Hiring Qualified Local Truck Drivers
Posted by | Posted in Personnel and HR Issues | Posted on 14-06-2011
We here at the Local Trucking Blog have been hearing about increasing difficulty hiring qualified, experienced local CDL drivers. Everyone agrees the CSA initiative (click here to see more) helps in weeding out unsafe candidates, but that is only part of the equation. Certain skills are much more important to a local operation.
It is no big deal if a truck takes 15 minutes to spot a trailer after traveling five days cross country. It is a very different story when you expect productivity of 20 stops a day. This is why your test drive should include plenty of backing and spotting exercises.
Do you carry hazardous materials? Don’t count on the Hazmat license endorsement to tell you anything about what the candidate knows. You should have a written test.
Same for other important skills, such as routing and emergency procedures. A few math questions will help determine if they can accurately count a multi-pallet shipment.
Liftgates? Make them take a skid up and down.
E–track or logistics in your trucks? Make them secure some freight.
Expect at least 50%, and possibly 80% of your driver candidates to flunk the test. This is good. It is always worth waiting for the best driver to hire instead of panicking and taking the best available candidate on hand at the moment. Your company will be rewarded with lower turnover, lower claims, and higher productivity.
Forget the math questions, make them count a few skids on the floor!
What happens if a candidate is injured during the liftgate exercise? Am I liable for work comp?
I believe if a candidate were hurt during a liftgate skills test, it would be a claim under general liability. If hurt during a test drive, it would be under auto liability.