressure and diabetes. Sadly, these lead to serious health complications and deaths.

Prioritizing your trucker’s health encourages them to live healthier and partake in more physical activities. Here are several ways to help them:

  • Organizing health training
  • On-site gyms or providing memberships for external gyms.
  • Giving incentives to truckers that quit smoking or lose weight.
  • Encouraging cooking rather than eating fast food.

These steps make them feel valued and help them stay longer with your company.

REGULAR HOMETIME

‌Drivers also have friends, sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, wives, and siblings. But they give up their time and the people they love to deliver freights. Driving for days can lead to loneliness, depression, and other mental issues. So, it is essential to prioritize your driver’s hometime. Spending time with their family is vital to their mental health and your company.

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THE CONS OF WORKING AS AN OWNER-OPERATOR

June 30, 2022 by admin0truck businessTrucking

Company drivers drive the company’s truck. They also transport loads when and where the company assigns them, giving them little control over their work schedules. Owner-operators are self-employed business owners who transport freight loads for others. They have more choices about when they work and what types of loads they haul.

The reality of being an owner-operator is that it is often more work when compared to working for someone else. Owner-operator has trucks and takes on all the management jobs with their driving role. Instead of being told where to go, they find loads to haul. They also create awareness, build relationships, and find ways to stay busy when times get slow.

But owning your equipment can be very expensive. The cost of buying or leasing trucks plus maintenance can be overwhelming. Owner-operators must pay bills on time to keep creditors from filing judgments against them. They also have to pay for liability and health insurance while setting aside money for taxes. Read on as Global Multi Services explain the cons of operating as an owner-operator.

EQUIPMENT EXPENSES

Working as an owner-operator requires having your rigs. Many often start with one truck and eventually build up to a fleet that may include several trucks, trailers, and flatbeds. Buying or leasing tractors is one of the primary and most expensive investments.

As an owner-operator, you can ask for a loan to buy the equipment, and the potential lenders will examine your credit history. That means the better your credit rating, the more promising your chances of getting a low-interest loan. But you need to finance at least a part of the investment.

Many owner-operators choose to lease their truck and other equipment instead of buying it directly. That is, they only pay for the property when they use it. These allow them to upgrade their equipment more often and get better equipment with less money up-front. Are you planning to become an owner-operator in the future? Now is the best time to start planning for your dream career. Start saving money from your paycheck to have a down payment for your tractors.

HIGHER FINANCIAL RISK

The financial risk of an owner-operator is enormous as they are responsible for the maintenance and fueling of the trucks. Although they can take time off when they want, they spend this time on truck maintenance and keeping business records. Also, the pressure and stress they face can be more tiring than an employed driver. Owner-operators also need to research and network with trucking companies to find who will pay the best and be consistent.

BIGGER RESPONSIBILITIES

While there is much freedom in being an owner-operator, it comes with new responsibilities you may have yet to consider. An owner-operator must research to know how to manage their trucking business. They are responsible for replying to emails, answering phone calls, and pounding the pavement to land new clients. They also handle things they were minimally involved in as an employee. These include repair services, maintenance schedule, truck cleaning, and compliance.

LESS FLEXIBILITY

Owner-operators start at the bottom and work their way up. That means they may not have the best schedule or routes until they gain a bit of tenure and seniority. They are also limited to other companies’ clients, patterns, and communication technology. These make their earning potential at the beginning unstable.

LESSER DOWNTIME

Owner-operators work for more hours than company truck drivers. They have a lot more of the workload to cover on their own. They inspect the truck before hitting the road, set up contracts, and haul the freight. These show they do not have much downtime. Also, starting as an owner-operator can be very stressful. Many companies will not give them loads until they have established a good reputation in the industry. Furthermore, they must constantly network and build their brand as a reliable source for hauling freight.

WRAPPING UP

Becoming an owner-operator often seems more enjoyable than working as a company driver. However, it requires hard work and more responsibility since they own their trucking business. Every decision they make affects their business and customer trust.

ABOUT GLOBAL MULTI SERVICES

Global Multi Services is a one-stop place for all your trucking permit applications across the United States. We provide expert services to trucking companies at an affordable price. Contact us today for a fast and efficient truck permit application.

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THE CHALLENGES OF MANAGING A SUCCESSFUL TRUCKING COMPANY IN THE UNITED STATES

June 22, 2022 by admin0truck businessTrucking

The trucking industry is one of the biggest industries in the United States and provides revenue for the country. According to the American Trucking Trends 2017, trucking generated over 70% of the nation’s freight bill. However, while the trucking industry hauls billions of dollars of goods across the country every year, trucking companies face a myriad of challenges that can prevent their companies from meeting their full potential.

