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Explore the world of driver recruiting with the HireTruckers Podcast! Join us as we talk to recruiting experts, offering industry insights, marketing trends, and motivation to enhance your recruiting skills. Whether you're a seasoned recruiter or just starting, our podcast is here to help you level up your game in the trucking industry.
Welcome to the Hire Truckers Podcast, where we interview experts in driver recruiting. We provide industry insights, marketing trends, and motivation to help you level up your recruiting game. Welcome to the Hire Truckers podcast. I'm your host, Aaron Craddock. And today, we have Rodney Eaves with us.
Aaron Craddock:And Rodney is currently with Baggett Transportation in the director of recruiting role. Super excited to have him on today. He's got 30 plus years transportation industry experience, and has been at several different fleets, really in a myriad of different capacities. And so, I'm excited to just dig in today and talk about growth mindset. Well, like, we've already been talking about our morning routines and and things like that.
Aaron Craddock:And I think how we do one thing is how we do everything. So I think just even these little things like Rodney hitting the gym every morning, except this morning. Right?
Rodney Eaves:Yes. That's right. Yes. I apologize for that.
Aaron Craddock:There you go. So, Rodney, what do you typically do, yeah, like starting your day as a director recruiting, which starts at home at 5 o'clock. How do you kinda get going? Because this is a this can be a tough industry.
Rodney Eaves:Yeah. It's very tough industry. So therefore, that's why I start my day at 5 o'clock every morning. So the alarm goes off, the feet hit the floor. Very grateful for that opportunity, and just get dressed and head to the gym.
Rodney Eaves:The gym pretty much consists of an hour, hour 15 minutes, get dressed, head to work. Basically, at that point, open up the laptop, see how many emails I have, how many apps that came in at that point, and just, reaching out. You know? I guess we've noticed in the industry back in, I guess, we'd say 2020 when the pandemic hit. The industry, in my opinion, changed where the drivers were calling us.
Rodney Eaves:We just kind of sit back, had to answer the phone call. Now, I've seen if we don't just bang those phones out every day, we're not reaching the drivers.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. Do you do other than just calling I'm gonna dive right into it. Other than just calling, like, do you also, like, text them, reach out to them other ways, message them, email them? Do you have, like, different kinda nurture campaigns, or is it just just calling is what you're seeing is effective?
Rodney Eaves:I do all the above. Everything you said. So every avenue that's out there, we're doing it. Obviously, we're gonna start with a phone call. We're gonna leave the voice mail.
Rodney Eaves:We're gonna send a text. We're gonna send the email. If they have the pulse option, we're gonna do that as well. And then just follow-up until we exhaust that lead.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. And do you call them even if you don't have a full application? Like, do you do you go ahead and reach out to the short applications too? Like, if they fill out a short form?
Rodney Eaves:Time. Yes. I need to know exactly what they're looking for, why are they looking to kinda at that point, active listening. Right? Tell me what you're looking for.
Rodney Eaves:See if we can be a good fit.
Aaron Craddock:Yeah. And y'all are, around 200 trucks. Is that right? Currently?
Rodney Eaves:That's correct.
Aaron Craddock:Awesome. What are kinda your like, are you trying to scale the fleet right now? Like, what are you kinda seeing in the in the looks like the flatbed market, is kinda what you're looking at growing. Like, are you looking at scaling that, just controlling for attention right now? What what do things kinda look like for you guys?
Rodney Eaves:You know, we are trying to grow the flatbed division. We have the van. We have the reefer. We're we're pretty much standpoint there. But as far as flatbed division, I mean, we do wanna grow it at a slow pace.
Rodney Eaves:Turnover is very limited, very low, so truck capacity is limited as well. So that could be good or bad, right, depending on how many trucks we have available, and that's how many company drivers we can bring in. So with that being said, we do have the owner option as well to bring those drivers in so we can capitalize that point. As far as company drivers, yeah, we're limited. Still trying to go, grow at a small scale.
Rodney Eaves:You know, we're not bringing in I mean, you've seen these orientation classes from 15 to 20 drivers, you know, every Monday. So we're not that. You know? We want to be a little bit more intimate. Can I use a word cliche?
Rodney Eaves:Family, team, if you will, concept. So that's where we are. You know? Just, you know, 5 to 8 drivers a month on the company side. We're golden.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. And then how many owner ops are you trying to bring on typically?
Rodney Eaves:About the same, actually. You know? Again, we want the small orientation classes to be intimate. You know? We don't want this to be a cattle call where they're where they're coming in and don't feel that, you you know, love, if you will.
Rodney Eaves:Every Monday morning, I make sure I go in, shake hands, smile, look them in the eye. Kinda sound like a politician all of a sudden. Right? But we're not kissing babies. We are, like, getting I think that's a lost art, if you will.
