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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Gina Bartley, the director of recruiting at John Christner Trucking, was named the Transport Topics Recruiting Professional of the Year at the annual Recruitment and Retention Conference.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Trucking recruiters and industry officials at the Recruitment and Retention Conference addressed concerns about the tight labor market, ongoing driver shortage and the growing number of drivers who have had positive drug or alcohol tests and not begun the process for reinstatement.

The majority of truck drivers are not looking for a new job amid a market in which demand is outweighing supply, according to results of a survey released Nov. 2.

Motor carriers are expanding the scope of their recruiting efforts amid an ongoing driver shortage that’s been exacerbated by post-pandemic demand, hiring experts said.

Although career opportunities in trucking are abundant, the driver shortage has been a thorn in the industry’s side for years, and it has only become more severe as freight demand has surged amid the recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.

A shortage of truckers across the U.S. has become so severe that companies are trying to bring in drivers from abroad like seemingly never before.

Trucking companies are increasingly raising pay to combat driver capacity issues, but in this highly competitive environment that alone may not be enough.

Many fleet professionals think high driver turnover is an inherent, time-consuming challenge of the trucking industry, but—though it may sound hard to believe—any fleet can reduce their driver turnover with a few key steps. There are four proven strategies for engaging drivers and increasing retention any fleet can implement today. 

The Maine Motor Transport Association is targeting Gen Z and other young workers with a video storytelling campaign aimed at filling shortages of truck drivers and technicians.

FMCSA is proposing to expand the military occupational specialties associated with its pilot program that allows people between the ages of 18 and 20 who possess the U.S. military equivalent of a CDL to operate trucks in interstate commerce.