Common Mistakes in Truck Driver Recruitment: Insights for Trucking Companies

Over 70% of all goods in the U.S. are transported by trucks. This creates a high demand for drivers, but due to a labor shortage, transportation companies often rush the hiring process. So, during recruitment truck driver recruiters make many mistakes, such as poor screening, lack of background checks, or ignoring important details. As a result, these mistakes can be costly in the long run: financial losses, reputational risks, fines from the FMCSA, or even potentially endangering the lives of other road users.

This article outlines the most common mistakes transportation companies in the U.S. should avoid when truck driver recruiting.

Ignoring Employment Background

Frequent job changes, resume gaps, or dismissal for cause – these are “red flags” that shouldn’t be ignored. If a driver has frequently changed jobs or was fired for misconduct or performance issues, it’s a warning sign. A driver recruiter often fails to ask about the reasons for dismissals, which increases the risk of hiring someone who won’t stay long or may cause problems.

Analyzing previous work experience helps determine a driver’s level of responsibility and reliability. Don’t rely solely on the candidate’s words – check with previous employers and review their recommendations.

Hiring without drug and alcohol testing

Often, a truck driver recruiting company tries to quickly fill dozens of vacancies without properly screening candidates. According to FMCSA requirements, every truck driver applying for a CDL position must pass a mandatory pre-employment drug test. Yet, some companies neglect or delay this legally required step, even though it is a serious violation of federal regulations.

This is potentially dangerous. For example, imagine a situation: a long-distance trip, with a driver behind the wheel of a multi-ton truck, while having traces of banned substances in their system. This is a risk not only for the company but also for the lives of other people. In addition, if a crash occurs due to alcohol or drug use, the insurance provider may deny coverage, and regulators may issue fines or even suspend the carrier’s license.

Failure to check license and documents 

Failing to officially verify the validity of a license is a common and dangerous mistake. Having a driver’s license doesn’t mean it’s valid. The FMCSA records thousands of cases of forgeries, revoked, or suspended licenses. Before hire a truck driver, a company must verify the validity of their CDL through the CDLIS (Commercial Driver’s License Information System). This ensures the driver is authorized to operate the proper vehicle class and has no active restrictions.

It’s also important to check the driver’s legal employment status: whether they have a valid work permit (for immigrants) and if all documents meet federal law requirements (authentic driver’s license, medical certificate, etc.).

Ignoring the Driver’s Living Conditions

Truck driving is a physically and psychologically demanding profession. Constant travel, life on the road, being away from family, irregular sleep, and unstable meals add extra stress. Companies that don’t take drivers’ living conditions into account expose themselves to risk.

Long trips, tight schedules, insufficient  time for rest, poor accommodations (like no bed in the cab) – all of this also affects the driver’s work and, as a result, affects the quality of transportation. Companies that provide better working conditions (flexible schedules, modern trucks with basic comforts) have lower turnover rates and demonstrate better productivity and service quality.

CONCLUSION: How to Avoid These Mistakes

In the trucking industry, hiring the right driver affects not only delivery quality but also safety, FMCSA compliance, and customer satisfaction.

Lack of time or the need to “fill a vacancy” should never justify rushed decisions. Each of the mistakes listed above can lead to serious financial, legal, and reputational consequences.

What to do:

• Check documents and licenses
• Conduct drug and alcohol testing
• Analyze employment history
• Hold interviews and ask for details

By avoiding these mistakes, a company can reduce risks and build a team that works consistently, cohesively, and effectively.

If you’re unsure about your ability to handle recruiting – it’s better to turn to professionals. Good recruiters for truck drivers work not only with candidate databases, they manually screen each applicant: test drives, documents, previous experience, and psychological readiness.