Top 10 Driver Recruiter Certifications

Certifications are important for driver recruiters in the job market because they demonstrate a level of knowledge and expertise. In addition, certifications help to validate a recruiter’s skills and experience, as well as provide evidence of their ability to successfully recruit drivers. Certifications also show that a recruiter is up-to-date with industry trends and regulations, which is essential for recruiting drivers in today’s competitive market. Finally, certifications can help recruiters stand out from other applicants and increase their chances of being hired.

The purpose of this article is to review the top certifications for Driver Recruiters and explain how they can help advance a Driver Recruiter's career.

What are Driver Recruiter Certifications?

Driver recruiter certification is a specialized program designed to help individuals develop the skills and knowledge necessary for recruiting, selecting, and hiring qualified truck drivers. The program focuses on teaching recruiters the best practices for finding, screening, interviewing, and hiring qualified commercial truck drivers. It covers topics such as understanding the industry regulations and laws related to driver recruitment, creating effective job postings and advertisements, evaluating resumes and conducting background checks, interviewing candidates in order to make informed hiring decisions, onboarding new hires, and developing training programs for new drivers.

By obtaining driver recruiter certification, individuals can demonstrate their expertise in the field of driver recruitment and selection. They will learn how to source quality candidates more efficiently while also gaining an understanding of current laws and regulations related to driver recruitment. Additionally, certified recruiters are better equipped to evaluate resumes more accurately and conduct more effective interviews with potential drivers. This helps them select only the most suitable candidates for their organization’s needs. As a result of having a certified professional handling the recruitment process, employers can rest assured that they are making informed decisions when it comes to hiring their next fleet of truck drivers.

Pro Tip: Make sure to research and compare different driver recruiter certifications to ensure you are getting the best value for your money. Look for certifications that cover topics such as recruiting best practices, market trends, legal compliance, and technology solutions. Additionally, many certifications offer continuing education credits to maintain your certification.

Related: What does a Driver Recruiter do?

Top 10 Driver Recruiter Certifications

Here’s our list of the best certifications available to Driver Recruiters today.

1. Certified Driver Recruiter (CDR)

A Certified Driver Recruiter (CDR) is a professional designation that recognizes the knowledge and skills of individuals who recruit, hire, and retain drivers for the transportation industry. The certification is offered by the National Association of Driver Recruiters (NADR).

To become certified, individuals must complete an online course, pass a written exam, and agree to abide by NADR’s Code of Ethics. The course covers topics such as recruiting techniques, interviewing strategies, safety regulations, and driver retention. It takes approximately 10 hours to complete the course and pass the exam.

The cost to become certified varies depending on whether or not you are already a member of NADR. For non-members, it costs $295 for the certification program plus an annual fee of $50 for membership in NADR. For members of NADR, it costs $195 for the certification program plus an annual fee of $50 for membership in NADR.

Once certified, CDRs have access to exclusive resources such as job postings and networking opportunities with other driver recruiters around the country. They also receive discounts on training materials and conferences related to driver recruitment and retention.

2. Professional Truck Driver Recruiter Certification (PTDRC)

Professional Truck Driver Recruiter Certification (PTDRC) is a professional certification program designed to equip recruiters with the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to effectively recruit and retain qualified truck drivers. The program is offered by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) and was created in partnership with the National Association of Professional Recruiters.

The PTDRC program includes online coursework, an exam, and a practical hands-on component. The online coursework covers topics such as driver recruitment best practices, legal compliance issues, recruiting technology and tools, and more. The exam consists of multiple-choice questions based on the topics covered in the coursework. Once successfully passed, candidates will receive their certification from ATA.

The entire PTDRC program typically takes around three months to complete. Candidates can complete all or part of the coursework at their own pace; however, they must complete all components within six months of starting the program in order to receive their certification.

The cost for the PTDRC program varies depending on which components are taken; however, it typically ranges from $500-$1,000 USD.

3. Certified Transportation Recruiter (CTR)

Certified Transportation Recruiter (CTR) is a professional certification program offered by the National Association of Personnel Services (NAPS). It is designed to provide recruiters with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively recruit, screen, and hire qualified transportation personnel. The CTR program consists of two parts:

1. A written exam that covers topics such as job description development, interviewing techniques, background checks, and legal issues related to recruiting. The exam can be taken online or in-person at a NAPS testing center. It takes about 2 hours to complete the exam and costs $150.

2. An online course that covers topics such as recruitment marketing, applicant tracking systems, social media recruiting strategies, and best practices for working with drivers. This course takes approximately 8 hours to complete and costs $200.

