Manager, Driver Recruitment

Odyssey•Chesterton, IN

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Driver Recruitment Manager is responsible for leading Odyssey’s driver recruiting strategy and execution across Company Drivers, Independent Contractors, and fleet recruiting initiatives. This role manages the driver recruitment team and partners closely with Operations, Safety, HR, and Marketing to develop scalable recruiting programs that attract, hire, and retain high-quality drivers in competitive markets. This position combines relationship-driven recruiting with data-driven decision making, market intelligence, employer branding, operational partnership, and process optimization. The ideal candidate is a strong leader who understands the transportation industry, builds high-performing recruiting teams, improves processes, manages recruiting investments responsibly, and creates a positive candidate and driver experience from first contact through onboarding and retention.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in business, Human Resources, Supply Chain, or related field preferred or Equivalent transportation, driver recruiting, or talent acquisition experience may be considered in lieu of degree
4+ years of experience in CDL driver, logistics, or transportation recruiting
Previous experience leading or mentoring recruiting teams in a transportation, logistics, or high-volume hiring environment preferred
Working knowledge of DOT regulations, driver qualification standards, and transportation industry hiring practices
Experience recruiting Company Drivers and/or Independent Contractors preferred
Demonstrated success implementing process improvements, workflow optimization, or recruiting operational enhancements
Strong understanding of recruiting metrics, sourcing strategies, and market analysis
Experience with applicant tracking systems, Tenstreet, CRM tools, and recruiting technologies preferred
Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and reporting tools
Strong communication, organizational, and relationship-building skills
Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-volume environment while managing multiple priorities
Strong leadership, coaching, and team development capabilities

Nice To Haves

Previous experience leading or mentoring recruiting teams in a transportation, logistics, or high-volume hiring environment
Experience recruiting Company Drivers and/or Independent Contractors

Responsibilities

Manage the full recruiting lifecycle from sourcing through onboarding coordination
Ensure timely communication and follow-up with applicants, leads, and hiring partners
Communicate job opportunities, compensation structures, qualifications, and hiring requirements accurately and professionally
Partner with Safety and Operations to guide candidates through qualification, DOT compliance, background screening, and onboarding
Coordinate interviews, orientation scheduling, travel arrangements, and onboarding logistics as needed
Maintain accurate recruiting activity and candidate records within ATS, Tenstreet, CRM platforms, and related systems
Monitor recruiting responsiveness, application flow, and conversion metrics to improve hiring speed and candidate experience
Lead full-cycle recruiting efforts for Company Drivers, Independent Contractors, and fleet opportunities across multiple markets
Partner with operational leadership and HR to support workforce planning, operational demands, and hiring priorities
Develop proactive sourcing and lead generation strategies to build sustainable driver pipelines
Research industry trends, compensation, competitor activity, and market conditions to provide recommendations to leadership
Build and maintain relationships with active and passive candidates, referral networks, and industry contacts
Re-engage inactive candidates, cold leads, and former employees eligible for rehire
Utilize recruiting platforms, social media, networking, and industry events to expand recruiting reach and effectiveness
Lead, develop, and manage the driver recruitment team through coaching, accountability, and performance management
Establish recruiting priorities, service levels, and performance metrics aligned with operational hiring goals
Drive process improvement initiatives focused on recruiting workflows, hiring efficiency, onboarding experience, and reporting accuracy
Identify operational gaps and implement scalable recruiting solutions that improve efficiency and hiring outcomes
Assist in managing recruiting budgets, advertising spend, vendor relationships, and recruiting investments
Partner with leadership on recruiting resource planning, staffing strategies, and market expansion efforts
Partner with Marketing to develop recruiting campaigns across digital, social media, referral, and industry-specific channels
Evaluate recruiting vendors, advertising sources, lead providers, and recruiting events to maximize recruiting ROI
Support employer branding initiatives that strengthen Odyssey’s visibility and reputation within the driver community
Attend recruiting events, trade shows, job fairs, and networking opportunities as needed
Support driver retention initiatives through post-hire engagement and follow-up strategies
Conduct driver follow-up communication during onboarding and key employment milestones
Partner with Operations and Safety to identify trends impacting turnover, onboarding experience, and driver satisfaction
Act as a liaison for driver concerns during onboarding and early employment stages
Support driver recognition and engagement initiatives designed to improve retention and overall driver experience
Develop and maintain recruiting metrics and reporting related to: Lead generation effectiveness, Source performance, Time-to-fill, Hiring conversion rates, Advertising ROI, Driver turnover trends, Candidate drop-off points
Utilize recruiting data and market insights to drive continuous improvement and strategic decision making
Maintain recruiting documentation and reporting in accordance with company policy and federal regulations