Rodney Eaves:Continue to shake hands, be in front of one another. You know? Thank them for being here because as we know, there's other 20 plus carriers after they're doing the same thing that we are.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm.
Rodney Eaves:So thank you for being here. You know, this is a great opportunity for both of us to succeed, and we're excited for this opportunity that you're here.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. What would you say kinda differentiates Baggett Transportation, like, in your offering and, like, what you're what you're talking to drivers about?
Rodney Eaves:Yeah. It's pretty you know, unfortunately, there's not much that we're different than the other carriers or the competitors are. I do feel like it's it's a smaller company. Therefore, I can sell, the family feel, the team concept. If you have a problem, call me.
Rodney Eaves:Call anyone. And I think as far as recruiting goes, that's key. Always be available. You mentioned that that short app that you get. Once you start building that relationship, then at that point, you follow-up.
Rodney Eaves:Things change 3 months down the road. Think things change 6 to 9 months down the road, so you never just drop someone off. Unless they clearly say, hey. I'm not a flatbed flatbed driver anymore. Right?
Rodney Eaves:Then we move on. Other than that, we leave the door open, because you never know what's going to, change, for that individual down the road.
Aaron Craddock:So you have quite a few drivers that you've been talking to for a while that didn't come on initially when that app came in, but then end up coming on later because you follow-up.
Rodney Eaves:Absolutely. So there's, I'm not saying there's a there's a timestamp, 3 months, 9 months, but it can be as simple as, I'm gonna shoot this driver a text. So it has been 3 months. Hey. Just checking on you.
Rodney Eaves:Hope everything's great. You know? And that's all they really need. Right? Just to see that someone is still keeping it with them after they told me, no.
Rodney Eaves:Not looking right now.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm.
Rodney Eaves:So a simple text, simple phone call, leave a voice mail, and and move on till, let's say, 3, the next 3 months down the road.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. Yeah. And I really liked that personal approach. That's kind of been like a recurring theme. I think it's kind of funny.
Aaron Craddock:We're like in the era of artificial intelligence and all this automation and almost I feel like every other conversation I'm in is about, like, we just gotta see people in person and, like, talk to them as real people. And that I mean, that's just the differentiator. Like, be real, be authentic. I liked what you said being available because I think I think a lot of, directors recruiting aren't aren't available. And so I I could see that being, yeah, just a massive selling point because they know you're busy, like, with your job and all the things you're responsible for.
Aaron Craddock:So I think that that probably goes a long way. Do many drivers, like, take you up on that? Like, reach reach out to you, call you?
Rodney Eaves:They do, unfortunately. Or fortunately, right, they're calling me. So that's a good thing. But, yeah, the wife doesn't like when you're eating, you know, at the dinner table at night. You know, you just kinda turn the phone over and I'll like, I'll get to it, you know, in a in a second.
Rodney Eaves:Give me 30 minutes, you know, and get to it. But you always take the laptop home because you never know if someone calls and says, hey. I just submitted an application. Will you check something for me? And you do that.
Rodney Eaves:Right? Because the most most time these drivers are done, you know, that window when we're done at night. Right? So they're sitting at the truck stop or they're behind the wheel. They're needing to talk or they're needing to ask a question for you.
Rodney Eaves:So it's a perfect opportunity to pick up the phone. I mean, it's and it's gonna be a 5 minute conversation at best, or it's gonna be a simple text to respond back to. Once you are always available for them, that goes a long way. It really, really does.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. And I like that point too of, like, flipping the phone over at the dinner table because I have that I have that tendency of, like, wanting to check it constantly. But just the importance of, like, the little guarding that little bit of family time and being intentional. And then that still that still is immediate response, right, if you get back to somebody in 30 minutes. Like, you know, that's pretty quick.
Aaron Craddock:So
Rodney Eaves:Yeah. Yeah. Absolutely.
Aaron Craddock:I like that because they don't know if you were on another call or or what was going on. So
Rodney Eaves:And they always say, man, I can't believe you got back in touch with me. Right? And they always say that. Like Mhmm. Because I'm sure I'm not the only one they've reached out to.
Rodney Eaves:So I wanna be the one that does follow-up with with the missed phone call or the text that they sent.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. That's awesome. So going more into kinda because one of the things I'm kind of intrigued intrigued by and looking through the pre prepodcast stuff is just it looks like you read a lot. Like, Ginger took a picture Ginger took a picture of your bookshelf, and there are a lot of a lot of good books on there. Like, what's something what's something you've read just throughout your career that's had a really big impact that might Yeah.
Aaron Craddock:You know,
Rodney Eaves:I'm looking at my small library of this. Yeah. I'm looking at my small library here at work. So it's you know, I'm not big on self help or motivation because I feel like every morning when I take that next step, it's just habit forming. Those are habit formings when you want to do better for yourself, better for your family.
Rodney Eaves:Right? My thing is adversity. We all go through storms. We all have those seasons. How did this person get through it?
