According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, millennials will make up 75 percent of the nation’s labor pool by 2030. If you’re feeling the driver shortage pinch, we suggest you read on. Attracting and retaining great drivers that are also a good culture fit is a challenge faced by fleets across the nation.

Fleet owners are quickly recognizing something interesting in their organizations: They have an employee base that spans four generations.

The people shortage in the trucking industry doesn’t show up simply as a lack of truck drivers. All across the country, we’re experiencing a shortage of skilled labor and a definite lack of programs designed to attract job seekers to our industry as both drivers and technicians.

Regardless of industry, every business owner has very likely dealt with employee recruitment and retention challenges. And, when it comes to trucking, there’s certainly no shortage of those issues. Research by Trucker News and Overdrive asked truckers why they think fleets have a difficult time finding and keeping good drivers.

HireRight’s recent 2017 Transportation Spotlight Report reveals key trends and concerns in the trucking industry -- with the demand for truckers being the most critical issue. Not surprising. Some of the most significant highlights and survey findings in this year’s report include the steps fleet owners and carriers are taking to address the driver shortage as well as the innovative, technology-based recruitment and retention strategies being implemented. 

Driving trucks is so much more than just a job or a career. It's a lifestyle -- and, it’s not always an easy one. The average truck driver often works into the wee hours of the night, spending the majority of their days in cramped quarters. Not to mention the fact that they also brave aggressive drivers in high traffic areas while safely maneuvering massive rigs in and out of metropolitan districts. And, yet people still wonder why truck driver turnover is so high.

Would you enjoy going to work if you knew you had to sit at a desk where the drawers don’t open, where the chair is precariously sagging to one side on a broken wheel, or where the computer you’re using is still running on a DOS system? We thought so. And, you can bet that your drivers don’t fancy the truck cab equivalent of that picture either. If you want to attract and retain great drivers, you’ll have to step up your game.

The beating heart of your fleet is your team of drivers, the men and women on the road that ensure your cargo is moving safely and efficiently to its destination. A great group of drivers can be the difference between a thriving, growing trucking company and one struggling to maintain the status quo. Making sure you have systems in place to recruit and train new talent is absolutely necessary to keeping your fleet healthy and strong.