As a driver, you have been given a huge responsibility. Everyone is counting on you to get the goods to the proper destination quickly and safely. You take safety seriously, but even the most experienced drivers can sometimes get distracted. The number one distraction for drivers today? Our cell phones. Even in hand-free mode, multiple studies have shown that drivers could be missing up to half of the visual stimuli around them.

Here’s a disturbing statistic for you. According to the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA), taking your eyes off the road for a single text while traveling 55 MPH is equal to driving with your eyes closed for the length of an entire football field. Imagine your family members and loved ones surrounded by people driving with their eyes closed at high speeds, perhaps even in a large commercial vehicle. Talk about a sobering reminder of the importance of staying focused while driving!

The NHTSA reported that 3,142 people were killed in distracted driving accidents in 2019, accounting for 8.7% of all crash fatalities that year. Because of the high risk involved, handheld devices have been banned for drivers of commercial vehicles since 2011.

To put it simply, multitasking, especially while driving, is a myth. The human mind simply cannot devote equal attention to multiple tasks at the same time. Any task that takes your mind off the road should be avoided if possible. Not only is distracted driving a major safety concern, it also carries hefty penalties, which include the following:

· Up to $2,750 in fines per offense for drivers

· Up to $11,000 in fines for employers who allow or require drivers to use handheld devices

· Possible driver disqualification for repeat offenders

· Negative impact on Safety Measurement System (SMS) results

What actions count as using devices illegally?

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), you may be fined for the following actions:

· Using at least one hand to hold a mobile phone to make a call

· Dialing a mobile phone by pressing more than a single button

· Reaching for a mobile phone in a manner that requires a driver to maneuver so that he or she is no longer in a seated driving position, restrained by a seat belt

Staying in touch while avoiding distracted driving

Now you understand why distracted driving is a problem. But how can you stay in touch for important messages or calls while still maintaining a safe focus on the road? Luckily, your mobile phone can actually help with some special setting features.

For Apple Users:

Set up the Driving Focus to silence or limit messages and other notifications. Just go to Settings, then Focus. Tap the + sign in the upper right-hand corner and select “Driving.” You can customize the Driving Focus feature to allow specific contacts or allow emergency notifications. Through Driving Focus, you can also automatically share with others that your notifications are silenced so your contacts know you are waiting to respond until you safely reach your destination, or choose an auto-reply to let contacts know you are unavailable. Driving Focus can be set up to turn on automatically for a “set it and forget it” option that always keeps your driving free of mobile phone distractions.

For Android Users:

For every phone with Android 9 or newer, users can set up Focus Mode. Go to Settings, then Digital Wellbeing. You can also search “Focus Mode” under Settings. From there, you are presented with a list of distracting apps. You can choose which ones to silence in Focus Mode and which ones to leave active. Focus Mode can also be added to the Quick Settings menu to more easily turn it on and off.

With just a few taps, you can do your part to keep the roads a safer place for all drivers. You can also spread the word about the dangers of distracted driving to other drivers, your friends, and family. As awareness increases, it is our hope at Trillium Driver Solutions that safety increases as well.

The good news? While one of the most frequently reporting injuries, it’s also one of the most preventable type of accident or injury that occurs in the workplace. Here’s little insight into the most frequent causes as well as some tips for prevention:

Causes:

• Dirty, freshly waxed, wet, poor conditioned or transitioning walking surfaces
• Uneven or irregular surfaces
• Mounting or dismounting from equipment, vehicle, ladders or platforms
• Weather hazards
• Uncovered hoses, wires or cluttered walking surfaces
• Poor lighting conditions, improperly fitting safety equipment, poor hazard signage
• Fatigue, poor visibility, impairment due to drugs or alcohol, carelessness
• Carrying objects improperly, distracted employees, rushed employees

Prevention Tips:

• Good housekeeping and regular maintenance of surfaces and work environments
• Training on safe lifting, carrying and safe fall techniques
• Wearing proper footwear and PPE
• Maintain all equipment to prevent leaks, spills, and drips
• Install slip-resistant floors in high risk areas
• Make sure all loose hoses, wires or cords are properly secured and marked

Are you a stand out professional, technical professional, driver, or skilled worker seeking contingent, temporary, or long term career opportunities?  Visit our job board  for more information!  Want to learn more about how you can gain access to Trillium’s national network of professionals and skilled workers? Contact us today!

