Driver shortages are hitting UK businesses hard. The overwhelming demand for drivers and the lack of candidates are resulting in stock shortages, empty shelves, and online shopping delivery delays. In order to thrive, driver recruiters must embrace the right technology such as driver recruitment software to fulfill their clients’ needs despite these challenges.
According to the Road Haulage Association, there is an estimated need for about 100,000 drivers on the road.
Changes brought about by Brexit, the global pandemic, and new tax regulations have gone on to generate this enormous demand for drivers. The current shortfall is already starting to impact retail businesses. Now the fear is that the situation could escalate in the build-up to Christmas.
In dire times like these, technology renders the task of finding and engaging the right candidates much easier.
Staffing agencies must utilise the right driver recruitment software CRM to continue to attract, retain and place compliant and available drivers faster.
Seeking talent to get behind the wheels
Recruiters across the nation have to fight for the same narrow pool of candidates.
Many European drivers moved back home due to Covid-19 and Brexit coming into effect. Freight and logistics companies are now left floundering to plug the skills gap created by this mass absence.
Additionally, the existing driving workforce is rapidly ageing. It is time to recruit new people to ease the current driver shortage and to prepare for the future.
The rising demand for HGV drivers has led to attractive packages and the restructuring of better working conditions. This is attracting a new workforce but the majority of them lack experience and training. There’s also a substantial backlog in HGV driver tests which is preventing a much-needed induction of new drivers.
Driving recruitment agencies must tap into their existing network to locate suitable candidates. It is also vital to encourage licensed lorry drivers to return to the logistics sector. Recruiters must seek these qualified and experienced drivers who have moved to other sectors and encourage them to get in the driving seat again.
Placing drivers faster with the right driving recruitment agency software
The right driver recruitment software will facilitate a streamlined recruiting system from start to finish.
It is an ongoing challenge to find and place qualified, compliant and available drivers. Robust driving specific recruitment CRM systems optimise the hiring process, making it simpler, straightforward and efficient.
Selecting the right driver recruitment software opens up the path to:
- Quick talent sourcing
Talent acquisition is a challenging job. But using CRM software that integrates perfectly with social media platforms makes the task considerably easier. Identify experienced and already licensed HGV drivers quickly to move the recruiting to the next step.
- Easy candidate registration
Use the recruitment software to register candidates. It’s easy to do it via the agency website or using the CRM mobile app. Easy, effortless, time-saving.
- Online skills assessment
Candidate skills testing to evaluate technical knowledge and experience supports better hiring decisions. Infinity integrates easily with ISV.Online, our market-leading skills testing software.
- Candidate availability and bookings
Recruiters handle hundreds of candidates every week. Make the task easier by using the colour-coded, fully functional planner to manage all the candidate bookings from one place.
- Easy compliance checks
The new regulations might mean that different drivers will operate on different types of contracts. Driving recruiters need a real-time compliance checking recruitment software system to guarantee that all the legal requirements are being met.
Automation expedites the entire process. It is typical for recruiters to fall into a quagmire of repetitive, time-consuming admin tasks. Driver recruitment software steps in to eliminate this obstacle.
With the need for drivers at an all-time high, recruiters have to manage fast-moving driver bookings. Using a recruiting platform like Voyager Infinity that is primed for delivering a simpler hiring journey enables driving recruiters to fill their bookings faster with quality candidates.
The logistics sector is vital to our nation. In fact, it is the lifeblood of the UK economy. Driving recruitment agencies must optimise their workflow and leverage the available tech expertise to ensure that the sector is fully supported. Drivers are instrumental in keeping the supply chain operating at its peak.
It is the recruiter’s responsibility to find skilled candidates to take on the role. And driver recruitment software systems will assist recruiters in this endeavour.
Voyager Infinity and Voyager Mid-Office are software solutions that make Recruiters’ lives easier. Voyager Infinity is a CRM used by thousands of recruiters globally to source, nurture and maintain the relationships with their clients and candidates, and Mid-Office manages the entire Pay and Bill process (IR35 ready).
