Owner/Operator Recruitment and Retention Specialist

Canada Cartage Group; Mississauga; On-site; CAD 75,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

Canada Cartage Group in Mississauga is seeking an experienced Owner/Operator Driver Recruiter & Retention Specialist to attract, hire, and retain owner-operators and AZ drivers across the transportation sector. The role collaborates with Operations leaders, brokers, and Talent Acquisition to set clear expectations on compensation and requirements.

Location is Mississauga, Ontario with an on-site, five-day work week.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in driver recruitment, owner-operator recruitment, or related transportation roles.
• Experience with owner-operators, brokers, and AZ drivers.
• Knowledge of CVOR, Driver Qualification Files, and commercial vehicle compliance.
• Understanding of pay structures: rates, deductions, incentives, surcharges and operating expenses.
• Experience with recruitment tools and ATS is an asset.
• Strong English communication skills; French is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Manage full-cycle recruitment for owner-operators and drivers across the business.
• Source, screen, assess, and engage candidates to meet role requirements and safety standards.
• Partner with hiring managers and operations to understand needs and priorities.
• Build and maintain candidate pipelines and long-term relationships with owner-operators and drivers.
• Explain compensation packages, including rates, deductions, incentives, and surcharges.
• Identify and resolve compensation or contract discrepancies with stakeholders.
• Lead difficult conversations and manage expectations with accountability.
• Track recruitment metrics such as time to fill, quality of hire, and turnover.
• Contribute ideas to improve recruitment processes and candidate experience.
• Support team priorities as needed.

Skills

Driver recruitment

Owner-operator recruitment

AZ driving knowledge

pay structures knowledge

communication skills

ATS tools

Tools

Applicant tracking systems

Job description

Career Opportunity

Owner/Operator Driver Recruiter & Retention Specialist

Position Summary

Reporting to the Director of Talent Acquisition, the Owner/Operator Driver Recruiter & Retention Specialist plays a key role in supporting Canada Cartage's growth by attracting, hiring, and retaining qualified owner-operators and drivers across the transportation sector. This position builds strong relationships with candidates, Operations leaders, brokers, and internal partners while providing clear guidance on compensation, requirements, and expectations.

Location: Mississauga, Ontario
Schedule: Monday to Friday, day shift
Work Arrangement: On-site position

What You Will Do

• Manage full-cycle recruitment for owner-operators and drivers across the business.
• Source, screen, assess, and engage candidates to ensure alignment with role requirements, safety standards, and company expectations.
• Partner closely with hiring managers, Operations leadership, Talent Acquisition, brokers, and other internal stakeholders to understand hiring needs and priorities.
• Build and maintain strong candidate pipelines and long-term relationships with owner-operators and drivers.
• Explain owner-operator and driver compensation packages, including rates, deductions, incentives, fuel surcharges, operating expenses, and overall earnings.
• Identify and help resolve compensation or contract discrepancies, responding to questions clearly and professionally.
• Lead direct and sometimes challenging conversations, manage expectations, hold stakeholders accountable, and elevate concerns when appropriate.
• Track and report on key recruitment and retention metrics, including time to fill, quality of hire, and turnover.
• Contribute ideas to improve recruitment processes, candidate experience, retention, and overall effectiveness.
• Support colleagues and contribute to broader team priorities as required.

What You'll Bring

• 3+ years of experience in driver recruitment, owner-operator recruitment, or a related transportation role such as dispatch or professional AZ driving.
• Experience working with owner-operators, brokers, and AZ drivers.
• Knowledge of CVOR requirements, Driver Qualification Files, commercial vehicle compliance, insurance requirements, driver abstracts, and related records.
• Strong understanding of owner-operator and driver pay structures, contracts, rates, deductions, incentives, fuel surcharges, operating expenses, and earnings calculations.
• Experience using applicant tracking systems and recruitment tools is an asset.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English; French language skills are an asset.

Key Qualities and Expectations

• Maturity and professionalism: Demonstrates sound judgment, emotional intelligence, and the ability to handle sensitive or difficult situations calmly and professionally.
• Strong communication: Comfortable having direct and sometimes challenging conversations with owner-operators, brokers, and Operations leadership. Able to push back respectfully, manage expectations, and hold people accountable.
• Independence and accountability: A self-starter who takes ownership, makes informed decisions, solves problems, and does not require constant direction or follow-up.
• Positive and solutions-oriented approach: Remains professional under pressure and contributes positively to the team environment.
• Collaboration: Works effectively with Operations, Talent Acquisition, and other internal stakeholders, while supporting colleagues beyond immediate responsibilities when needed.
• Confidence and resilience: Does not shy away from conflict, difficult personalities, and challenging conversations. Knows when to stand firm and when to elevate.
• Organization and urgency: Manages competing priorities effectively in a fast-paced, high-volume environment while maintaining accuracy and follow-through.
• On-site commitment: Comfortable working five days per week in the Mississauga office.