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How an “I only want full applications” policy can KILL your Recruiting.
There’s aren’t many things more damaging to a Recruiting Department than a “We only want full applications” policy. It hurts EVERY part of the business, and here’s a story that will help illustrate why.
Imagine you are a bank and want to make loans. You run an ad and get two calls – Joe and Jane both want to borrow some money. Joe has terrible credit and is unemployed. Jane has perfect credit and a good job.
Your policy is that you won’t even talk to anyone about a loan until they come to the bank, wait in line, fill out a long application, and so on. Joe is perfectly willing to do this because he has major problems and will jump through any hoop to get a loan.
Jane – who has perfect credit and thousands of banks begging to loan her money – is not going to be interested in your bank. So you’ll have to sort through hundreds of applicants to make one loan. And more of your customers will leave without paying the loan off.
Now ask yourself … why on earth would a good driver who can have hundreds of job offers in 10 minutes ever let you force him/her to fill out a long-form application before you’ll even consider them?
I can think of one reason – if the driver is already sold on your company and isn’t even talking to anyone else. Good luck keeping your trucks filled from that applicant pool!
Forcing drivers to fill out a long-form application may sound like a great idea. But in reality, you end up with a tiny fraction of the leads you could get … mostly from worse drivers! Safety suffers. Customer service. And of course, Recruiting.
Any time you recruit for a job where the demand far outweighs the supply, it’s going to be hard work, and most importantly, a SALES job. Be sure to have the right pre-qualification questions on a short lead form. Prioritize based on that information and work those leads.
Happy Recruiting!
Muncie, Indiana Regional Run from Hogan Transports
Check out this REGIONAL RUN from Hogan Transports!
Be Happy … at TMC!
TMC has all the things that make drivers happy!
Blaine Butts Named TMC’s Trainer of the Month for May 2019
When it comes to the TMC way of life, Blaine is no stranger. He started his professional driving career just over nine years ago in June 2010, and a life on the road became the ideal lifestyle he was looking for.
“After a long career in manufacturing, I wanted to find something new and a job my wife and I could do together,” he says. “TMC gave me that opportunity, and it seemed like the perfect fit.”
Once the River Oaks, TX, native had two years of driving under his belt, he knew that training was the next step for him in his career.
“Everyone in the training department runs such a good program, and I believe it’s the best in the world,” he says. “Wanting to train came from loving TMC and wanting to help be a part of our continued success.”
His first trainee was actually his wife, Lisa, and they drove as a team for seven years. He trained on and off during this period, but when Lisa decided to go back to school, Blaine took on training full-time.
When it comes to his training style, Blaine does his best to be a friend and mentor out on the road. He shares his own triumphs and challenges that he has faced over the years, and works very hard to build great relationships with everyone.
One way he does this is by having them come up with a handle, or a nickname to go by. Blaine’s personal handle is “Captain Jelly Bean,” and some other names his trainees have gone by are: Hush Puppy (his wife’s handle), Wicker Man, Deputy Sunflower, Wild Alaska, Hammerhead and Mr. Positive.
“I take care of my trainees the best I can, just like TMC does for me,” he says. “Being a trainer has also made me a better driver, and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to do the same.”
Driver trainers are vital to the TMC training department, and each month a trainer is chosen who demonstrates the outstanding qualities TMC looks for in a trainer. The Trainer of the Month recipient is chosen based on their safety record and the safety performance of their trainees, the number of drivers trained and the retention percentage of those drivers. Congratulations to our May 2019 Trainer of the Month, Blaine Butts!
About TMC
TMC Transportation is the nation’s largest employee-owned flatbed transportation company. TMC provides expert transportation services and supply-chain management solutions throughout the 48 contiguous states. Founded in 1972, TMC is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, and is known for its integrity, innovation, superior safety record and dedication to quality and customer service. The company’s claim-free, on-time delivery record is the best in the business and is consistently recognized by its customers.
You can visit TMC’s website here, or see their jobs on SmartPhoneTrucker here.
Paxton Cottrell Named Trainer of the Month for April 2019
DES MOINES, Iowa, May 29, 2019 – Paxton joined TMC in the second half of June 2015. After driving for six months at another employer and not getting the home time he was looking for, he started to look for other options. “TMC could give me everything I was looking for, so I applied and have loved it here ever since,” Paxton says.
