Hiring Delivery Drivers: Finding, Recruiting, and Training

The caliber of your delivery drivers significantly influences your delivery business's overall success. While this may seem self-evident, our data underscores the pivotal role drivers play in shaping the customer experience.

In a recent survey, we sought to understand what a great delivery experience is. Customers were asked about their top priorities when receiving a package. Over 40% emphasized the importance of timely delivery. On the other hand, 38% prioritized ensuring their package was left in a secure location.

To ensure your business delivers packages promptly and meets customer expectations, you need two key components:

1. An effective and precise delivery route.
2. Competent drivers who adhere to their schedules.

But how do you distinguish between an ordinary and an exceptional delivery driver?

This post will outline strategies for identifying, interviewing, recruiting, and training high-quality delivery drivers.

Next, we'll show how delivery teams can use eLogii, our route management software, to train and transform novice drivers into adept couriers.

In this post, we'll feature authentic success stories from actual eLogii customers. They've utilized our platform to enhance daily delivery volumes, reduce operational costs, boost customer satisfaction, and streamline the onboarding process for new delivery personnel.

Step One: Recruiting Delivery Drivers

The first step in hiring delivery drivers is letting people know you're hiring.

You can do this by posting job ads on online job boards like Indeed.com, Linkedin.com, and Monster.com. There are also courier-specific job boards, like BetterTeam and GigSmart.

Additionally, you can post ads in community centers, libraries, on your company's social media, and in local newspapers.

Wherever you post the job, the key is the job description. It explains what's needed for success and what the job offers. The more accurate it is, the better the chance of finding the right candidate.

Here are some factors you might want to include in your job advertisement:

• What will the driver's working hours be like? For instance, will they be on the first, second, or third shift? Will they have fixed days, such as Mondays to Wednesdays?
• What's the job status? Is this a full-time role or a part-time courier position for those seeking more monthly income? Are they considered full-fledged employees or independent contractors?
• Will there be a background check? If yes, does the candidate need a clean driving record?
• What type of vehicle will the candidate drive? Their personal vehicle or a company vehicle? If it's a company vehicle, do they need a specific driver's license, such as a CDL? While a valid driver's license is typically assumed, it's advisable to include it in the qualifications list to ensure clarity in the job ad.
• What's the initial salary? Are there bonuses or more perks?
• What goods or services will they deliver? This affects the ideal candidate, whether it's pizzas or medical supplies.
• What are the job's benefits? This includes flexible hours, competitive pay, health insurance, or autonomy on the road.

You might not have responses to every question, which is okay. Yet, a detailed job ad increases the likelihood of attracting suitable candidates. This simplifies the subsequent step: interviewing and recruiting your delivery drivers.

Step Two: Interviewing and Recruiting Delivery Drivers

At Hermes, for example, ensuring that delivery drivers think and act like professional couriers is crucial for success.

According to their standards, drivers must go beyond merely following GPS directions, and understanding the intricacies of safe and efficient delivery practices.

But what specific qualities define a professional delivery driver? Well, it comes down to the following:

• Keen attention to detail
• Strong communication abilities
• Efficient and consistent work ethic
• Maintains a friendly and positive attitude towards customers

When formulating your interview queries, aim for open-ended questions. Pick those that delve into whether the candidate possesses these traits. The questions prompt candidates to elaborate, providing deeper insights into their character and suitability for the role.

Consider asking questions like:

When have you encountered a task that demanded meticulous attention to detail?

or,

Could you provide an example of a time at work when you successfully communicated a complex issue to a customer and resolved it?

To assess the candidate's ability to work swiftly, consider incorporating a test drive into the hiring process. Offer a one-time flat rate and observe them completing deliveries for a day. This allows you to gauge their efficiency and pace on the job.

Step Three: Orient and Train Your Fresh Delivery Drivers

Recruiting a suitable candidate is just the beginning. Yet, thorough onboarding and ongoing training are essential. Even the most seasoned candidate might face challenges in meeting your expectations and adhering to your processes without proper training.

So, you can break down the delivery driver training in four sections:

• Training in customer service
• Software familiarization
• Process and professionalism instruction
• Health and safety protocols

The most crucial aspect to focus on is the "process and professionalism training," which helps new hires adopt the mindset and behaviors of professional couriers. eLogii streamlines other aspects of a delivery driver's role, making them more manageable.

Let's see how this can be achieved.

How eLogii Can Assist You in Onboarding and Training Your New Delivery Drivers

eLogii is route management and delivery software suitable for both multi-driver teams and single-driver operations. It features a mobile app for delivery drivers, compatible with iOS and Android devices.