Rodney Eaves:That's what I wanna know. That's my challenge. Yeah. So in that way, I could help someone else, for example. Yeah.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. So what's a good book?
Rodney Eaves:I'm re
Aaron Craddock:What's a good book on adversity?
Rodney Eaves:Well, the one I'm reading right now is, is Scars and Stripes. I'm a big, I guess, military just because they go through so much. This individual, you may have heard of the name Tim Kennedy. He's done a little bit of everything. Right?
Rodney Eaves:From UFC to Green Beret to now starting his own school for for kids. Right? It's pretty cool, what he's gone through, and he's had some adversity as well, failing. So failing sometimes is good if we can get through it. Right?
Rodney Eaves:We learn from that experience, and we can make ourselves better. Yeah. Mhmm.
Aaron Craddock:Yeah. They yeah. I've I've been through just lots of hard things, in my life and from anything to, like, I've mentioned on our previous podcast, like, battling with addiction. Like, I went through you got alcoholism for, like, a decade and struggled with that. I've been sober, you know, a little over, like, 3 years 2 months and, you know, grew through that.
Aaron Craddock:But I'm kinda I'm thankful for that challenge and, like, adversity. Like, I'm not not thankful for the havoc that I caused for other people in my life, but I'm thankful that I went through that. And to your point, now I'm able to help people. Right? And so it it is our scars and our struggles enable that.
Aaron Craddock:Like, I was able to to grab coffee with a guy yesterday morning and meeting with another guy later this week, just talking through that that are kinda in early recovery. And then I've got more than my share of failings also in building a business from the ground up. Because I bootstrapped this business, started it 5 years ago, and it's hard, to build a business from scratch. And and I kinda thought with all of my past experience in the industry with other companies that it would be like, sure, Aaron. Like, here's our whole budget.
Aaron Craddock:Let's go. Like but, no. Like, past, you know, past success doesn't guarantee future results. It's very much just what what can we do today, you know, not the other. And so it's it's we've grown each year, but it's it's definitely been harder, like, a lot harder than I anticipated.
Aaron Craddock:And then I've had all kinds of failures along the way just like on just I I come from an ops background. So kinda like you do in the day to day of the recruiting, I do the day to day of the marketing as my background in building those teams. And so now having to build out a sales organization, like, it's just a completely different challenge. And so I've had a lot of failures there where I haven't equipped people well, I haven't trained people well. But I was actually thinking about that this morning, like, that's where I've grown the most.
Aaron Craddock:I haven't grown the most when things are going well, things are easy. Yeah. Just you don't grow in those seasons. Like, it it feels more secure, but there's not you're not really growing. So yeah.
Rodney Eaves:Congratulations, by the way, on the 3 years. That's that's amazing.
Aaron Craddock:Thank you.
Rodney Eaves:Feat. And speaking of that, because I mean, I love talking to different people of all walks of life, and we all have issues. Right? I think we're wired to a certain degree to where we do have vices or addictions to a certain degree. Right?
Rodney Eaves:Dicks personality. So that's the people that what I had issues with. I wanna know how you overcame them. Right? Like you mentioned, you can help others as well going forward, and that that's part of it.
Aaron Craddock:Yeah. And the way I got through it is help, like, community, other people that had been through it. Right? It wasn't Yeah. Because I tried on my own, like, with that particular struggle over and over and never got out of that.
Aaron Craddock:And then the moment I said, hey, I can't do it. And was like, hey, somebody that's been through this helped me. And guess what? People rallied around me and they helped. And, but it took a real, like, ego, like, putting my ego aside because I, you know, I was I just had a lot of ego.
Aaron Craddock:Like, I can do anything. I've always been successful And, man, just all this pride and ego, and that's kinda what kept me trapped in in that, particular thing is just not getting help. Just be like, I can do this on my own, but, man, there and and like you said, like, I I have an addictive personality in general, so a ton of different vices, like, I even do work addictively. And, like, I we were just talking about, like, doing a workout every day. Like, I'm I'm doing that, like, channeling, like, okay.
Aaron Craddock:Well, I'm gonna go to the gym every day. Well, that's that's an addictive habit. Like, thankfully, that's a healthier one. Yeah.
Rodney Eaves:But we all need that community for sure. Because here's the here's the one thing with the the addiction that we're we we we've both gone through is, like, I don't wanna talk to the person who has an issue buying shoes. K? They can't relate. Right?
Rodney Eaves:And I don't have an issue with shoes. I got an issue with something else. I need to talk to that individual, you know, so we can bounce ideas off each other. Right? Make me stronger to get through this.
Aaron Craddock:Yep.
