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Driver recruiters play a critical role in ensuring transportation companies have enough truck drivers to haul their freight across all areas of the country. It’s a great job for someone who enjoys working with people and making a positive impact.
I worked in Driver Recruiting at Schneider for more than five years and loved connecting truck drivers with the right opportunities. If you’re interested in the role, here’s my advice on how to become a truck driver recruiter.
5 steps to become a truck driver recruiter
1. Earn a high school diploma or GED.
Most companies require driver recruiters to have a high school diploma or a GED.
Having an associate degree or a bachelor's degree is a plus but is usually not a requirement to be a truck driver recruiter. Many businesses will weigh previous work experience in place of post-secondary education.
2. Gain experience working with people.
Driver recruiters work with lots of different types of people. It’s a good idea to gain experience at a job where you regularly interact with people before you start applying for driver recruiter roles.
You can get this kind of experience in a variety of positions, including:
Former truck drivers can be great fits for driver recruiter roles as well. They already know about the industry and have experience in the same role they’d be hiring for, which also helps them connect to candidates.
3. Cultivate driver recruiting skills.
Driver recruiters need to have a mix of skills to excel at their job. Some of the most important skills for driver recruiters to have include: - Excellent communication skills: Driver recruiters need to explain to candidates what different driving positions entail, including home time, pay, benefits and what the driver will be hauling.
- Strong active listening skills: Since driver recruiters often conduct phone interviews, it’s important for them to be fully present in these conversations so they can understand and respond to questions candidates have.
- Solid decision-making skills: Driver recruiters need to have sound judgment, as they typically make hiring decisions.
- Great people skills: Recruiters need to know how to work with different personalities to ensure all driver candidates have a good interviewing experience.
- Superb multitasking skills: Driver recruiters make calls, schedule interviews, conduct interviews, complete other daily tasks and more. They need to be comfortable managing many responsibilities at once to ensure they meet their hiring goals.
4. Research companies that interest you.
When you’re ready to start applying for jobs, you’ll need to decide whether you want to work in-house at a trucking company, like Schneider, or at an outside third-party agency.
Once you decide the type of company you want to work for, you can narrow down your search to find specific organizations that fit your career goals. Look at their websites and social channels to learn more about companies’:
- Culture.
- Goals.
- Mission statement.
- Benefits package.
- Job openings.
5. Apply for a driver recruiting job.
Once you’ve done your research and found companies you’re interested in, the next step is to apply for driver recruiting jobs. Leverage platforms like Indeed, LinkedIn and Glassdoor to find job openings near you. 