Trillium, a national leader in staffing and recruitment is a valued staffing partner to over 22,000 companies nationwide. Trillium is privately owned by Oskar René Poch.

Stay Metrics, a retention strategy firm, found that in the 1st quarter of 2019 only 64% of Drivers hired on last beyond 90 days. While this particular survey was sent to only 70 carriers and doesn’t necessarily represent a huge percentage of all carriers nationwide, it does lend to a particular trend that could be problematic for future hiring.

The main takeaways from this survey included such ideals as making sure to be transparent to your Drivers regarding the company, duties, equipment, etc., and paying attention to warning signs that may come before they are even hired in. Basically, the more you share with a potential Driver from the very beginning will ultimately benefit you as a employer. If a Driver knows exactly what they are getting into from day 1, they are much less likely to jump ship or leave prematurely and both the hiring manager and Driver will be on the same page.

In fact, transparency was such an important factor for Drivers, it was the basis for 4 of the 5 questions Drivers were asked. According to Lana Batts, co-President at Driver iQ, a background check company, stated that the overall cost of Driver retention can be $8,000-$10,000 per Driver.

If you are experiencing high turnover with your Drivers, this could be costing your company big, when the solution is rather simple. Listen to your applicants during the interviewing process and if you hear something that may not coincide with what you are offering or what the position entails, be honest with the candidate. Getting these kinks worked out in the very beginning of the process can ultimately save your company money in the long-run.

For more information on this survey, please visit ttnews.com.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Especially now, in a job market where true, available talent is becoming harder and harder to come by, Recruiters and Hiring Managers may need to change their focus. While going through potential applicants and hires for any position, consider the following; if the person doesn’t necessarily meet all requirements to a T, based on their skill set, do you feel they could learn what they need to while on the job? Taking this into consideration, take a closer look at their past employment history and determine whether they have shown a track record of not only learning new things in a role but excelling with that mindset. Someone who is not only willing to learn while on the job but is able to thrive in that type of environment may be better suited for your open position.

This idea is simple. If companies are able to be a little more open minded in regards to the “talent” they are seeking, the skills gap may not be as big of an issue as what thought.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, and Trillium Technical. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2017 and 2018 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Candidates and job seekers have a number of avenues they can use when looking to build their personal brand. The largest and most widely used method is increasing their online presence. This can be done through blog posts, social media interaction, and sharing videos to showcase the candidate’s passions and expertise in their respective fields. By paying attention to a job seeker’s online presence, you may learn more than what can be written in a resume or application

In addition to an online presence, candidates can build their personal brand by networking offline. This can occur at networking events, conventions, seminars and through local or regional trade publications. By keeping an eye on an individual’s professional connections, a company can truly evaluate their experience and overall interest in that particular industry.

A more subtle form of personal brand improvement is through teamwork and collaboration with other leaders in their industry. Candidates who are more geared towards collaboration may make it known that they participate in podcasts, group articles or other avenues. This level of networking explicitly shows how well a job seeker is able to work with others.

When going through applicants and potential new hires, every aspect of their personal brand should be considered when determining a person’s experience and industry knowledge. Just remember, not everything can fit on a resume.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, and Trillium Technical. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2017 and 2018 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

1. Believe it or not, Recruiters WANT you to get the job! Most Recruiters, regardless of who or where they work, are paid on some kind of commission structure. This simply means that they earn a fee based on you make on the job that they placed you on. This DOES NOT come out of your pay but is added to the amount owed by the company that hired you. Why does this matter? It’s simple. First, because the fee is typically a % of your base salary, your Recruiter is going to try and get you the best pay rate possible, in essence the more you make, they more they make. With this in mind, always have the conversation with your Recruiter what you feel you are worth or what it is you are looking to get paid. The Recruiter can then try and negotiate on your behalf.
2. Recruiters will typically put the interests of the company first. While Recruiters do work with both candidates and companies to fill positions, the companies that seek out the Recruiters are, ultimately, the ones who foot the bill. What this means is that even though many Recruiters will agree that helping workers find their next job is the most rewarding part of their job, they have to focus on only presenting candidates who truly have a shot. As harsh as this sounds, it can work to your benefit. Recruiters will typically try and work with you to make you sound more appealing to Hiring Managers in order to get you hired for a job you feel you’re a fit. The key here is to listen!
3. Due to confidentiality agreements, Recruiters are not always able to divulge everything, especially early on in the process. Try not to get upset with a Recruiter if they are not able to provide all of the information regarding the company or position up front during the recruiting process. It is quite possible that the company in question has specifically asked this of the Recruiting team for one reason or another. In addition, when you’re told that you’re not a good fit for a position, simply ask if they can provide any constructive feedback as to why. Is the reason something in your control or is there something going on behind the scenes that truly does not have to do with your professional experience. Asking this question can help you better understand where to go next in your job search.
4. Recruiters may not know it all when it comes to the job in question. This can be especially true for positions that are extremely technical or specialized in nature. While Recruiters may become comfortable in using lingo in your industry, that doesn’t mean they know everything about everything. To feel more comfortable with the Recruiter you are working with, don’t be afraid to ask questions to gauge their knowledge of your field. The Recruiters that are doing this job for the right reasons will gladly answer your questions and if they are unsure of the answers will try and do more research to make sure you’re both on the same page.