Rodney Eaves:So so and I'm blessed to have a wife to say, Rodney, you need to go to the gym every morning, because it's it's almost it's therapy. Physically, Physically, obviously, because you just mentioned that. Mentally as well. People don't really think about that, but it's empathetic with with one another. I think you gotta have one with the other to to make them fit synergy, if you will, to make the perfect situation, if you will.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. Yeah. That's why I go in the evening because I'm going home to my wife of 13 years and a 1 year old and a 4 year old that are running around. And, if I don't and then and then I'm mentally engaged, like, all in it while I'm at work. And so if I don't take that time, like, a lot of times I just get in the gym for 30 minutes, set a timer, get out.
Aaron Craddock:But if I don't if I don't do that, then I don't show up well for her. I I go into, like, problem solving mode like I do at work. I'm like, okay. I need to put this fire out. Like, so I had to hear her problems, and then I'm trying to fix them, which doesn't go well, rather than listening and empathizing.
Aaron Craddock:But to your point, that little that little mental reset, yeah, I just majorly need that. Otherwise, I just have to kinda tell her, like, I'm probably not good to talk to right now because I haven't reset. Like, I'll try, but that, yeah, that transition. And I've learned learned through lots of failure in that as well. So what what else have you read that's kinda you talked about what you're reading currently.
Aaron Craddock:What else have you kinda read, along that?
Rodney Eaves:Yeah. So here's here's a cool thing. I think it's cool anyway. So I met this, gentleman by the name of Jester. Right?
Rodney Eaves:He was a army ranger. So he get signed one of his books, gave it to me. And I said American Hero because I've never, like, inter you know, met someone that's been on his level. If you've seen the movie Black Hawk Down, you know his story. It's very, very yeah.
Rodney Eaves:It's just amazing. That's one that I'll start next. Obviously, we just got through reading David Goggins, and, unfortunately, I wouldn't recommend that everyone, because we talk about physical, activities. He tries to kill your body, you know, each and every day. I'm not sure I'm at that level because of my age.
Rodney Eaves:Maybe when I was 20 years younger, maybe. You know? But, I'm gonna take a step back. I feel like I can, still do the same things he's he's promoting, you know, but but less energy and, impact. So those are kind of some of the books I have.
Rodney Eaves:You know? I'll I'll read how these guys go through day to day, you know, activities as far as physical activities, mentally getting there spiritually. You know? What they do. It's just, I feel like we need that as as a world around us.
Rodney Eaves:Life, you know, brings on this obstacle speed day to day.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. Yeah. I think it just in transportation, we've had all kinds of just different challenges. It's like coming out of COVID, like, everything spiked and, you know, profitability was through the roof, and we're needing drivers like crazy. And then and then there's kinda been recently a lot more people have full trucks and don't need as many drivers, and so then recruiters aren't busy, and and that creates a new set of challenges.
Aaron Craddock:And so it yeah. Just this industry requires resilience, and and then we feel the same pressures on the marketing side because as as recruiting directors we're working with, like, are are struggling, we're, you know, we're needing to adapt whether it's ramping budget up, ramping it down, trying to cut costs, just whatever it is in that season. And I think that outside of work stuff is just as important to manage just your mental health as a recruiting director going through all that or whatever your job is in transportation. And, yeah, that I've had to put a huge emphasis on that. And and I'm kinda to the same point.
Aaron Craddock:Like, I'm I don't know if I agree to the extreme of Goggins, like, in terms of, like, just destroy your body and, like, run until your toenails fall off. But I, like, I'm I'm kind of in this phase of, like, workout, try not to, like, tear my shoulder. So, like, cut out flat bench, things like that. But just get in there, like, 80, 20 year old. Like, what's the 20% I can do to get the 80% of the results?
Aaron Craddock:And and then consistency. I I had an opportunity to hear John Maxwell speak, who who's a big icon of my life, somebody I really look up to in leadership. I had an opportunity to hear him speak in in January in a small group setting. And the main thing that stuck out to me was, like, consistency compounds. And so that, like, kinda like in my addiction, like, I was hot and cold and hot and cold, like, just extremes, but where I really need to grow in is just consistency.
Aaron Craddock:Like what are the little bitty tiny daily actions, whether it's, like, spiritual stuff or workout or, you know, little actions in the business. That's and then if I'm if I'm doing that consistency in the other areas and spending time with my family, you know, then I have a better work product for my company. Like, and and then I show up. But it it's kinda like if that other stuff falls apart for me, then I don't show up at work the way I should. So I love
Rodney Eaves:Yes. Talk about consistency. It's it's the little things that we have to do. Right? I mean, who wants to get up at 5 o'clock?
Rodney Eaves:But you do, and you're sitting inside the bed like, let me just walk and put on the shoes. If I get on the get the shoes on, it's the little steps. We may not wanna pick up the book for our spiritual growth. Right? But just pick the book up.
Rodney Eaves:It's the little things. Just take the next step, whatever you're doing, and it builds habits. Right? Habit forming at that point. And it translates to your work.
