Our Hiring Hero Series showcases talent acquisition pros across the globe who are dedicated to connecting people with their next great opportunity.
Hector Sanchez leads marketing and recruitment at Mesilla Valley Transportation (MVT), the largest privately-owned truckload carrier in the U.S.
MVT must combat the industry-wide talent shortage to recruit an average of 150+ drivers a month. So how does he do it? We recently sat down with him to uncover his strategies for success.
“I love seeing drivers thrive in their job and knowing that I played a small part in helping them support their families. That is why I get up in the morning every day.”
What does it mean to you to be a Hiring Hero?
“Making the connection between employers and great candidates is incredibly rewarding. Nothing makes me more proud than seeing the people that I hired 8 or 10 years ago still with the company today. I love seeing drivers thrive in their job and knowing that I played a small part in helping them support their families. That is why I get up in the morning every day.”
Can you talk a bit about MVT and what makes it such a special place to work?
“Working for MVT gives me so much more than just a paycheck. Today, MVT is the largest privately-owned truckload carrier in the U.S. but it still maintains a small, family-owned feel. That, to me, is what makes it so great. Not only have I been given countless opportunities to grow and learn here, but the owners are always willing to jump in to support us. They actually care about the growth of their employees.”
That’s so great to hear! What does your role at MVT look like?
“I lead the recruitment side of marketing and work closely with our three main hiring centers and our V.P. of Driver Recruiting. We have a team of 13 recruiters and we all work together to find and hire qualified CDL drivers.”
Has it been hard to reach qualified CDL drivers?
“Yes. Our goal is to hire over 150 experienced drivers a month and to keep 1600 trucks on the roads at all times. That is not easy! Especially with an industry-wide talent shortage and steep competition to land drivers.”
What does it mean for the business if you can’t hit those recruitment goals?
“Empty trucks hurt our revenue and our reputation so we simply can’t afford to have a lack of drivers.”
“We look beyond salary to make sure that our drivers are having a good quality of life. We offer flexibility with their schedules and establish guaranteed driving hours so that they always make the income they expect.”
What are some of the ways you’ve been able to beat out the competition?
“In addition to offering cash bonuses and quarterly car giveaways, MVT has a lot of other programs in place to help drivers feel like they are part of a supportive community. We look beyond salary to make sure that our drivers are having a good quality of life. We offer flexibility with their schedules and establish guaranteed driving hours so that they always make the income they expect. That way, people can be home when they want and on the road when they want.”
That’s wonderful. So MVT strives to create a better work environment for drivers. Can you tell us more about that?
“MVT wants to make sure that everyone is treated with respect. We don’t want our drivers to be treated like a commodity, which is something we noticed happening a lot in the transportation industry. We found that drivers, in general, were being disrespected, and consequently, they were disrespecting customers. To mitigate that, we make it a point to foster long-term relationships between our customers and our drivers. We are getting rid of the idea that our drivers will be here today, gone tomorrow—and we hold everyone accountable for their behavior.”
Hector’s Tips for the Future of Recruiting
“Build trust with people before they even apply and ensure that your reputation in the industry is solid. One way to do that is through employee testimonials. Find individuals who are willing to share their honest experiences and get those stories out there. People always trust their peers, so lean into that and get people excited about the brand before you even meet them.”
Join the MVT team! Serving customers across the country, MVT is always on the lookout for qualified CDL drivers. Take a look at some of the roles Hector and his team are hiring for right now!
