Why your best drivers aren't on job boards (and where to find them)

The $12,000 Reality Check

Last week, I sat across from a frustrated fleet owner reviewing his recruitment expenses.

"We spent $12,000 last month on job boards," he confessed, sliding the budget sheet toward me.

When I asked how many qualified drivers he hired, his answer was sobering:

"One."

This isn't an isolated case.

Fleet owners across the country are pouring thousands into recruitment platforms with diminishing returns.

But why?

The Uncomfortable Truth About Top Drivers

Here's what industry insiders know but rarely discuss publicly:

The best drivers simply aren't on job boards.

When you examine any high-performing fleet, the pattern becomes undeniable:

• Their best drivers came through relationships

• Their longest-tenured drivers were referrals

• Their top performers were never 'active' job seekers

These quality drivers aren't scrolling through Indeed or Craigslist.

They're already employed, focused on their routes, and only considering new opportunities when they come through trusted sources.

The Minnesota Experiment That Changed Everything

A forward-thinking fleet in Minnesota recently tested this theory with a bold approach:

→ Cut all job board spending.

→ Built a direct outreach system.

→ Focused on employed drivers.

The results were remarkable:

They hired 10 qualified drivers in just 30 days.

Even more impressive?

Six months later, all ten drivers remain with the company.

Rethinking Your Recruitment Strategy

The traditional recruitment funnel isn't just inefficient—it's fundamentally broken for our industry.

When you pay premium prices to compete on job boards, you're essentially funding a bidding war for a shallow talent pool.

Instead, consider investing those resources in:

• Building referral networks with your current top performers

• Creating outreach systems targeting employed drivers

• Developing relationships with industry partners who can connect you with hidden talent

Taking Action

What if you redirected just half your job board budget toward relationship-based recruitment this month?

The fleet owner I mentioned at the beginning is now implementing this approach, and I'll be sharing his results in next month's newsletter.

Are you ready to stop paying to compete and start connecting to recruit?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Cheers * Mark

Tired of wasting time and money on unqualified truck drivers? Book a free demo and see how over 500 carriers are now seating their trucks with better drivers that actually stick around. Click here to book a call.