Rodney Eaves:It translates to when you get home, it's in in the afternoon from work.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. Yeah. It's a
Rodney Eaves:funny story. So Go ahead. So so it's funny. So me and my wife would always come home and spend 30 minutes every day. Right?
Rodney Eaves:Kiss up on her days. And then we're you know? And then also something else every day. Well, since she's been remote, it's almost like I need the 30 minutes. Right?
Rodney Eaves:But she's haven't hasn't had the adult interaction, so she's like talking for an hour. That's like, okay. We we need to put a stopwatch on this by chance. You know? So it's it's kinda it's it's unique.
Rodney Eaves:Yes. The dynamic now.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. Did you say she because she doesn't have the interaction with people at work?
Rodney Eaves:No. She needs it bad. Yes. And and that's the bad thing. I mean, we're there she's on Zoom calls and meetings all day, but as far as the human interaction, which you just mentioned, yeah, it's lacking a little bit.
Aaron Craddock:Yeah. Yeah. So similarly, my wife teaches, 4th grade, and so she has a lot of little kid interactions, like, with 4th graders, but no like, not a lot of, like, adult conversation. And so I like I'm an extrovert. And so like I'll I'll like I'm getting energy from having this conversation and and work with my team all day.
Aaron Craddock:But yeah, but I'm usually, like, extroverted out by the time I get home. And then same thing, like, she's like, let me tell you about all the exciting things of my day. And she, like, hadn't had adult conversation and needs to process her day. So, yeah, it's, we've had to yeah. It's kind of a work I mean, it's a work in progress, like, 13 years in and talking
Rodney Eaves:to always reminds me, I think men have I don't I'm throwing this number right here. 300 words a day. Well, obviously, I use more than those talking to drivers every day because this phone really never stops. She has multiple more words to use when I get home, and I'm like, I'm I'm dead. Mentally, I'm drained to death.
Rodney Eaves:Not sure if I can form many sentences after that, but I try.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. Yeah. Sometimes I'll have to be like like, look, I can't talk right now. Like but I I really wanna listen, like, because I can handle that. It's like, but I might not listen the way you want me to, like empathetically and have the right responses, but I'll I'm gonna listen.
Aaron Craddock:But it, yeah, it's fun. I love the dynamic and the challenge of a relationship like that. And it's just so funny. So I read, like, because I'm a voracious reader and, like, I read 13 books on, like, biblical marriage, like, before I got married. And I was like, I got this.
Aaron Craddock:I got the theology. Like, I read one theology book that had, like, every reference to marriage. And I was like, I'm gonna ace this. I don't know why 50% of people get divorced. Like, again, that ego that ego kicking in.
Aaron Craddock:Right? And then, like, my 1st year of marriage, I was like, oh my gosh. I'm so selfish, and I'm causing so many problems. Yeah. It's just eye eye opening and but I've grown more through that relationship with my wife than through any other relationship.
Aaron Craddock:And it's because it reveals who I am and how selfish I am when I get home. It kinda strips all the mask of I've got it together because yeah. It,
Rodney Eaves:Yeah. I tell you what helped me after and I'm sad, and I'm embarrassed to say 2 years after the marriage is know her love language. It you know, that's the step in the right direction. Right? Know this.
Rodney Eaves:I think we can handle a lot going forward after that. Yes.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. Yeah. My wife says quality time, and and so we try to do one date night every week, like, get it on the calendar without the kids. And then, like, acts of service kinda equally. But it has to be it's not acts of service, like, doing the daily stuff, like, dishwasher or whatever.
Aaron Craddock:It's like the above and beyond things I haven't thought of before. And so it's always a little bit of a challenge.
Rodney Eaves:Yes. Access services, hers as well. And and and you mentioned dating. I mean, you have to continue dating, period. Right?
Rodney Eaves:That's what got you there. We can't stop it just because we're there now. So
Aaron Craddock:Yeah. And it's hard. Like, I mean, we we kicked it off, like, 3 months after our last son was born again, like, and had a babysitter when he's, like, 3 months old just because we need that so much. I mean, we love our kids to death, but it doesn't I mean, it doesn't stop. It just goes, goes, goes.
Aaron Craddock:And, yeah, just getting away. Because because even at the dinner table with the little little guys running around, like, I mean, we we're trying to talk, but we only get a tiny bit in. Now our date night this last week, because I've been traveling so much, like, at different industry events, like, you know, Mid America Truck Show and TCA and just all the things we had going on. The, because I've been traveling so much, we haven't been as connected. And so day night this week would was not as good because, like, we weren't as connected and hadn't talked things out.
Aaron Craddock:But it was still it was so funny. We had, like, a, like, tension our whole dinner, and she wouldn't mind me my saying this at all. But, like, say, I had tension our whole dinner mainly driven by me and just not feeling connected and stuff like that. And and so afterwards, I was like, let's go to the arcade. Like, I've gone with our 4 year old a couple times.
