Category: Truck Driving

No Image May 26 2022 in Logistics, Truck Driving

How to Successfully Recruit Millennial Truck Drivers: Tips from the Pros

The trucking industry is facing a major challenge: recruiting enough truck drivers to keep the nation’s supply of goods moving. A recent study by American Trucking Associations revealed that the truck driver shortage could reach as high as 175,000 drivers by 2024. So, how can your business successfully recruit millennial truck drivers? In this blog post, we will share tips from the pros at Warrior Logistics! 

How to Hire CDL Drivers

First, it is important to understand that millennials are not a monolithic group. They are the most diverse generation in history, with members of this cohort coming from all walks of life. As such, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to recruiting millennial truck drivers. However, there are some best practices that any trucking company can follow.

Millennial Truck Driver Recruiting Ideas

Here are some tips for filling young trucking jobs from the pros at Warrior Logistics:

Social Media 

Use social media to your advantage. Social media is a powerful tool that can help you reach a larger audience of potential truck drivers. Use platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to share information about your trucking company and job openings. Be sure to use hashtags and target your posts to truck drivers in specific geographic areas. 

Easy Application

Make the application process easy and convenient. Millennials are used to being able to apply for jobs online with the click of a button. Make sure your truck company website is up-to-date and that job postings are easily accessible. You may also want to consider developing an online application process. 

Competitive Pay & Benefits

Offer competitive pay and benefits. Truck drivers are in high demand, so it is important to offer compelling pay and benefits. Make sure your trucking company’s compensation package is attractive to Millennials. In addition to competitive wages, consider offering health insurance, retirement savings plans, and other perks like paid time off.

Highlight Purpose

Emphasize the greater purpose of the job. For many Millennials, finding a job that has meaning and purpose is just as important as earning a paycheck. When recruiting truck drivers, be sure to emphasize the importance of the trucking industry in keeping the country’s economy moving. You can also highlight the company’s commitment to social responsibility, such as environmental sustainability or supporting local charities.

Share Interview Questions Beforehand

Find people who are genuinely good for the job, not just good at interviewing, by sending your list of interview questions ahead of time. This will give potential truck drivers the opportunity to thoughtfully prepare for their interviews and will help you weed out those who are not truly interested in the job.

Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance has never before been more important. The trucking industry has a reputation for long hours and being away from home for extended periods of time. While this may be true for some trucking jobs, it is not necessarily the case for all positions. When recruiting Millennials, be sure to highlight the company’s commitment to work-life balance. You can do this by offering flexible scheduling options, telecommuting opportunities, and other perks that allow truck drivers to have a better work-life balance.

Training & Development

Provide training and development opportunities. Many trucking companies require drivers to have a certain amount of experience before they can be hired. However, this may discourage Millennials from applying for truck driving jobs. To attract Millennial truck drivers, consider offering training and development opportunities. This will show that you are invested in their success and provide them with the skills they need to be successful truck drivers.

Wellness Perks

Wellness is a buzzword for good reason with Millennials, so reflect that in what perks your company offers. In addition to traditional benefits like health insurance and retirement savings plans, trucking companies should also consider offering other perks that appeal to Millennials. These might include flexible work schedules, on-site childcare, and student loan repayment assistance.

Company Culture

Finally, don’t forget about culture. Millennials value a company culture that is collaborative, innovative, and socially responsible. When recruiting truck drivers, be sure to highlight your company’s culture and values.

By following these tips, you can successfully recruit Millennial truck drivers to join your trucking company. For more information on recruiting truck drivers, contact Warrior Logistics today! We are dedicated to helping trucking companies find qualified drivers and qualified drivers find the right trucking company to keep America’s supply chains moving. To join our team, contact us here today!

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No Image May 06 2022 in Truck Driving, Logistics

What are Logistic Services?

Logistics services are a part of the supply chain, which is the process of getting products from a supplier to the end-user. Logistics generally includes transportation and warehousing—in other words, logistics experts take care of getting items from one place to another. The main goal of logistics is to get products moved efficiently to save time and money, though there are several steps that professionals in this field take to ensure this kind of efficiency.

In the most basic terms, logistics boils down to four main pillars:

Transportation – The main function of logistics services is transportation. Transportation involves everything from loading, unloading, and delivery. Delivery can be done via land, air, or sea.