After being a part of the Black and Chrome team for about two years, someone suggested to Paxton that they thought he would be a good trainer. “I decided to give it a shot,” he says. “I found that it was fun to teach new drivers how to do things the right way.”
When it comes to his training style, Paxton takes on an instructional, hands-on approach. “Everyone learns differently, but I like to be working right alongside my trainees and walking through instruction whenever needed.” He also adds that it is important to remember where he once started. “I try not to forget how far I’ve come in the industry and all of the questions I used to have; that’s my motto when training.”
The teaching aspect of training is Paxton’s favorite part of the job. “Securement is my favorite thing to teach,” he says. “I also enjoy the camaraderie that drivers share out on the road, along with continuing to meet new people and forming new relationships.”
As for advice for new trainees, the most important thing is to take things slow. “Flatbed trucking has an on-going learning curve, and you won’t become an expert overnight,” Paxton says. “There are a lot of people out there who have helped me along the way, and still continue to do so. Never be afraid to lean on others and ask for advice, even when you’ve been on the job or a while.”
Driver trainers are vital to the TMC training department, and each month a trainer is chosen who demonstrates the outstanding qualities TMC looks for in a trainer. The Trainer of the Month recipient is chosen based on their safety record and the safety performance of their trainees, the number of drivers trained and the retention percentage of those drivers. Congratulations to our April 2019 Trainer of the Month, Paxton Cottrell!
About TMC
TMC Transportation is the nation’s largest employee-owned flatbed transportation company. TMC provides expert transportation services and supply-chain management solutions throughout the 48 contiguous states. Founded in 1972, TMC is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, and is known for its integrity, innovation, superior safety record and dedication to quality and customer service. The company’s claim-free, on-time delivery record is the best in the business and is consistently recognized by its customers.
You can visit their website at www.tmctrans.com, or click here to see TMC’s jobs on SmartPhoneTrucker.
Sean Wilson Named TMC Trainer of the Month for March 2019
DES MOINES, Iowa, May 6, 2019 – Sean’s journey with TMC began 10 years ago when he started Orientation in June 2009. Over-the-road truck driving wasn’t exactly the career path he had in mind for himself, but it has turned into a lifestyle that works well for him and his family.
“Before starting at TMC, the economy was bad and I was unemployed,” Sean says. “I couldn’t find a job in my field, which was accounting, so I decided to do what I never saw myself doing.”
While attending a local driving school, the Hudson, NC, native started researching different companies to see what was out there. “I heard TMC had really good training, and I wanted to be home on the weekends with my family,” he says. “TMC sounded like a good fit right away.”
After driving on his own for a year, Sean decided to take on the role of a Driver Trainer. “I’ve trained at other jobs before, and I always enjoyed showing people the ropes.”
Sean takes a very hands-on approach to training. “I try to get them behind the wheel as much as possible to work on their driving and backing skills,” he says. “With securement, I show them how I like things to be done and let them do one side of the load while I do the other, checking on them periodically.”
This approach has proven to work well for him. “I try not to overwhelm them with too much information. Once they get a feel for how things are done, I let them do the job and give any tips along the way if I notice anything.”
For both him and his trainees, Sean says that having patience is most important. “New drivers can’t be in too much of a hurry; this is where mistakes happen,” he says. “For me as a trainer, I have to remember that this is a learning experience for them and it’s different for everyone.”
As for his favorite part of the job, Sean had a quick answer for that. “I enjoy hearing from my former trainees about their accomplishments. It’s nice knowing that I helped them get their start and they are doing well.”
Driver trainers are vital to the TMC training department, and each month a trainer is chosen who demonstrates the outstanding qualities TMC looks for in a trainer. The Trainer of the Month recipient is chosen based on their safety record and the safety performance of their trainees, the number of drivers trained and the retention percentage of those drivers. Congratulations to our March 2019 Trainer of the Month, Sean Wilson!
About TMC
TMC Transportation is the nation’s largest employee-owned flatbed transportation company. TMC provides expert transportation services and supply-chain management solutions throughout the 48 contiguous states. Founded in 1972, TMC is headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, and is known for its integrity, innovation, superior safety record and dedication to quality and customer service. The company’s claim-free, on-time delivery record is the best in the business and is consistently recognized by its customers.
You can visit their website at www.tmctrans.com, or click here to see TMC’s jobs on SmartPhoneTrucker.