Aaron Craddock:I was like, we're gonna be the only adults there, like, playing arcade games. But it was fun. We just went and laughed and played the little race car game and claw game and whatever. But, yeah, that's one thing that's one thing that's kept, kept us married because we could easily be that statistic for for a lot of different reasons. And and again, that's that's okay if it if it happens, but I'm gonna do everything to fight for the the nuclear family and
Rodney Eaves:Yeah. I don't like to fail, is what you meant. So, yes, I'm I'm fighting for this because it means so much. Absolutely.
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Aaron Craddock:Visit trucking clicks.com or call 512-982-0816 today. So one of the things, on on growth mindset too is, like because I sense all this, you know, positivity and energy from you just by what you've learned on some of this mindset stuff. Like, how do you channel that into your your recruiting team or different people you work with on a weekly basis?
Rodney Eaves:You know, basically, I kinda learned this in sales back in the day where every door, every customer is brand new no matter what happened at the last sales call. They don't know, and they don't care. Right? So you always have to smile, put on your best face, best foot forward. And it's kinda like walking into your team each morning.
Rodney Eaves:Right? I mean, they expect me to be loud, energetic, come in the door wide open. And the problem is when I don't, right, they call me out on it. Like, woah. Woah.
Rodney Eaves:Something's up, Rocky. Woah. What's going on? Right? Everything okay at home.
Rodney Eaves:So I have to learn, like, is this kinda where I am? They always remind me they always say, so coach. Right? What are we doing today? You know?
Rodney Eaves:So So you just gotta bring that positivity. That's what they want. They got you know, just bring the energy because guess what? As a leader, if you don't have that, how's that gonna trickle down to them? You know?
Rodney Eaves:They're gonna talk on the phone. They're gonna do their canned presentation. They're gonna do this, you know, sleazy sales call, if you will. Right? And we don't know that.
Rodney Eaves:Yeah. Nothing can hear. There's no presentation. You active listening. Talk to the driver.
Rodney Eaves:Build relationships out of the gate.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. Yeah. That that's an area I could grow in. It's been this weird like, I used to I went from this dynamic of, like, always being the positive person to then, like, connecting with my feelings and, like, being more transparent about it. And so now a lot of times, because radical honesty is one of our core values, I'll come in and just say like, hey, I'm having a hard time with this, this, and this.
Aaron Craddock:And it does not carry over well. Like, as as the leader, like, yes, I'm being radically honest, but I'm setting the tone for the team for that day or that week or that month. So I I really like you, like mentioning that it doesn't matter what's hard in the business. Like we have to be the cheerleaders and and fire them up, like, in leadership. And, yeah, I really like that, the the energy.
Aaron Craddock:So I guess you're able to get there just by going to the gym in the morning. That kinda helps. Right.
Rodney Eaves:And a lot of caffeine. Yeah. A lot of caffeine. Caffeine.
Aaron Craddock:You know, a lot.
Rodney Eaves:Right? Exactly. Yeah. But, you know, if if if one of the recruiters hangs up the phone, it was a horrible phone phone call, it didn't go well, drop it. Guess what?
Rodney Eaves:It's behind us. Right? Pick up the phone again and dial the number and put, you know, smile and dial. Right? We've heard that forever.
Rodney Eaves:Just smile and dial. Okay? They have no idea who's on the other on the other line what just happened. They don't care. So let's just start completely over.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. It's
Rodney Eaves:a new call. Yeah.
Aaron Craddock:That's good. What else what else do you do kinda throughout the week or or just in general? Like, just to encourage them. Like, let's say they get down because somebody's rejecting them on the phone.
Rodney Eaves:Just pick up the phone and keep going. That's all you can do. Yes.
Aaron Craddock:Consistency.
Rodney Eaves:Take yeah. Consistency. Right? That's your word. Take the next step.
Rodney Eaves:Mhmm. Yeah. Don't give up.
Aaron Craddock:There you go. Drinking that coffee.
Rodney Eaves:Right. Yeah. Right.
Aaron Craddock:I would have coffee with me right now, but I was, I was getting all this equipment set up, so I was a little slow. So sadly sadly jealous of your coffee consumption right now.
Rodney Eaves:Alright. As, you know, as far as team goes, I want them to participate in the orientation. You know, I want them to introduce themselves to the drivers that are coming in with the same positivity, with the same smile. Here's the worst thing ever. Think about a driver or you coming to a workplace initially.
Rodney Eaves:Right? Your first day at work, and you're walking around and you're being introduced and nobody's smiling at you. Right? They're barely looking up. There is nothing more frustrating, if you will.
Rodney Eaves:Right? Embarrassing than that. So we're gonna bring the energy, and everyone's gonna bring the energy because we want these people or these drivers that chose us to really be excited that they chose us to be a part of our team, part of our family.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm.
