Join Ginger Craddock and Jerry Curl as they discuss why driver retention begins long before orientation. Learn how strong company culture, intentional onboarding, leadership, and trust help transportation companies retain top talent and build workplaces where professional drivers choose to stay.

Follow Jerry on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerry-curl-45383411/

Hoffman Transportation Website: https://www.hoffmantransportation.com/

Follow Ginger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-craddock/

Hire Truckers Website: https://hiretruckers.com/

00:00 Introduction
05:00 Building Trust With Drivers and Their Families
10:00 Creating a Culture Where Drivers Feel Valued
15:00 Orientation vs. Onboarding
20:00 Using Driver Feedback to Improve Retention
25:00 Why Culture Matters More Than Top Performers
30:00 Leading With Connection and Empathy
35:00 Hiring the Right Driver for Long-Term Success
40:00 Making Retention Everyone’s Responsibility
45:00 Leadership, Culture & Final Takeaways

What separates transportation companies that consistently hire great drivers from those that struggle to fill CDL driver jobs? In this episode, Ginger Craddock sits down with Yvonne Valdez to discuss what separates the best transportation recruiting teams from the rest. Yvonne shares how AI, technology, clear processes, and leadership alignment help organizations hire faster, improve candidate experience, and retain top talent across transportation operations.

Follow Yvonne on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonne-valdes-1445142a/

Summit Website: https://summitllc.com/

Follow Ginger on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-craddock/

Hire Truckers Website: https://hiretruckers.com/

*Correction to the statistic stated at the :55 minute mark. The correct statistics are:
- Approximately 25,000 offers
- Approximately 9,000 hires annually

Discover how transportation and recruiting professionals can become top AI users in just five minutes a day. Aaron Craddock introduces the ROAD Framework (Reality, Operator, Ask, Deliver) and shares a practical system for using AI to improve recruiting, leadership, operations, and decision-making across trucking companies and enterprise fleets. Whether you're hiring for CDL driver jobs, leading a recruiting team, or building an AI-native organization, this episode provides an actionable framework you can start using today.

Follow Aaron Craddock on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-craddock/

Hire Truckers Website: https://hiretruckers.com/

Join Aaron Craddock and Michael Lombard as they discuss the mindset required to overcome adversity, the lessons learned from completing the grueling Texas Water Safari, and why pushing through discomfort is essential for personal growth, leadership, and success in the trucking industry.

Follow Michael on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mlombard1/

Truck Parking Club Website: https://truckparkingclub.com/

Follow Aaron Craddock on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-craddock/

Hire Truckers Website: https://hiretruckers.com

Join Aaron Craddock and Christy Choice as they discuss how AI is transforming trucking recruitment, why recruiters aren't going away, and how fleets can use automation to improve efficiency while keeping people at the center of the hiring process. They also explore practical strategies for AI adoption, process improvement, and preparing recruiting teams for the future.

Follow Christy Choice on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-choice-cds-ctp-ab608249/

Carrier Code Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@CarrierCodePodcast

Tentstreet Website: https://www.tenstreet.com/

Follow Aaron Craddock on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-craddock/

Hire Truckers Website: https://hiretruckers.com/

Join Aaron Craddock and Lindsey Trent as they discuss how the trucking industry can build a stronger workforce by investing in the next generation. From Gen Z recruiting strategies to career pathways, education partnerships, and employer branding, this episode explores what it will take to secure the future of trucking.

Follow Lindsey Trent on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindseytrent/

Follow Aaron Craddock on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-craddock/

Visit NextGen Trucking Association: https://nextgentrucking.org

Sign Up for the NextGen Newsletter: https://nextgentrucking.org/resources/newsletter/

Visit Hire Truckers Website: https://hiretruckers.com/

Join Aaron Craddock and Rebecca Anderson as they discuss what today's drivers are really looking for, why trust and authenticity matter more than lead volume, and how building a driver-first culture leads to stronger recruiting, retention, and long-term success in trucking. 

Follow Rebecca Anderson on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andersonrl/

Follow Aaron Craddock on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaron-craddock/

Visit the Hire Truckers Website: https://hiretruckers.com/

Join Aaron Craddock and Willie Nelson as they explore the future of trucking through the lens of AI, autonomy, workforce challenges, and industry leadership. From Texas transportation trends to emerging technologies and talent development, this conversation offers valuable insights into where the industry is headed.

Join Aaron Craddock and Kameel E. Gaines as they discuss the reality behind the truck driver shortage, the power of storytelling in recruiting, and how AI is reshaping hiring, retention, and fleet operations in the trucking industry.

Join Aaron Craddock and Ginger Craddock as they discuss data center buildouts, AI, and transportation market dynamics.