Packaging – Packaging is an important part of logistics services because it protects items during transit. Professionals in this field have expertise on how best to package items so that they arrive safe and sound at their destination.

Warehousing – Warehousing is another important aspect of logistics. Warehouses are where items are stored before they are shipped out or delivered to the end-user.

Inventory Management – Inventory management involves keeping track of inventory levels at warehouses and with suppliers so that businesses know when they need more stock or when they have too much stock

What Is the Role of Logistics?

There are three stages in the process of getting a product from the manufacturer to the customer. The first stage is procurement or the sourcing and acquisition of raw materials and parts. The second stage is production, or the manufacturing of those materials into a finished product. And the third stage is the distribution or the actual delivery of those finished goods to consumers.

It’s at this third step—the distribution phase—that logistics comes into play. Logistics management involves overseeing all aspects of this final stage, including inventory control, warehousing, transportation, packaging, security, and traceability. As you can see, it’s a pretty big deal!

Logistics professionals utilize several different tools to help them with their job. These include barcode scanners (which allow workers to keep track of products and shipping information as they’re loaded on or off trucks), forklifts (which move heavy loads around warehouses), and computer software that helps logistics managers plan out deliveries and shipments efficiently.

Technology in Logistics

There are several software programs that help logistics professionals do their jobs more efficiently. Some are designed specifically for trucking companies and others for-hire carriers. By tracking key data such as load size, destination, and time of delivery, these programs can help to optimize routes and ensure that the company is maximizing its efficiency.

Software programs may also be able to help you make better decisions about the equipment you buy. If your software is capable of analyzing the weight of incoming loads and telling you how much space they will take up in the trailer, it may be easier to determine how many trucks with different sizes and capacities you will need.

If you are experiencing rapid growth, need more flexibility, or have increasing logistics costs, warrior logistics might be a great fit for you. Contact us today!

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No Image April 12 2022 in Truck Driving

Essential Laws Every Trucker Needs to Know

Driving a truck can be a great job. You choose your own schedule; you can get paid well and you become your own boss. But before you begin making the tough decisions of what trucking job to apply for, make sure you check out the list of trucking regulations and laws every truck driver should know before getting behind the wheel of an 18-wheeler. Don’t let your big dreams lead to big fines and a big-ticket.

Headlight & Windshield Wipers Law

Many states have a specific law that requires all drivers to have their headlights turned on any time that they have their windshield wipers on. This is usually so that other drivers can easily spot your vehicle as it travels down the road. It also helps prevent accidents by helping those behind see better when visibility is low—and this includes not just cars but also larger trucks like yours!

Distracted Driving Law

The laws regarding cell phone usage in trucks vary from state to state, so it’s important to know the rules for where you’re driving. In general, you can have phones and MP3 players in the vehicle, and you can use a hands-free phone device in most states (some, like Wisconsin, don’t allow phone usage at all unless it’s to report an emergency). Just be sure that your device is mounted somewhere that won’t obstruct your view.

Speed Limits

When you’re driving an 18-wheeler, it’s not just the speed limit that matters. In some states, a trucker can be ticketed for going too slow. Even though you’re hauling a heavy load, you’ll still have to pull over and let traffic pass if you’re in the left lane and moving slower than the flow of traffic. That said, if you’re on a road with a posted minimum speed limit, pay attention to it—it’s there for a reason. For example, on many highways, the minimum speed is 45 mph.

Move Over Law

This law applies on most public roads with two or more lanes going in the same direction. It means that when you see an emergency vehicle pulled onto the shoulder with its lights on, you must make every effort to move over into an open adjacent lane when passing. If you can’t change lanes safely (i.e., if it’s rush hour or there is no other lane), then you must slow down by at least 20 miles per hour below the posted speed limit. This law also applies when approaching a stationary vehicle with its hazard lights on, including tow trucks and construction vehicles.

The Warrior Way

No matter where your trucking journey takes you, it’s important that you understand the laws and regulations of the states you’ll be traveling through. For more commercial truck driving tips and training resources, contact Warrior Logistics today.

