In our latest Product Empowerment Series on January 30, 2025, DriverReach had the privilege of sitting down with Tracy Rushing, CDS, Executive Director of Safety & Recruiting at R.E. Garrison Trucking. Tracy, a respected leader in the industry and the 2024 Women in Trucking Influential Woman of the Year, shared how her company transformed its recruiting process to streamline hiring, enhance compliance, and create a true destination employer culture.
Building a Culture of Driver Support
At R.E. Garrison, the philosophy is simple: There are only two roles—drivers and those who support them. From leadership to recruiting, every decision is made with drivers in mind. As Tracy explained:
“If you’re not driving the truck, your job is to support the person who is.”
This driver-first mindset helped R.E. Garrison stand out in the competitive trucking industry, not only attracting top-tier talent—with a waiting list to fill open trucks in the future— but keeping drivers engaged for the long haul. Their industry-leading approach to building a driver-first culture, combined with leveraging modern technology, created their status as a true destination employer.
Overhauling the Recruiting Process
Before adopting DriverReach, R.E. Garrison faced common industry challenges:
- Fragmented recruiting systems leading to inefficiencies.
- Compliance bottlenecks that slowed down hiring.
- Recruiters juggling multiple platforms, wasting valuable time.
By implementing DriverReach, they centralized their recruiting operations, creating a seamless, technology-driven process that eliminated waste, improved communication, and ultimately doubled their hiring rate while cutting marketing spend by 50%.
Let’s Get ‘Em to Green!
One of the biggest game-changers for R.E. Garrison was the "Get Them to Green" strategy. Using DriverReach's DQ Checklist, recruiters now have a clear, step-by-step process to move drivers through onboarding faster and more efficiently.
“We measure everything, and our recruiters are obsessed with getting drivers to green,” Tracy explained. “It’s a repeatable, sustainable process that ensures every driver is fully onboarded and compliant.”
Eliminating Delays with a Paper Airplane
A key innovation that revolutionized R.E. Garrison’s process was the introduction of the Paper Airplane: a tool within DriverReach that allows recruiters to quickly send and receive corrections or missing information from drivers to create a complete and thorough driver application.
“We call it ‘Paper Airplane’ because it’s as easy as tossing a note across the classroom,” Tracy said. “No more chasing down drivers for missing documents. Everything gets done right the first time.”
Compliance Means Safer Hiring
Staying compliance is non-negotiable in the trucking industry. Without a structured approach to tracking qualifications, documentation, and background checks, carriers & fleets risk delays, regulatory violations, and potential safety hazards.
“Compliance isn’t just about checking boxes—it’s about making sure every driver is road-ready and safe,” Tracy emphasized.
With DriverReach’s compliance tools, R.E. Garrison now has real-time visibility into driver qualification files, ensuring that every hire meets FMCSA regulations. The DQ Checklist and automated compliance tracking eliminate manual follow-ups, giving recruiters more time to focus on building strong driver relationships.
The Results Speak for Themselves
Since optimizing their recruiting process with DriverReach, R.E. Garrison has seen:
✅ 100% increase in hiring within three months
✅ 50% reduction in marketing spend
✅ Significantly improved recruiting efficiency
✅ Stronger data security & compliance readiness
✅ A 21-day waitlist for drivers eager to join
With a fully digital, audit-ready process, the team at R.E. Garrison does more than fill trucks; they’re creating a driver experience that attracts and retains the best talent in the industry.
Curious to see the rest of the business impacts DriverReach had with R.E. Garrison? Download the full case study:
Hear It From Tracy: Watch the Webinar
Missed the webinar? Watch the full conversation with Tracy Rushing as she dives into the strategies that transformed R.E. Garrison’s recruiting success.
Switch from Reactive to Proactive Recruiting
With DriverReach, you’re not purchasing software—you’re gaining a recruiting partner. Through our platform, DriverReach empowers your team to work smarter, not harder.
If your company is struggling with inefficiencies, compliance headaches, or driver retention, R.E. Garrison proves that the right tools (and the right partner!) can make a big business impact.
Want to see how DriverReach can transform your recruiting? Schedule a demo today and take the first step toward becoming a destination employer.
