On September 24, 2024, DriverReach, in collaboration with the Georgia Motor Truck Association (GMTA) and TeamOne Logistics, hosted an insightful webinar titled Driving Efficiency: Enhancing Recruiting, Authenticity, and Compliance in Trucking. The event brought together industry experts to discuss key challenges and solutions in trucking recruitment, compliance, and leveraging technology as discussed in the 2024 Issues of Trux Magazine. Speakers included Jeremy Reymer, Founder of DriverReach; Page Siplon of TeamOne Logistics; and Sam Bloomquist, DriverReach's Chief Product Officer.
If you missed the live session, don't worry—you can access the on-demand recording here and review the full Q&A.
Key Takeaways
1. Authenticity in Recruiting: Building Lasting Relationships
Jeremy kicked off the discussion by stressing that recruiting is no longer just about filling seats; it’s about building lasting relationships with drivers. Drawing on insights from the TRUX magazine, he emphasized the importance of meaningful engagement, which resonates deeply with today’s drivers. The focus is not merely on pay but also on creating a culture where drivers feel valued and engaged.
- Tip for Recruiters: Move beyond transactional interactions and focus on building genuine connections with drivers. Use technology to enhance—not replace—personal engagement.
Page Siplon brought a wealth of experience from his leadership at TeamOne Logistics and shared practical insights on building a driver-centric culture. He explained that recruiting doesn’t stop once a driver is hired, and that retention is a continuous process that should involve all areas of a company.
“Recruiting never stops... If you’ve got safe, qualified drivers, you need to keep recruiting them. Otherwise, somebody else will,” said Paige. He emphasized that recognition and communication are crucial, noting that “drivers want to be recognized for more than just driving. They interact with your customers more than your sales team, and they’re the face of your company.”
Page also shared the importance of ensuring that every department, from HR to payroll, is part of the "recruitment" process by providing white-glove service to support drivers. He underscored that fostering a culture of safety and open communication is key to retaining drivers, offering practical examples like handwritten cards to drivers’ families as a way to engage both drivers and their loved ones.
“Safety should be personal,” Page explained, “and it’s not just the responsibility of leadership. Drivers need to be invested in the culture of safety and feel like they are part of something bigger.”
2. Leveraging AI in Recruiting: Transforming the Hiring Process
Sam discussed how AI is revolutionizing the recruiting process, helping trucking companies do more with fewer resources. AI tools like chatbots can automate tasks such as candidate sourcing and screening, freeing recruiters to focus on meaningful human connections.
- DriverReach's Innovation: Sam introduced DriverReach’s AI-powered chatbot that helps with candidate engagement, pre-qualifying applicants, and gathering important information before handing them off to recruiters.
- Balancing AI and Human Touch: While AI can streamline processes, it’s crucial not to lose the human element. Use AI as a tool to enhance recruitment efficiency, not replace human interaction.
3. Compliance Challenges and Best Practices in Trucking
Compliance is foundational to successful recruiting in trucking. Jeremy discussed the increasing risk of "nuclear verdicts" and how non-compliance can expose companies to significant legal and financial risks. He highlighted DriverReach’s DQ Checklist as a key tool to help companies manage driver compliance with DOT regulations and safety standards.
- Best Practices: Ensure your company stays ahead of regulatory changes by leveraging compliance technology. Tools like DriverReach’s DQ Checklist help companies avoid costly penalties and keep fleets compliant.
“You can't have good recruiting and bad compliance," Jeremy stated. "It’s a core part of avoiding legal and regulatory risks and staying ahead in an increasingly competitive landscape."
Page Siplon added his perspective on how compliance is more than just a regulatory requirement—it's a reflection of a company’s culture and commitment to safety. Page emphasized that compliance should be personal, and that creating a culture of safety among drivers is essential for long-term success.
“Safety and compliance should be very personal, not just to the leaders with P&L responsibilities, but also to the drivers themselves,” Paige said. "It’s critical to make drivers feel invested in your safety culture. When drivers are engaged, they take better care of your equipment, which reduces maintenance costs and improves overall performance."
Page also discussed the role that technology plays in helping trucking companies stay compliant, explaining that it’s nearly impossible to manage compliance manually.
“You can’t do it manually. You need something like DriverReach to handle the complexity and ensure 100% compliance. Being 95% compliant just isn’t worth the risk,” Paige noted, adding that creating a culture of safety and ensuring constant communication between leadership, drivers, and even drivers’ families can make a big difference.
This holistic approach to safety and compliance—supported by technology like DriverReach—ensures that companies are not only meeting regulatory requirements but are also building a culture that drivers want to be part of.
Q&A Highlights
During the session, we received numerous insightful questions from the audience. Here are a few highlights:
Q: How are you and your associated trucking companies utilizing AI and LLM's in your Recruiting, Compliance, Training, Workers Compensation, Operations, and Communications functions?
- Answer: DriverReach is leveraging AI primarily in recruiting and compliance. AI tools help with candidate sourcing, screening, and engagement. We’re building a recruiting chatbot to help pre-qualify drivers and inform them about the companies to which they’re applying, and we’re experimenting with AI potential for document analysis and communication enhancements. This is just the beginning of the many ways AI can be utilized across a company. The real direction will likely come from more progressive industries, where we can observe how AI is being integrated, and eventually, those innovations will find their way into the trucking industry.
Q: All of the things regarding recognizing drivers and communicating with them personally is wonderful, but do those things really matter to a percentage of drivers that are very drama-driven and may not have the qualities, core values, and behaviors that are needed to be a top-performing driver? How does a carrier identify and recruit quality, qualified drivers versus just qualified drivers?
- Answer: During the webinar Page acknowledged the challenge and emphasized the importance of having skilled recruiters who are adept at asking the right questions and identifying quality candidates. He explained:
"Training for your recruiters is key. They've got to be asking the right questions and have that sixth sense. Recruiting is a sales job. You're selling the opportunity, you're selling the value and the culture of your company. That should be easy to sell. If it's not, you've got a different problem."
He further elaborated on the value of driver referrals, explaining that companies should tap into their top-performing drivers to help recruit others with similar qualities:
"Recruiting is also about referrals. If you've got great drivers, ask them, 'Hey, you're an awesome driver. Go find three more like you.' Use your current top drivers to find that, and if you do, I've got a financial incentive for you."
In short, Page emphasized the dual importance of recruiter training and leveraging referrals from top drivers to identify and recruit quality candidates.
Register for Our Next Event - We Are Heading to Atlanta!
Don't forget to mark your calendars for DriverReach's upcoming in-person event, Drive Your Own Adventure, in Atlanta on November 20, 2024 from 8am - 4pm ET. This event will offer deeper insights into recruiting and compliance, featuring thought leaders and industry experts.
For those who couldn’t attend the live webinar, access the on-demand recording below.
Watch the Webinar On-Demand
If you missed the live session, don’t worry—you can watch the full webinar on-demand and dive deeper into the insights shared by these industry leaders.
Resources Shared During the Webinar:
- GMTA Leadership Conference Registration: Join GMTA in Atlanta Nov 18-19
- Request a DriverReach Demo: See how DriverReach’s recruiting and compliance platform can help you improve your processes.
- TeamOne Logistics Website