Rodney Eaves:And it goes a long way. I mean, after the 1st day, they they go back. Because, you know, they're going back to the hotel room, and they're talking as a group like, man, I don't know about this. You know? Did I make a bad mistake?
Rodney Eaves:Well, no. Because when you leave here, you're gonna feel the love, and we're gonna do it again tomorrow. The same you know, this is not a show. You're part of the the family now.
Aaron Craddock:Yeah. So it carries heavily into orientation is what you're saying too. Like, just that just encouraging them, supporting them, just sharing that energy, like, through that whole process.
Rodney Eaves:And we're such a small class. Right? The the the recruiter will go to lunch with them each day, right, to get them know them better. Right? To get the drivers here, they gotta have to have one contact.
Rodney Eaves:That was the recruiter. Once they're here, they're still meeting everyone. Everyone's given a business card, and they'll know their dispatcher, obviously. But when things get tough, who they're gonna call? The only person they've got a a relationship with.
Rodney Eaves:So that's where the retention comes into play. Right? Because they're gonna tell that recruiter first. Hey, man. What's going on?
Rodney Eaves:I'm sitting. Nobody answers the phone. We're here. So once we get them talking to us, we can have some of this this bad negativity, you know, before it gets steamrolling more.
Aaron Craddock:Yeah. You can help help solve their problem or empathize with them. So kinda going in our next section, like, what are you noticing on, like, marketing trends? Like, what's what's working for you guys, like, in your driver recruitment marketing right now?
Rodney Eaves:You know, we're just advertising. You know? And we got a small spin. We're doing the legwork. We're reaching out, not stopping until they tell us to for the most part.
Rodney Eaves:It's building the relationship. I think it's just old school. Right? I don't think we we have to reinvent the the the mousetrap because it's already we know what's successful and what and what's not. And it's just putting the work, the effort in.
Aaron Craddock:That's good. What are you seeing ask everybody this question. Like, what are you seeing in the industry right now? Like, is this freight recession gonna end? Are we in this kind of down cycle forever?
Aaron Craddock:Like, what are you seeing? Are you seeing any positive news in the market? Or
Rodney Eaves:Well, I'm a positive guy, but since you asked me to be honest, I've been in this industry a long time and it's election year. And if that's, you know, if I shouldn't have said that, I apologize, but we see this every year. And my honest opinion, I don't see it doing anything. We might see an uptick, quarter 3, but we know quarter 4 is around the corner, and it's gonna be slow. Right?
Rodney Eaves:We have to get through this year before we see any turnaround, in my opinion, just because the where we are right now is a is a country, obviously, you know, and the culture. Mhmm.
Aaron Craddock:Yeah. It it was so interesting. Like, back, I think, q 4 of last year, I heard people saying, like, oh, it's gonna turn around in January. And I'm like, none of the market data shows that it's gonna turn around this year. I mean, stuff's more positive, but if anything, it's it's showing like slow growth.
Aaron Craddock:It's like nothing is showing, like, a direct shot back up to where we are in any period of time.
Rodney Eaves:I love when when I've had those conversations with people, you know, tell me like, oh, yeah. It's gonna turn around. Quarter 3 is like, well, maybe. I'm not gonna hold my breath, but I'm gonna be very positive about it. This I just don't see that happening anytime soon, unfortunately.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. Yeah. We had we had Brad Hackett on recently. And pertaining to this, he's an optimistic guy too. And he said reserved optimism.
Aaron Craddock:Like, that's his term. And and I really like that because I I'm I'm optimistic too. But you need as a director of recruiting, especially in that seat, it needs to be reserved optimism because you can make a bunch of really bad business decisions by being overly optimistic. And so I think I think that's a healthy posture inside. I still, you know, see the optimism and and hear it, but it it's just it's just reserved because of where we are in the market.
Rodney Eaves:As far as spend, as market spend, you know, I've I've never been one to turn off a fossil completely. Because once things pick back up, guess where you're 30 days out that, you know, that point you're behind the the 8 ball. So I've never done that. Maybe turned it down just a little bit, and then you always have flexibility to do whatever you need to do at that point.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. Yeah. I I I don't know how it's gonna work this cycle, but in in the last few cycles, when people turned it off completely, like, they were struggling when things ramp back up and it turned on fast. It I mean, it didn't turn on slow. It was just like suddenly, you know, you can whisper and get a driver and then tomorrow you can't get any driver to show up for any reason.
Aaron Craddock:And, yeah, I'm a huge proponent of just keeping something rolling. Like, even if it's you shift to more of a brand presence, like you gotta be prepared and you gotta have people in your pipeline. Because you're not just suddenly gonna reach out to them next week and they've never heard of Baggett, and then they're gonna come over and join your company. Like they have to there has to be a level of exposure. So I'm, yeah, I'm right there with you.