Upon successful completion of both parts of the program, participants will receive their Certified Transportation Recruiter (CTR) designation from NAPS.

4. Certified Logistics Recruiter (CLR)

A Certified Logistics Recruiter (CLR) is a professional designation for individuals who specialize in the recruitment and placement of logistics professionals. The certification requires that applicants have at least two years of experience in the logistics industry, demonstrate knowledge of the principles and practices of successful recruiting, and pass an exam.

The certification process typically takes about four to six weeks to complete. To get certified, you must first submit an application to the Association of Logistics Recruiters (ALR). Once your application is approved, you will be given access to a study guide and practice exam. After studying the material, you will take a proctored online exam which consists of multiple choice questions and short answer questions.

The cost for taking the certification exam is $395 for members of ALR or $495 for non-members. Additionally, there are fees associated with submitting your application and taking the practice test.

5. Professional in Human Resources – Transportation and Logistics (PHR-TL)

Professional in Human Resources – Transportation and Logistics (PHR-TL) is a certification program designed to recognize individuals who have demonstrated mastery of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required for effective human resources management in the transportation and logistics industry. The program is administered by the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI).

The PHR-TL is a two-part exam that includes an online assessment and an onsite performance test. The online assessment consists of multiple choice questions that assess knowledge of key topics such as labor relations, compensation, employee benefits, recruiting and selection, training and development, legal compliance, strategic planning, and organizational development. The onsite performance test requires applicants to demonstrate their ability to apply their knowledge in a simulated work environment.

The PHR-TL certification program typically takes about 12 weeks to complete. During this time period applicants must complete the online assessment and pass the onsite performance test with a score of at least 70%. Applicants also have access to HRCI’s study materials which include practice tests and sample questions.

The cost of obtaining the PHR-TL certification varies depending on whether or not you are already an HRCI member. If you are not yet an HRCI member then the total cost will be $595 which includes the application fee ($100), exam fee ($395), and study materials fee ($100). If you are already an HRCI member then the total cost will be $495 which includes only the exam fee ($395) and study materials fee ($100).

Overall, obtaining your PHR-TL certification can be a great way to demonstrate your expertise in human resources management within the transportation and logistics industry.

6. Certified Professional in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CPLTD)

Certified Professional in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CPLTD) is a professional certification program offered by the American Society of Transportation and Logistics (ASTL). The CPLTD certification is designed to recognize individuals who have achieved a high level of knowledge and experience in the logistics, transportation and distribution fields.

It takes approximately six months to complete the CPLTD certification process. This includes completing an online application, passing an exam, and completing a project or presentation that demonstrates mastery of the subject matter. The cost for the CPLTD certification is $395 USD.

To get the CPLTD certification, you must first complete an online application. Once your application has been accepted, you will be required to pass a comprehensive exam that covers topics such as supply chain management, transportation management systems, warehousing operations, inventory control systems and global logistics strategies. After passing the exam, you must then complete a project or presentation that demonstrates mastery of the subject matter.

Once all requirements have been met, you will receive your Certified Professional in Logistics, Transportation and Distribution (CPLTD) certificate from ASTL.

7. Certified Driver Staffing Specialist (CDSS)

A Certified Driver Staffing Specialist (CDSS) is a professional who is trained and certified to provide staffing services to companies that require drivers for their operations. The CDSS credential is issued by the National Association of Driver Staffing Agencies (NADSA). It is designed to ensure that the driver staffing specialist has the knowledge and skills required to effectively recruit, screen, hire, train, manage, and retain qualified drivers.

To become a Certified Driver Staffing Specialist (CDSS), one must complete a certification program offered by NADSA. This program consists of an online course that covers topics such as recruiting strategies, driver screening procedures, hiring practices, training methods, and retention strategies. Upon successful completion of the coursework and passing the final exam with a score of 80% or higher, individuals will receive their CDSS certification.

The cost for the CDSS certification program varies depending on the provider. Generally speaking, it can range from $500-$1000 USD for the entire program including registration fees and materials.

In order to maintain their CDSS certification status, individuals must complete continuing education courses every two years in order to stay up-to-date with industry trends and regulations.

8. Certified Fleet Manager (CFM)

Certified Fleet Manager (CFM) is a professional certification program designed to recognize and promote excellence in fleet management. The CFM program was developed by the National Association of Fleet Administrators (NAFA) and is recognized as the highest level of professional achievement for fleet managers.

The CFM program consists of a comprehensive exam that covers all aspects of fleet management, including vehicle selection, maintenance, safety, budgeting, and more. To become certified, candidates must have at least five years of fleet management experience and pass an extensive written exam. The exam is administered twice a year at various locations throughout the United States.