Finding your next job or following a new career path is an extremely important stepping stone in anyone’s life and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. With that said, making sure that you and your Recruiter are in this together will make the task a lot less daunting, on both sides.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, and Trillium Technical. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2017 and 2018 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

In order for any machine to keep running in an efficient and profitable manner, all aspects need to work together. Having one gear out of place, especially a substantial gear, can cause slowdowns and even breaks in the process. This, in turn, can ultimately effect overall profitability and production.

With that said, all people should be given the opportunity to alter their behavior. Bring the issues to the employee’s attention and set forth goals in order to get them on track with the rest of the team. If the issues persist, it’s time to move on. It is much easier to replace one person that an entire well-oiled team. The less your team has time to focus on a hostile or toxic working environment, the more time can be spent on improving production and inefficiencies. It’s proven that the more an employee feels comfortable and happy at work, the more they are inclined to perform better with the job at hand.

With the advent of AI and Machine Learning, technical skills among employees are becoming more and more standardized. As technology continues to improve, employers are going to begin looking at a prospective employee’s emotional intelligence to see how they fit within the team. Because emotional intelligence is hard to quantify, companies need to start looking at their teams differently. Instead of simply focusing on sales and numbers, look at how each employee works with other team members. If someone has lower sales numbers but appears to be the person that their peers turn to for advice or issues within the workplace, their worth may be more than what shows on paper. In these instances, your employees with high emotional intelligence could be the glue that holds the team together. In essence, these team members may be what keeps the team running smoothly through times of profitability and loss.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, and Trillium Technical. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2017 and 2018 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Is there really that big of a difference between retaining existing employees over searching, vetting and hiring a new candidate. Absolutely! In fact, according to Peoplekeep.com, the costs of employee turnover are continuing to increase, as much as 2.5 times an individual employee’s salary, depending on the role. This figure doesn’t even take into account “soft costs” such as lowered productivity and training costs.

So the question remains; how do you increase employee retention? Here are a few simple suggestions to keep in mind.

• Retention should start before the hire: This simply means that employee retention should be something that your hiring staff focuses on from the very beginning; starting with recruiting and continuing through the entirety of the hiring process and beyond. You need to keep a clear and concise idea of what type of culture your company holds and make sure to focus on individuals who value the same type of working environment. Always hire with the intention of keeping that employee as a long term asset. Hiring a new employee knowing full well that they will not be a long-term solution is putting your company behind from the get go.
• Always engage employees with opportunities to learn new things and for advancement. It’s human nature to want to strive for bigger and better things. No one wants to be stuck in a “dead end” job doing the exact same thing each and every day without the opportunity for additional responsibilities or even promotion within. The idea here is simple; continuously provide your employees with opportunities for growth and to further their education, even if that simply means becoming more knowledgeable about your company as a whole and how they can continue to be an important asset to you and your team.
• Benefits are and always will be a huge selling point. This can be an excellent way for your organization to stand out from your competitors. This doesn’t necessarily just mean health benefits. A lot of companies are starting to allow more flexible scheduling so their employees can spend more time with their families. In addition, some companies are beginning to offer up to 18 weeks of parental leave for all of their employees. The idea is that by allowing employees to take time off to handle personal situations, the employer is provided reassurance that when the employee does return that they are able to put their full attention back on the job, rather than worrying about something going on at home. Other important and sought out benefits could include paid holidays, company outings, performance bonuses, etc.
• Embrace technology. Especially in today’s society where it feels like there is a new technological advancement every single day; companies have no choice but to either embrace it or fall behind the curve. Everyone expects to be exposed to and have new technologies available at their fingertips. From the newest smart phone being launched to how AI will be integrated into their daily lives, employees want the best technology available to ensure that they are performing at their best at work and at home.
• Turnover will happen so be prepared for it. Unfortunately, no matter how well your treat employees, life can get in the way. In circumstances where you are feeling lost after losing what you consider to be a rock star employee, you have to move on. Always try to have a succession plan for any and all of your higher level or hard to fill positions. Making sure that there are others within your company that can at least assist with the workload after the turnover takes place, can take a huge weight off of your shoulders. Also, remember that turnover can also be a blessing in disguise. You never want to hold on to employees that don’t want to be a part of your organization in the first place.