Aaron Craddock:Like, we gotta cut costs, like, when things are tighter. Right? And but it yeah. Turn I think so many people make mistakes. And then the people that keep it ramped up, they pick up market share when things when things do change and they're like, let's say you're wanting to grow your fleet.
Aaron Craddock:That's who picks up market shares who is already in the race, not not the people jumping back in. So
Rodney Eaves:Yeah. I always stay visible.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. So, what else should I have asked so that kinda pertains pertains to our audience? Is there anything I missed?
Rodney Eaves:You know, as far as recruiting retention, recruiting is you know, I I have to use that word recruiting. I I will never use the word sales. Right? But I love the recruiting as just a slant on relationship building because in my opinion, that's what it is. Right?
Rodney Eaves:It's not getting the drivers to trust you, but being there for them, active listening, hearing what their needs are, what they're looking for, and if it's a good fit or not. Right? As far as retention goes, it it never stops. So what I love to do, once they're here, I'm a follow-up with them in 2 weeks. Phone call, voice mail, text.
Rodney Eaves:I wanna know how it's going. That's 15 days out. Right? 30 days out, I'm doing the same thing. 45.
Rodney Eaves:So I'm doing this up to 90 days out. I need to know these guys are happy. They made the right choice. Everything we told them is still true. Right?
Rodney Eaves:And that's pretty much what we do. Now the best, I guess, recruiting tool that we have are other drivers in the fleet. And we have referral bonus for that. We have drivers that are very active, who've been here a long time, and that helps tremendously. The ones that have been here 3 plus years.
Rodney Eaves:That says a lot.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. Yeah. So how do you kinda keep that in front of your drivers to be thinking about referring others? Like, do you mention that fairly regularly or just send out something about the bonus?
Rodney Eaves:We send you know, when we introduce ourselves on the the week of orientation, I'm bringing it up. Here's, you know, a payout that you can get to refer your buddy. Because we know these drivers follow each other for the most part. Right? There's always a group.
Rodney Eaves:If one goes, I'm gonna be the guinea pig, if you will. Hey. If it's great, I'm letting you know. Right? The other 4th coming soon.
Rodney Eaves:So you just kinda like each time you talk to them, have you have anyone that I need to reach out to? You know? How are they doing? The guys that you know at the other locations you just came from. And they'll talk.
Rodney Eaves:You know? If they're happy, they're gonna tell tell them about it and tell you to to reach out to them. Well, I think it's key. You know? They they trust you because they know that you will, you know, do what you say you're gonna do.
Rodney Eaves:And they know you're gonna pick up the phone at 7 o'clock in the afternoon or 5 o'clock at the gym. You're gonna answer it while you're between sets. So they know that's, hey. I can we can depend on this writing guy. Right?
Rodney Eaves:Call him anytime. He's gonna pick up the phone. If not, he will get back with you. And that builds a lot of trust and accountability with us, you know, within the the team.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. Relationships, relationships, relationships. I feel like that has to be the theme.
Rodney Eaves:Nothing new.
Aaron Craddock:No. Nothing new, but I think we forget. I think and I think we can all have the propensity to forget just with what all is going on with technology, but there's there's no substitute for it.
Rodney Eaves:You know, I think I learned that in my LTL days. Right? When I was in LTLs for many, many years. Once I got in the LTL, it was almost like being in the mafia. It's like, how am I getting out of this?
Rodney Eaves:I'm kinda stuck. But when you're an ops manager, or dispatcher even, and you're talking to these drivers like, hey. Can you pick this load up? That simple. Right?
Rodney Eaves:And they're like, well, no. I was like, what do you do? You build that relationship. You're not selling him the point that, hey. Will you do this for us?
Rodney Eaves:Right? But, hey. I need a favor from you. I'll make it up to you if you can do this for me today. That's you learn that in operations ops.
Rodney Eaves:Right? Fast forward to sales, ops is immediate gratification. Sales, it took me a long time to understand that you're planting the seed. So when you're walking in the door to make the sales calls to the the shipping manager, to the traffic manager, that's building relationships. You're not gonna get a sale day 1.
Rodney Eaves:At least I never went in to do the the sale day 1. I wanna build a relationship. I need to let him know he can count on me if he needs anything and kinda go from there. So this is this is nothing new, right, as far as that goes.
Aaron Craddock:Mhmm. That's awesome. Yeah. Well, I really appreciate appreciate your time today, Rodney. I really enjoyed just getting to know you and, just talking about life.
Aaron Craddock:It is, it's just really refreshing. And, and then I think we got some good really good nuggets that can help people, like, at the end at the end there.
Rodney Eaves:Good. Aaron, it is a pleasure, man. Thank you so much. I appreciate it as well.
Aaron Craddock:Our goal with the Hire Truckers podcast is to provide industry insights, marketing trends, and motivation to help you level up your recruiting game. Thank you for joining us today, and if we added value, please take 10 seconds to share this with your network.