The cost to take the CFM exam varies depending on whether you are a NAFA member or not. For non-members, it costs $595 to take the exam; for members it costs $495. Additionally, there is an application fee of $50 for both members and non-members.

Once you have passed the exam, you will receive your official Certified Fleet Manager certificate from NAFA within 4-6 weeks after passing the test. The certificate is valid for three years and can be renewed by taking additional courses or attending workshops related to fleet management topics.

Overall, becoming a Certified Fleet Manager requires dedication and hard work but can help open up new career opportunities in the field of fleet management.

9. Certified Safety Director (CSD)

A Certified Safety Director (CSD) is a professional designation that recognizes an individual’s expertise in the field of safety and health management. The CSD credential is offered by the Board of Certified Safety Professionals (BCSP). To become certified, an individual must have at least a bachelor’s degree in occupational safety or a related field, plus four years of relevant experience.

The certification process typically takes between six months and one year to complete, depending on the individual's background and experience. To begin the process, applicants must submit their application materials to BCSP for review. This includes proof of education, work experience, and any other relevant training or certifications. Once approved, applicants must pass the CSD examination administered by BCSP.

The cost of obtaining the CSD credential varies depending on how many exams are taken and whether or not an applicant needs to retake any exams. Generally speaking, it can cost anywhere from $500-$2,000 to obtain the CSD credential. Additionally, there are annual maintenance fees associated with keeping up with the certification requirements.

10. National Safety Council Defensive Driving Course

The National Safety Council Defensive Driving Course is an online course designed to help drivers improve their driving skills and become safer on the roads. The course covers topics such as defensive driving techniques, how to handle hazardous road conditions, and how to avoid common mistakes that lead to accidents. The course also includes interactive activities and quizzes that help reinforce the material.

The course typically takes 8 hours to complete. It can be taken at your own pace and you can stop and start whenever you need to. You can access the course online through the National Safety Council website or through a third-party provider.

The cost of the National Safety Council Defensive Driving Course varies depending on where you take it from. Generally speaking, it costs between $25-$50 for the online version of the course.

Do You Really Need a Driver Recruiter Certificate?

A driver recruiter certificate can be a valuable asset for anyone looking to enter the trucking industry. While it is not a requirement to become a driver recruiter, it can help you stand out from other applicants and demonstrate your commitment to the field. With this certificate, you will have more credibility when applying for jobs and employers will know that you are knowledgeable about the trucking industry.

The certificate is also beneficial because it shows that you have taken the time to learn about what it takes to be successful in this profession. You will learn important strategies for recruiting drivers, such as how to find qualified candidates and how to effectively interview them. Additionally, you will gain a better understanding of the regulations and laws that govern hiring practices in the trucking industry.

Finally, having a driver recruiter certificate may give you an edge when negotiating salary or other benefits with potential employers. It is proof that you understand the job requirements and are prepared to take on any challenges that come your way.

In conclusion, while having a driver recruiter certificate isn't strictly necessary, it can give you an advantage when entering this competitive field. It demonstrates your commitment and knowledge of the job market, which could be invaluable in helping you secure employment opportunities.

Related: Driver Recruiter Resume Examples

FAQs About Driver Recruiter Certifications

Q1. What is a Driver Recruiter Certification?

A1. A Driver Recruiter Certification is a credential that demonstrates knowledge and proficiency in the field of driver recruitment. It is obtained through completion of an accredited course and is awarded by organizations such as the National Association of Driver Recruiters (NADR).

Q2. What are the benefits of having a Driver Recruiter Certification?

A2. Having a Driver Recruiter Certification can provide recognition for your professional achievements, demonstrate expertise in the field, increase job opportunities, and increase your earning potential.

Q3. How can I obtain a Driver Recruiter Certification?

A3. In order to obtain a Driver Recruiter Certification, you must complete an accredited course offered by an organization such as NADR or another recognized organization. The course must include topics such as driver recruitment strategies, safety regulations, interviewing techniques, and other related topics. After successful completion of the course, you will receive your certification.

Q4. How long does it take to complete a Driver Recruiter Certification?

A4. The time it takes to complete a driver recruiter certification varies depending on the type of program chosen; however, most courses require between 3-6 months to complete all requirements for certification.

Q5. Is there an exam required for obtaining a Driver Recruiter Certification?

A5. Yes, there is usually an exam required for obtaining certification from organizations such as NADR or other recognized organizations offering courses in driver recruiter certifications. This exam tests knowledge on topics such as safety regulations, interviewing techniques, and other related topics covered during the coursework portion of the program.