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No Image March 30 2022 in Truck Driving

9 Simple Tips for Passing Your CDL Exam with Ease

Congratulations on your decision to become a truck driver! Driving a big rig is a challenging but rewarding job, and it’s a great way to see the country. But before you hit the open road, you need to pass your CDL exam. Don’t worry – with these simple tips for passing a CDL exam Warrior Logistics, you’ll breeze right through the test and be on your way to becoming a professional truck driver. Good luck! 

1. Be Sure You Meet Your State’s CDL Exam Minimums 

Know and understand what you’re up against before you get started. Look over the requirements in your state for earning your CDL or Commercial Driver’s License. Make sure you meet all of the age and physical ability minimums to be sure you’re off on the right foot for your professional truck driver career! 

2. Get A Copy of Your State’s CDL Manual 

You particular state may have different rules and particulars for you to learn and pass your exam than another state, so verify you have the right learner’s manual for your state to study from. Most are available for download from each state’s DMV site, but if you prefer a physical copy, swing by your local DMV to pick up a copy that way. Read it once all the way through to start for a full overview, then hone in on the spots you need to spend extra time studying. 

3. Time to Study 

You can’t memorize it all in one go, so focus on understanding the overall concepts. You’ll be more likely to actually retain the important parts of the information, and also, you’ll be better able to answer questions should they be phrased in a different way from your learning materials.  

4. Practice Makes You Aware – Not Perfect 

The physical part is easier said than done considering commercial vehicles used by professional truck drivers aren’t exactly easy to come by, but the studying is definitely doable, especially if you plan far enough ahead. Give yourself plenty of time to review and re-review the content before your exam. Not feeling like you’re in a pressured rush will be so helpful to your ability to recall the info on which you’ll be tested. 

5. Try Some Different Approaches to Studying ‘Till You Find Your Best One(s) 

Some study methods work better for some than for others, so play around to find what works best for you (if you don’t already know, that is). It may be flashcards or practice tests or mnemonic devices like acronyms or rhyming strategies. Recruit your friends or family members to help quiz you on a few practice runs after some studying! 

6. Don’t Forget to be Mentally and Physically Ready, Too

This one might not be such a hot tip, but we at Warrior Logistics think it still should be said – get plenty of rest the night before and be sure to have some breakfast that morning. It’s so hard to focus when you’ve got the yawns draining your energy while the sounds of your stomach rumble on. 

7. Keep in Mind the Automatic Fails

There’s a pretty hefty list of what are considered to be automatic failures, but if you’ve gotten your non-commercial driver’s license, there is a lot of overlap of what’s considered poor driving for both.  

  • Rolling through stops
  • Not noticing road signs such as lane endings, highway exits, etc.
  • Using a cell phone while driving
  • Stopping while crossing a railroad track 
  • Taking hands off the wheel while in motion 
  • Forgetting your turn signals
  • Speeding more than 5 miles over the posted limit 
  • Causing another driver to drive evasively
  • Not checking mirrors before switching lanes 

Pretty basic, right? One potential catch we want to mention, though, is that practicing at a CDL test site is entirely forbidden! 

8. Know That They Don’t Expect Perfection 

You want to do well on your exam – which is good! – and that can end up feeling like a lot of pressure for perfection. Remember that they know you’re human. The test administrator is looking for clear safety risks, not a single missed shift when changing gears. Give yourself a little grace, and odds are so will the admin. 

9. Show Confidence (Even If You Don’t Really Feel Confident) 

Fake it ‘till you make it, right? Like we said earlier, test admins know you’re relatively new to this set of skills and that you’ll continue learning and improving even after you’ve started running your first routes. Stay cool and calm. Put your mind in the mode of familiarity as much as sharpness. It’s perfectly okay to make a little conversation where you’re comfortable and then turn it off when you need to focus on the task at hand. If something goes wrong, it’ll count that you’re able to keep your composure – even if you don’t necessarily pass this go-around. No matter what, you got this! 

So, there you have it – our top tips for passing your CDL exam with ease. Of course, every person is different, and some people may find some techniques more helpful than others, but we hope that at least a few of these ideas will be useful to you. If you’re looking for help getting started on your truck driving career, reach out to us at Warrior Logistics. We’re here to get you through those tough exam tricks and onto finding a fulfilling job in the industry. Best of luck on your upcoming exam! 

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