Experienced Driver Recruiter/Talent Acquisition Specialist

Sims Global Solutions; Lenexa (KS); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Sims Global Solutions in Lenexa, KS is seeking an experienced Driver Recruiter to support growth, focusing on CDL-A driver recruitment for our assets division and broader sourcing for corporate, operations, and sales roles.

The ideal candidate has proven success in CDL-A recruiting, strong knowledge of DOT/FMCSA regulations, and the ability to build pipelines and manage end-to-end hiring with excellent communication and relationship skills.

Qualifications

• 3-5+ years of successful CDL-A driver recruiting experience.
• Sourcing, screening, and hiring qualified professional truck drivers.
• Strong understanding of commercial trucking operations and driver qualifications.
• Familiarity with DOT/FMCSA regulations and pre-employment screening.
• Experience with Indeed, social media, referrals, and direct sourcing.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead full-cycle recruitment of CDL-A drivers and owner-operators.
• Develop sourcing strategies to attract experienced drivers.
• Build and maintain a driver pipeline for current and future needs.
• Conduct initial screens and interviews evaluating experience and safety.
• Coordinate pre-employment checks and onboarding with departments.
• Maintain candidate relationships and drive a positive experience.

Skills

CDL-A recruiting

ATS / recruiting software

DOT/FMCSA knowledge

interviewing

relationship building

sourcing

multitasking

Tools

Indeed

LinkedIn Recruiter

Applicant Tracking System

Job description

Driver Recruiter / Talent Acquisition Specialist

Sims Global Solutions | Lenexa, KS

Position: Driver Recruiter / Talent Acquisition Specialist Location: Lenexa, KS (On-site) Employment Type: Full-Time Reports To: HR / Talent Acquisition Leadership

Position Summary

Sims Global Solutions is seeking an experienced Driver Recruiter to support our continued growth. This position will focus primarily on recruiting qualified CDL-A drivers for our Assets division, with additional responsibility for sourcing and screening candidates for corporate, operations, sales, and other positions across Sims Global Solutions.

The ideal candidate has several years of demonstrated success recruiting CDL-A drivers, preferably in specialized transportation, heavy haul, open deck, or over-dimensional freight. This individual must understand commercial driver qualifications, trucking equipment, DOT/FMCSA regulations, and the challenges of attracting and retaining experienced professional drivers.

We are looking for a proactive recruiter who can build relationships, develop candidate pipelines, and manage the recruiting process from initial outreach through onboarding.

Key Responsibilities

CDL-A Driver Recruiting (Primary Focus)

• Lead full-cycle recruitment of CDL-A company drivers and owner-operators for Kodiak Freight, with an emphasis on heavy haul, step deck, RGN, and specialized transportation.
• Develop and execute sourcing strategies to attract experienced drivers through job boards, social media, referrals, industry networks, and direct outreach.
• Build and maintain an active pipeline of qualified drivers to support current staffing needs and future fleet expansion.
• Conduct initial phone screens and interviews to evaluate driving experience, safety records, equipment knowledge, employment history, and overall qualifications.
• Evaluate candidates' experience with specialized trailers, including step decks, RGNs, stretch trailers, and other open-deck equipment.
• Verify relevant experience with oversized and overweight loads, load securement, permitting, and specialized transportation requirements.
• Coordinate with fleet leadership, driver management, safety, and operations to identify hiring needs and ensure candidates meet company standards.
• Maintain regular communication with candidates throughout the hiring process to deliver a positive candidate experience.
• Coordinate pre-employment requirements, background checks, driving record reviews, drug testing, and onboarding in partnership with the appropriate departments.
• Develop and maintain relationships with industry contacts, driver referral sources, and other recruiting partners.

Sales and Operations Recruiting

• Support recruiting efforts for sales and operations positions across Sims Global Solutions.
• Source and screen candidates for roles in freight brokerage, carrier sales, freight agent development, operations, dispatch, and transportation management.
• Partner with hiring managers to understand position requirements, qualifications, and staffing priorities.
• Develop candidate pipelines using LinkedIn, Indeed, professional networks, referrals, and other recruiting resources.
• Conduct initial candidate screenings and present qualified applicants to hiring managers.
• Coordinate interviews, candidate follow-up, and pre-employment activities.
• Assist with job postings, recruiting campaigns, and employer branding initiatives.

Recruiting Operations and Compliance

• Maintain accurate candidate records, recruiting activity, and hiring pipeline information within company recruiting systems.
• Track recruiting metrics, including candidate volume, qualified applicants, time-to-fill, recruiting costs, and hiring results.
• Ensure driver candidates meet applicable DOT/FMCSA qualification requirements.
• Work closely with safety and compliance personnel to facilitate required documentation and pre-employment screening.
• Identify opportunities to improve recruiting processes, candidate engagement, and hiring efficiency.Participate in recruiting strategy meetings and provide updates on staffing needs, candidate pipelines, and hiring challenges.

Required Qualifications

• 3-5+ years of successful CDL-A driver recruiting experience, preferably within an asset-based trucking company, specialized transportation carrier, or transportation recruiting organization.
• Demonstrated success sourcing, screening, and hiring qualified professional truck drivers.
• Strong understanding of commercial trucking operations, driver qualifications, and the requirements of different trailer and equipment configurations.
• Working knowledge of DOT and FMCSA regulations, including driver qualification files, CDL requirements, hours-of-service regulations, and pre-employment screening requirements.
• Familiarity with commercial driving records, PSP reports, FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse requirements, and DOT drug testing procedures.
• Experience recruiting through Indeed, social media, driver referral programs, direct sourcing, and other recruiting channels.
• Strong interviewing, relationship-building, communication, and organizational skills.
• Ability to manage multiple open positions and competing hiring priorities.
• Experience using applicant tracking systems and recruiting technology.

Preferred Qualifications

• Direct experience recruiting heavy haul, step deck, RGN, and oversized-load drivers.
• Established relationships within the CDL-A driver community or specialized transportation industry.
• Experience recruiting both company drivers and owner-operators.
• Familiarity with freight brokerage, third-party logistics, or transportation operations.
• Experience sourcing corporate sales, operations, and administrative professionals.
• Experience developing recruiting campaigns and referral programs.

Sims Global Solutions is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and it is our policy to provide equal opportunity to all people without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, veteran status, age, disability, pregnancy, genetic information, citizenship status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other legally protected category.

Affirmative Action Employer/EOE/M/F/Disabled/Veteran

Employment is contingent on background screening.