The Life of a Recruiter

Recruiting Truck Drivers

How many of you have talked to or received a voice mail from a recruiter today?  The odds are pretty good since there is an extreme driver shortage in the trucking industry.  Those calls and voice mails may seem a little annoying to you at times but I would like to give a little perspective on the life of a recruiter in the transportation industry.

A typical day of a recruiter consists of many outbound phone calls, emails, texts and voice mails to only actually speak with a handful of potential drivers per day.  Every recruiters goal is to hire as many drivers as possible.  The way to do this is through making many contacts and building relationships.  It may be one of the most stressful positions in the trucking industry.  If a recruiter cannot fill seats, their job could be on the line.  In this environment, that stress can be immense.  

Recruiters, believe it or not do get hung up on and receive some not so pleasant calls from drivers. This is because there are a lot of recruiters trying to do the same job with a limited amount of viable applicants.  A driver may have applied to a trucking job three months ago and still be receiving calls from recruiters even after they are placed in a position that is ideal.  With the limited applicant pool, it is incredibly important for recruiters to stay in contact with applicants just to make sure they are still happy with their current position.

Organization is the key to being a good recruiter.  Let's say a recruiter hires 100 drivers in a year. That is 100 background checks, 100 verifications, 100 bus tickets booked, 100 past employment history put together (which can be 10 jobs or more a shot), 100 times of explaining orientation.  There is a lot more involved but I think you get the picture and some recruiters hire closer to 200-300. What really can be disappointing is if you take the time to prepare everything for a driver to come to orientation and that driver does not show up.  What hurts even more is not so much as phone call is received to explain why they driver could not make it.  Ouch!

I have recruited in my past.  The majority of recruiters I have met are honest, caring and truly want what is best for the driver.  Of course, there are always a few bad eggs in every basket but overall, a recruiter has to be honest or they won't be around for long.  I can say from experience, the driver who is polite and the one's that can put a smile on a recruiters face, make their day.

The real reward for any recruiter is placing a driver in a position that will get them what they need out of their career.  This usually involves, good pay, home time and nice work environment.  Their is no better feeling for a recruiter.  

We captured two of Florilli Transportation's recruiters in a video.  Julie and Tammy are two of the best in the industry.  As you will see, they are only stating factual information that has been experienced first hand within their own organization.  If you would like to speak to either of them, visit our website at Florilli.com or give them a call at 800-240-1703.  You can also chat with them here.  Chat With a Florilli Recruiter.

Next time you talk to a recruiter, try and make them smile!  It will make a difference.

The Art of Being A Truck Driver

Featuring Current Driver Jon Bregel

Without a doubt, being a truck driver is to say the least tough.  Trucking companies are doing everything in their power to make their driving positions appealing.  But, the fact still and probably always will remain that it is a tough industry.  It has been said that if you can find a company that you are 60% happy with, that is pretty good.  The other 40% is usually dealing with industry wide issues.

We are not solely writing this blog to recruit drivers, rather use it as a forum to express thoughts and ideas.  Florilli Transportation is a smaller company of about 190 trucks.  It is family owned.  We have the ability to speak with drivers one on one when an issue arises.  As most of you reading this blog know, it may happen daily in this industry.  If you have been searching for a position you can stay at long term, give a smaller company a call whether it be Florilli Transportation or another small company.  You may just find a place you can call home and make your job a bit easier.  The video above is just an example of a Florilli driver who found what he was looking for with a smaller company.  Take a look!

If by chance, you want to talk directly with one of our recruiters, click the link below.
Chat with Florilli Transportation

Why Subscribe to a Blog?

Many online users come across websites and within seconds someone is already asking for your email address and subscribe to this thing called a Blog??? So what is a blog and why is it important?  According to Merriam-Webster a blog is a website in which someone writes about personal opinions, activities and experiences. If you are still unclear, you are reading one.  So how does subscribing and getting updated blog content benefit truckers again?

In many blogs to include Florilli Transportation’s blog, ‘The Truckers Log’, real life stories, updates on trends, and information about the trucking industry are only a few subjects explained to readers.  Blogs can talk about a trucking company's employment qualifications, how to land a job and can even give updates on what’s important to those of us working in Transportation world. Want to know more about federal guidelines in carrying a firearm while being an OTR driver?  Big Load Blog gives you the facts about carrying firearms between different states and separates fact from fiction.  As many of us are aware laws changes from time to time. Law enforcement doesn’t care if didn’t get the updated regulations or memo and breaking the law unknowing isn’t an excuse. Meaning when you are coming down the hill and that same cop is sitting at the bottom clocking your speed. Just because you didn't see the posted speed limited sign or couldn't slow down. Chances are you will still get a ticket. 

Lastly, if you are searching for a good trucking company and looking to find out if they are as good as they claim to be, see if they have blog. Simply stated if a trucking company takes the time to educate and share the latest information with drivers and clearly communicates with them. Chances are they'll do the same when checking into your next orientation and while out on the open road. Haven't subscribed to Florilli's blog yet?  Look to right of your screen, enter your information under the contact form or connect with us on any of Social media channels and keep truckin. 

Connect with us on Facebook and as always we appreciate our drives and readers. 