With eLogii, you can:

• Use our software's sophisticated algorithm to generate swift and effective multi-driver routes. Our algorithm considers priority stops and delivery time windows, allowing you to tailor routes according to your business requirements. This ensures your delivery drivers are equipped with optimized routes for seamless navigation.
• Keep tabs on routes in real-time through our app, which provides live updates. Use our route monitoring feature to track driver locations, watch completed stops, and expect their next destinations. Change routes on-the-go based on real-time data.
• Provide a tracking link for updates to customers. This will minimize inquiries about order status. Provide accurate, updated ETAs to manage customer expectations and enhance their overall experience.

Gather proof of delivery (POD) upon completion of each stop. This ensures both customer and business peace of mind about successful delivery. POD can be obtained through customer signatures or driver-taken photos of the package's location.

Moreover, with the eLogii mobile app, delivery drivers can focus on efficiency and dedicate more time to safe and prompt deliveries. That ensures exceptional customer service.

Case Study 1#: How Ananas Revolutionized Their Last-Mile Delivery with eLogii

Ananas, a subsidiary of Delta Holdings, embarked on a mission to build a regional e-commerce platform. They were focused on the Serbian market and expanding further. However, like many businesses, Ananas faced challenges in optimizing their last-mile delivery and providing exceptional customer service.

Before eLogii, Ananas struggled to find a single solution that offered efficient route planning, customer communication, and integration with their existing systems. Additionally, they aimed to reduce call center inquiries and provide customers with real-time tracking and delivery updates.

eLogii offered Ananas a comprehensive solution that addressed all their requirements and more. Here's how eLogii transformed Ananas' delivery operations:

• Automated Route Optimization. eLogii's platform eliminated manual route planning, optimizing orders across all fulfillment centers and depots with a single click.
• Barcode Scanning Integration. With eLogii, Ananas seamlessly incorporated barcode scanning into their workflow, enhancing efficiency in their warehouse operations.
• Customizable Communications. Ananas could now communicate with customers via SMS, email, and data communications at various stages of the order lifecycle, all customizable to suit their brand.
• Cash on Delivery Workflow. eLogii supported Ananas' cash on delivery reconciliation process, ensuring accurate collection and tracking of payments.
• Enhanced Tracking Experience. Customers were delighted with eLogii's tracking feature, providing accurate ETAs and real-time updates throughout the delivery process.
• Seamless Integration. eLogii's API facilitated integration with Ananas' ERP, WMS, and carrier management solutions, enabling seamless data exchange and real-time updates across all systems.
• Customer Empowerment. Ananas empowered customers to reschedule deliveries or make changes through eLogii's customer portal, reducing reliance on call centers for such requests.
• Insightful Analytics. eLogii's analytics provided Ananas with valuable insights into their operations, allowing them to track performance, revenue, costs, and service levels.

The results were extraordinary:

• Call center inquiries reduced by 50%
• Operational savings achieved within months
• Exceptional customer satisfaction due to real-time information and tracking
• Internal calls per order decreased by approximately 25%

eLogii not only met but exceeded Ananas' expectations, providing them with the functionality needed to excel in last-mile delivery.

Case Study #2: How Unimasters Transformed Their Delivery Operations with eLogii

Unimasters Logistics Plc, headquartered in Bulgaria, sought to enhance planning efficiency and elevate its customer service amidst rapid growth. Despite experimenting with various solutions like Bringg, they struggled to find one that offered both flexibility and scalability until they discovered eLogii.

eLogii provided Unimasters with a modern, cloud-based solution tailored to their route planning and delivery management needs. Here's how eLogii revolutionized Unimasters' operations:

• Automated Route Planning. eLogii offered a fully automated planning interface with the flexibility to manually adjust routes if needed, replacing hours of manual work with a single button click for route optimization.
• Enhanced Visibility. Unimasters gained clear visibility over field operations in real-time, allowing them to track costs at a vehicle, route, and package level while executing orders.
• Customizable Tracking Experience. eLogii provided Unimasters with a fully customizable tracking experience for their customers, enhancing brand visibility and communication.
• Powerful Driver App. Unimasters' drivers benefited from a robust driver app that facilitated tasks such as navigation, proof of delivery, and barcode scanning, ensuring efficient and accurate deliveries.
• Comprehensive Analytics. With eLogii's analytics suite, Unimasters obtained detailed insights into their operations, including time spent at delivery locations, route distances, and task statuses, enabling informed decision-making.

The results were remarkable:

• 50%+ reduction in planning time
• Streamlined customer service operations with a 50%+ reduction in required calls
• 76% more efficiency in routes serviced and vehicle capacity maximization
• Full API integration with existing ERP solution

Unimasters achieved unprecedented efficiency gains and elevated customer experience with eLogii's real-time route tracking, optimization capabilities, and comprehensive analytics.

Georgi Dzhurov, Head of Interactive Delivery Management at Unimasters, highlighted the significant improvements eLogii brought to their operations, including faster planning, enhanced visibility, and optimized routing.

Unimasters' switch to eLogii enabled automatic route optimization, leading to large time and resource savings, improved customer service, and enhanced operational visibility, positioning them for continued growth and success.