Drivers Aren't Filling Out Full Apps, What Now?

So you’re a recruiter using DriverHub, and leads are up — great news! It’s satisfying to see your Purple Cow messaging and Careers Page (formerly known as a Candidate Landing Page) are on point. It’s awesome that you’re getting diesel mechanics or hazmat tanker drivers to fill out the initial qualification questions and standard contact information. 

But are you running into trouble when it comes to drivers completing the full application for employment to meet the requirements in 49 CFR Part 391? This scenario happens sometimes. In fact, it typically takes five leads to get one full application. 

If you find yourself in this stage of the driver recruitment game, here are a few things you can do in DriverHub to improve your process to get more full applications and fill your empty seats. 

Find your Purple Cow

Motivated candidates complete applications. Tire kickers fill out lead forms. You don’t need more leads. Unqualified leads waste your time. You need people that want your job. Systems that allow you to swipe right like Tinder or Bumble produce a lot of leads. Most don’t even remember your company name if you reach out to them.

People remember a Purple Cow. Is your employer brand and marketing a remarkable Purple Cow or a boring black and white cow?

DriverHub has proven with over 1 million completed applications that motivated candidates will complete a mobile-friendly online FMCSA 391 Driver’s Application for Employment. 

Set up saved views 

In order to work as efficiently as possible, we highly recommend setting up saved views ahead of time in DriverHub to see where your candidates may be getting hung up in the hiring workflow. 

Are they getting stuck in the Qualification, Application, Screening or Onboarding phase? With a saved view, you can stay organized and easily see at a glance where candidates are stopping. If you’re asking for too much information before the application, for instance, you may be turning off folks from completing the full app. Be sure you’re not asking for redundant information or details you could gather on your own such as “How did you hear about us?” You can simply use technology to track where leads are coming from rather than bother candidates with that question.

Related: Check out Avatar’s proven process recommendations.

Nurture candidates

Next, ask yourself whether you’re doing a good job nurturing candidates through all the stages of your hiring process. 

In DriverHub you can use automation and encourage candidates along by creating templates to email or text drivers to nudge them to take the next step. Do this by going into the Configuration menu and then selecting Email and Templates or SMS and Templates.

Remember: All messaging templates should include a call to action with the ability for applicants to click a link to continue in the hiring process.

Go to Variable Fields, select Persona, then Link to application/form packets. This method will automatically send the candidate to their application’s next step.

It sounds like a simple concept, but companies often get this wrong. You want to make it as easy as possible for drivers to continue your hiring process. 

Audit your process

Finally, take the time to evaluate the tasks in every stage of your hiring process for user friendliness and efficiency. 

Consider whether your process is clunky for drivers. Test drive it yourself to identify areas to improve and be sure to remove any redundant or unnecessary questions. Think about whether the candidates are qualified for the roles they’re applying for. If not, you may need to adjust the creative, copy or targeting in your job ads.

Reevaluate your process frequently and make adjustments as needed to streamline your tasks, simplify your process and get more folks to fill out full applications.