Tired of Truck Stop Food? (FourSquare)

The world of downloadable social media sites and apps can be confusing at times. As of June 2016, there are approximately 2.2 million mobile apps at your disposal. When looking at what social media sites you may find useful, SmartInsight a marketing advice and data company suggests 50% of users ranging from 50-65 years of age use some form of social networking. Meaning baby boomers are social media friendly but where to start is an ambiguous process.

Focusing on what social media sites are trucker friendly, Four Square offers a unique tool for those racking up miles and thier appetite. FourSquare gives travelers/truckers a chance to find the hidden and tucked away gems while traveling across the country. You can also give other truckers the 411 on certain restaurants and leave reviews for others to read and enjoy.

If you’ve ran out of hours and tired of processed truck stop food. FourSquare gives you the chance to visit local and authentic food places. Want to grab some souvenirs for the family and kids besides the typical truck stop merchandise and you are sitting near or in Dallas Texas? Click here and explore from the beaten path.  If you are wondering where to sign up for this app called FourSquare, click here. Lastly, FlorilliTransportation understands truckers can’t always take their tractor/ trailer to a majority of locations and businesses in the US. Thankfully American’s have this awesome company called Uber. Click here and have them pick you up.  Excuses are like MVR’s, every trucker has one but some pay attention better than others. As always we appreciate our readers and drivers. ‘Keep Truckin” 

Connecting people and generations

      

        Every minute, there are 100 hours of video uploaded to YouTube and 6 billion hours of video watched monthly. Meaning there are more hours of people watching YouTube videos than the amount of hours/miles a trucker spends on the road throughout his/her lifetime. In 2006, Google purchased YouTube for 1.65 billion. Since then YouTube is the number one Video source worldwide. In terms of its audience or user base, YouTube reaches more people between the ages 24-34 more than cable.

Since the average truck driver is in his or her 50’s and baby boomers make up the majority of the trucking work force. YouTube’s presence and usage may lessen with baby boomers compared to younger generations. However 43% of Baby Boomers have YouTube accounts. Meaning age isn’t a factor but rather a difference of lifestyle.

      So why care? If you are looking to learn anything from math equations to changing your oil in your car, YouTube has videos giving the directions on the how to.  Ever get expansion foam all over your hands and can’t get it off? Yep, YouTube has video for that too. YouTube also gives truckers the ability to upload their own videos and keep the how to collection growing. Lastly, it’s predicted the driver shortage is only going to get worse. YouTube provides a platform for baby boomers to connect with younger audiences. Why not influence the next up and coming generation on trucking and YouTube is a great place to start.

Click Here if you are wanting to sign up for a YouTube account. Look for our last and next posting in Florilli Transportation’s explanation of social media, ‘Four Squares a Day’, and as always we appreciate our drivers and readers. 

An article by the Wall Street Journal states, there are more than 168,000 interstate motor carriers and more than 2 million trucks in the U.S., according to the American Trucking Association, an industry group. From the truck drivers perspective that's a lot of different employers to choose from. Where can drivers can go online to look for driving positions is plentiful, yet confusing.  When looking at job websites LinkedIn is another great resource.

Within the U.S alone, there are 125 Million users on LinkedIn, and accounts for 37% of U.S digital population. To date there are 195,989 job openings in transportation found on LinkedIn. For the job seekers, the process in finding your next driving position is simple. Click here and first sign up for your LinkedIn account. Next click here, and follow five easy steps in setting up a great and eye popping account. Next you can view openings by state and location.  Looking for a local job and tired of having national carriers calling you?  You can view current openings within the transportation industry and choose who's calling your phone.

Lastly for drivers who are looking at transitioning to a trainer, maintenance or office position at a trucking company. LinkedIn has the openings and you may find another career path while searching for your next driving position. Simply state, LinkedIn is limitless.

Look for our next post, ‘Connecting People and Generations (YouTube)’ , Like us on Facebook and as always Florilli Transportation appreciates its readers and drivers. 

Blue Birds tweet

  

Birds tweet when they talk and social media posts released on Twitter are referred to as Tweets.  Each tweet is only allowed 140 characters per post on Twitter Accounts.  So why should truckers care about some tweeting blue bird and social media posts no bigger than two sentences?  News, weather, road conditions and much more are posted in real time. The difference between getting your weather from the 5 o’clock forecast verses Twitter updates is the real time reports and current information. A lot can happen since yesterday at 5 pm.

What about the news? A case study conducted by (Rebekah DawnGiordano, 2014), 86.82% of tweets posted by those actually on location during the Boston Marathon Bombing (2013) were used by the media as their coverage and live updates.  A large percentage of information was unavailable to media and Twitter users with smart phones feed the American media and people the coverage.  Driving into a large metropolitan area and trying to guess if your route has been compromised or congested? Twitter is excellent for those on the move. You can also give other trucks the 411 on road conditions and news.

Lastly, Twitter offers leisure online browsing options such as sport updates of your favorite team, entertainment and technology.  You can even find other trucking companies posting job offers and opportunities. Unlike Facebook, you don’t have awkward friend requests but followers  and you can follow pretty much anyone. Don’t have a Twitter account? Sign up here and begin discovering while in back of sleeper cab.

Look for our next post in Florilli’s 5 part analysis of Social Media, ‘Link with LinkedIN’. Like us on Facebook and as always we appreciate our drivers and readers.