If you take anything away from this post, please remember that now is the time for retention. Companies need to start treating their employees as true assets and not individuals that can be easily replaced. It’s only when the employee feels appreciated and recognized and the employer understands their worth that true employee retention can thrive.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, Trillium Hospitality and Trillium Techs. With approximately 100 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

Before jumping on the seasonal work bandwagon, there are some key points to consider when determining if this is the right move for you or not.

PRO: The additional work can help to build your resume and fill in any seasonal gaps due to other positions you may work throughout the year.

CON: The pay is traditionally lower than the full-time, year round work and the hours tend to be longer, working evenings and weekends as needed.

PRO: A seasonal position could be an excellent way to get your foot in the door at a particular company or industry if you are just starting your career.

CON: Due to the short-term nature of many seasonal positions this time of year, companies tend to not invest a lot of time and effort into training for these roles.

The bottom line for anyone seeking employment this time of year is to decide what is most important to you in regards to your future position. If you are simply trying to build your resume and bring in some extra cash, seasonal work could be a great option!

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.

According to recent research, it has been determined that the Driver pool is declining for a number of reasons.

• Lower Turnover Rate: As the demand for goods and products increases across the country, the amount of freight having to be delivered to consumers and companies is also on the rise. This is giving Drivers more loads and routes to work which results in Drivers not having to seek work elsewhere. However, if the need for freight continues to increase, companies will have no choice but to add to their Driver workforce to make up for the increased demand. A single Driver can only move so much freight before they hit capacity. This then takes the full circle of dealing with a Driver shortage.
• Low Pay Rate: Even though the overall Truck Driver pay rate has continued to increase over the past 13 years, when you take into account inflation and the cost of living, Drivers today are actually making less than they did in 2005!
• Lack of Respect: Feeling respected and appreciated while performing your duties as an employee is a fundamental need that we all share. Because word of mouth is such an important aspect for companies seeking qualified Drivers, respect plays an even greater role in their recruiting process. In fact, research performed by Randall Reilly found that 71% of Drivers surveyed would be willing to make less money if it meant that they were respected at work.

Although it may feel like this issue is out of your hands as a prospective employer, there is something that can be done. In today’s job market it is more important than ever to focus on the value of your employees rather than the bottom line cost. Why? The overhead and overall cost to retain qualified individuals within your company is ultimately less than having to recruit over and over again. In fact, the industry average for rehires and referrals is around 30% of all hires. The best way to do this is to determine the type of individuals that best suit your open positions. For instance, if your company specializes in OTR or regional routes, try and tailor your advertising and positions on the idea that the Driver will get see places across the country. You want to reach people who enjoy travel and even a little adventure.

As an employer, you want Drivers to know who your company is and what you offer. Focus on brand awareness and benefits of working for your company. This information is important to prospective employees and even more so if you are trying to get referrals from existing employees. It cannot be stressed enough how important increasing the organic value of your positions can be for a Driver looking for a long-term career.

The Trillium brand of companies is privately owned by René Poch and provides more than 30 years of industry leading recruitment and staffing services through its divisions including: Trillium Staffing, Trillium Construction Services, Trillium Driver Solutions, Trillium Marine, Trillium Technical, Trillium Environmental, and Trillium Techs. With approximately 90 offices nationwide and nearly 400 internal recruitment professionals, the Trillium brand is proud to be recognized by Staffing Industry Analysts as a Top 25 Largest Industrial Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Largest Staffing Firm in the U.S., a Top 100 Fastest Growing Staffing Firm in the U.S., and a 2015 winner of National Best and Brightest Companies to Work For. For more information please visit www.trilliumstaffing.com.