Recruiting Truck Drivers Isn't Getting Easier

The Wall Street Journal recently highlighted that long-haul Truck Driver jobs are going unfilled for months. According to data from WANTED Analytics, this profession remains hard-to-fill and job ads are posted online for a long period time.

On average, Truck Driver job ads are posted online for about 55 days, about 6 weeks. This is the time it takes Recruiters to post a job ad, collect resumes, and begin the interviewing process. Ads across all industries appear online for an average of 45 days, a week and half shorter than Truck Driver ads.

Recruiting difficulty for Truck Drivers increased 9 points on our Hiring Scale from March 2014 to July 2014, moving from 59 to 68, indicating that this job is becoming increasingly hard-to-fill. Our Hiring Scale score ranges from 1 to 99, with 99 representing most difficult-to-fill. According to The WSJ, trucking firms say that hiring for Truck Drivers is tougher than ever.

07.31.14 Truck Driver Posting Period And Hiring Scale

Source: WANTED Analytics

The WSJ suggests jobs are going unfilled because of a skills gap, as well as economic shifts like the energy boom and changing demographics. The American Trucking Association estimates that there is a shortage of about 30,000 long-distance drivers and this number could grow to 200,000 in the next 10 years. Our Demand Pressure shows that in the US workforce there are currently 11 qualified candidates per Truck Driver job opening. This signals an unbalanced supply and demand for Truck Drivers. The shortage is more apparent in Tyler (TX), which has a lower qualified candidate per job ad count and tougher recruiting conditions, scoring a 91 on our Hiring Scale.

07.31.14 Truck Driver Demand Pressure

Source: WANTED Analytics

As recruiting is likely to be difficult, employers may reduce hiring challenges by sourcing talent from schools with driving programs. Below is a list of colleges, universities, and schools with the highest number of graduates that completed Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor training programs.

07.31.14 Truck Driver Schools

Source: WANTED Analytics

Recruiters can reach out to these institutions to set up recruiting programs. Employers should also consider enhancing benefits to make the job more attractive, such as covering more health benefits, offering more vacation time, or providing flexible schedules allowing workers to spend more time with their families. Find out what matters to your candidate and accommodate their needs and interests.

If you want to know which colleges and universities have the largest graduating classes in a particular field in your area, let me know.

Comment by Tim Spagnola on August 1, 2014 at 8:12am: Thanks for sharing this Ashley. Always love the deep dive info that WANTED shares. This is not the first time I have heard this w/. respect to truck drivers. As a healthcare recruiter we feel we have it hard chasing a shrinking physician pool, but this appears to present it's challenges for sure.

Comment by Ashley Zito Rowe on August 1, 2014 at 9:44am: Thanks, Tim. I hope it doesn't get as bad as they predict and I hope conditions improve for you.

Comment by Anna Brekka on August 1, 2014 at 1:59pm: Great post - I like your universal recommendation " Find out what matters to your candidate and accommodate their needs and interests."

Comment by Keith Halperin on August 1, 2014 at 4:03pm: Thanks, Ashley. I understand that while there is currently a considerable shortage now, but over the next couple of decades with the development of self-driving vehicles ("automobiles"), the demand for truck drivers, cabbies, etc. is likely to greatly decrease...

Comment by Ashley Zito Rowe on August 1, 2014 at 4:08pm: Thanks, Anna!

Keith, that's a really good point! I can see that technology really helping the transportation industry. Hopefully, those vehicles will be smart enough to avoid any accidents on the roadway. Their effectiveness can change the industry one way or another.

Comment by Keith Halperin on August 1, 2014 at 6:31pm: Thanks, Ashley. I can imagine that the initial use of these will be delayed due to insurance concerns- there might have to be someone in their initially even if they aren't actually driving. However, as they gradually become better, you might gradually see the rates of human-driven insurance go up nd that of auto-trucks go down, thus further incentivizing a changeover

Have a Great Weekend,

Cheers,