Starting a trucking business usually requires more than getting the appropriate license and purchasing trucks. It poses challenges you need to overcome if you want to be successful. This year has presented multiple struggles for the industry, from government freight regulations and environmental factors to rising fuel prices. Surmounting those obstacles is not impossible. But it takes time, effort, grit, and determination.

Global Mukti Services has compiled the top challenges of managing a successful trucking company in the United States to aid in the quest for a successful business. These challenges present complications relative to finding a solution. So, keep reading to find out how to address some of these challenges in your trucking company.

MEETING CUSTOMERS’ EXPECTATIONS

The evolution of customer expectations is one of the most significant challenges of managing trucking companies. In today’s world, customers surf the net with their smartphones and expect instant gratification. They expect

start-up trucking companies to keep up with trends, despite their lack of multi-million-dollar infrastructure.

Addressing expectations relating to the feasible output is a significant hurdle for many trucking companies. Also, the advent of AI, electric self-driving trucks, and other technologies has increased the expectation for trucking companies to perform more significantly than ever.

Companies now have to convince their clients they are still human-oriented. They must also show them the value of their business even when they cannot match other companies’ infrastructure.

SOLUTION

Add extra value to your service

Adding extra value to your services is always a benefit and a bonus for customer relations. Often, the most prominent companies overlook this. Therefore, your company may be able to take advantage of it.

Use modern technology

Utilizing modern technologies is another way of proving you provide value. Using modern technology tools in your day-to-day operations implies your business is moving at the speed of technological growth.

Understand what motivates your client

Understanding what motivates your client is paramount when running a successful trucking business. You must know what they want and how they want to be treated. These make them patronize and trust your business.

Build customer trust

Being open about your business operation builds customer trust. And trust is the cornerstone of any business relationship. So, always focus on building trust first.

Be open and transparent with your operation.

No one likes a shady company, and being honest about your operations and processes makes your customers expect normal operations. It also allows smooth communication.

SECURITY THREAT

Security is one of the growing concerns for trucking companies. Valuable technologies are hauled across the United States, increasing the amount of crime. With freight disappearing from storage and trucks, trucking companies must increase security in their facilities and trucks.

Cybercrime is also a new threat that has emerged in the trucking industry. Dependence on technology determines the risk of cybercrime activities in your company.

SOLUTION

Partnering with companies that have earned their status as secure technology through adequately built systems and processes ensures your company maintains secured operating environments.

DIGITAL EVOLUTION

Trucking companies operating in similar ways for decades tend to shy away from significant change. So evolution toward digital solutions has affected many trucking companies. Many digital reports are now replacing paper ones. These include operator checklist, equipment condition report, fleet repair requests, pre/post-trip inspections, accident reports, etc.

Training older drivers

Training older drivers and staff to adapt and use modern tools and technology can also be challenging.

While some adopt the new technology with open arms, others might reject the idea without question. These affect the management when operating in a fashion that is the most effective for individuals.

Introducing new technology

Introducing new processes and technologies implies an upfront expenditure with the hope of increased revenues. For example: Purchasing new electric trucks and upgrading your driver’s communications to a smartphone and tablet requires an upfront expense.

SOLUTION

The key to understanding how to tackle the challenge of digital evolution is knowing the best methods of implementing new systems into your existing framework. Make your staff understand the intrinsic value of new technologies. Show them how the efficiency of digital solutions bypasses old paper documentation.

DRIVERS FATIGUE MANAGEMENT

Driver fatigue is another challenge faced by trucking companies. Fatigue sets in on monotonous positions and can be caused by more than mere tiredness. Therefore, a critical fatigue management program is paramount for employees. Also, fatigue management is challenging for trucking companies because they want to balance efficient service while allowing their drivers to work at a more leisurely and enjoyable pace.

SOLUTION

Implementing health and safety protocols for truck drivers is the first thing to do. Technology has also provided tools to track and manage health and safety issues at multiple locations. Using automated trucks will also eliminate driver fatigue issues. However, these trucks may increase driver influence problems since they do not need to pay much attention due to assisted driving technology.

STAYING IN COMPLIANCE

Staying in compliance is mandatory for trucking companies operating across the United States. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ensures motor carriers adhere to all regulations. The Department of Transportation provides permits and licenses for trucking companies to operate legally. But renewing those permits and authority can be hectic and time-consuming. Also, every state has different regulations, making it difficult for trucking companies to keep up with them.

SOLUTION

Working with a trucking permit provider like Global Multi Services relieves you of all the stress. We will help you apply for and renew all your permits and licenses. We will also update you on changes in regulation from time to time. These allow you to focus on other parts of your business.

WRAPPING UP

The trucking industry provides an essential service and can overcome its current challenges. With foresight, perseverance, planning, and determination, you can overcome these challenges and see your business thrive.

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