Staffing agencies in Montreal dealing with recruitment in the transport and logistics industry have been forced to rethink their strategies, if they are to remain afloat and continue serving their clients with qualified and well-rounded hires. It is important to observe that the bulk of the workforce in this industry comprises of baby boomers, with the majority fast approaching their retirement.
This has created a potential gap, and the industry has naturally evolved to compel the recruitment agencies to change tactics to continue finding the best recruits. Here are some of the trends currently being witnessed in the industry as far as personnel recruitment is concerned:
Increase in the demand for new skills
The transport and logistic industry features a lot of infrastructure planning, construction and design. It is a multibillion dollar industry, and most companies are now looking for a great deal of versatility in the candidates they wish to replace the baby boomers who will be retiring soon. The average candidate for a position in the logistics and transport industry will need to know and be able to do more than the basics of the industry. They will be required to be well versed with the current technology, especially those that directly impact the logistics and transportation industry.
Besides, there is a huge increase in the demand for supply chain project and logistic managers necessitated by the increase in demand of international shipping. With these positions, complex distribution chains are usually involved, and they demand that any candidate who fills any of those positions must have necessary tech knowledge and skills to perform effectively.
Conventional modes of transport such as air, sea and land are also growing very fast, with lots of technological advancement being featured prominently. With this growth, the demand for the respective professionals in the specific industry will also go up. For example, the demand for flight attendants, and mechanics is on a very sharp rise in the aviation industry, now that it is just coming out of recession.
Sourcing and retaining staff
Most companies in the transport and logistics industry have discovered the importance of outsourcing the hiring process and now they trust transport personnel agencies to help them find the right staff for any vacant positions. Other than just sourcing for staff, players in this industry are now keen on retaining the hires they have.
Additionally, companies are keen on training their employees on the proper use of computers for business operations. The experienced workers may already know how to navigate the normal applications they need to do their jobs, but they also need constant polishing of their skills because technology changes with new applications regularly being released into the market.
With the difficulty that comes with finding the right hires in this industry, every employer is keen on retaining their recruits. Most of the competitive companies use a number of ways to attract and retain their staff, including attractive internal perks such as offering soft skill training to those who desire to become managers at some point in the future.
Increased demand for customer service skills
Customer service is vital for every kind of business. Businesses wouldn’t be successful if they didn’t have customers, and if they don’t know how to take good care of their customers, they will surely lose them to their competition. Currently, every logistics placement agency in Montreal is very keen on ensuring that every potential hire realize that their actions and attitudes can spread throughout the workplace and affect their colleagues as well as their clients in a number of ways.
Consequently, customer service skills have become such an important consideration when sourcing for staff in this industry. In as much as some of the hires may not be directly involved with the customers, it is imperative for them to treat the few they come in contact with, including their fellow colleagues with some decorum.
New recruitment strategies to attract young truck drivers, including female truckers
As noted earlier, the logistics and transportation company is full of baby boomers who have a couple of years left until their retirement. The millennials, on the other hand, seem to be too complicated to consider the industry as their ultimate career source. If a few are managed to be hired, retaining will always be a problem because they will move the minute that they have a better opportunity elsewhere.
Consequently, the transport and logistics companies are attempting to introduce measures that will attract more young and dynamic people into their work forces. Some of the strategies currently being employed include:
Introduction of wellness benefits – this has increased by almost 6% and it is designed to retain both the younger and the older workers who might be interested in quitting due to lack of wellness program by the employer. Besides, younger truckers shun away from the industry because of the perceived health consequences of trucking for years. Such wellness programs are designed to give them the assurance that they will be well taken care of, so they don’t have to worry about anything.
Use of driver appreciation events – to recognize and appreciate long serving and dedicated young drivers in the company.
Flexible work arrangements – this is designed to accommodate the agile nature of the millennials who may not find it attractive to adhere to very strict work schedules. This will include flexible working hours, good days off, and support between work and life.
There are also attempts by trucking companies to hire more female drivers to help plug in the driver shortages sometimes witnessed in the industry. Strategies such as offering lucrative perks, flexible work arrangements, and women-oriented wellness programs are some of the approaches currently being used. Though not much success has been achieved, the number of female truckers is growing slowly, but steadily.