Industry News

  Herk & Associates Recruiting Team

The Competition for Trucking Industry Talent Is Heating Up

The trucking and trailer industries have always been competitive. Today, however, companies aren't just competing for customers — they're competing for experienced people.

Whether you're growing a dealership network, expanding into new territories, launching new product lines, or strengthening your leadership team, finding qualified professionals has become one of the biggest challenges facing the industry.

The most experienced candidates are rarely actively searching for a new role. Instead, they're successfully leading teams, growing sales territories, managing operations, and being recruited by competing organizations. That's why many trucking and trailer companies are partnering with recruiters who understand the industry.

Today's trucking & trailer hiring challenges

The competition for experienced talent continues to increase across the trucking, trailer, and vocational equipment industries. Many organizations are experiencing:

• Increased competition for experienced leadership
• Expansion into new sales territories
• Growth through acquisitions and new dealership locations
• Candidates being actively recruited by competitors
• Difficulty hiring professionals with trucking and trailer industry experience
• Succession planning for key leadership roles

Companies are looking for candidates who understand the products, customers, and business — not professionals who simply have general sales or management experience.

Why industry experience matters

The trucking and trailer industries are relationship-driven. Whether hiring a Regional Sales Manager, General Manager, VP of Operations, or Product Support leader, organizations often seek candidates who understand dealer networks, manufacturer relationships, customer applications, and the unique challenges facing commercial transportation businesses.

Recruiting within this industry requires more than posting an opening online. It requires relationships, industry knowledge, and access to professionals who may not be actively searching for their next opportunity.

Trucking & trailer positions we recruit

At Herk & Associates, we recruit for leadership, sales, engineering, product support, and operational positions throughout the trucking and trailer industries.

Whether you're adding a key executive or expanding your sales organization, we understand the experience needed to succeed within the trucking and trailer industries.

Connected to the equipment industry

For more than 25 years, Herk & Associates has specialized exclusively in recruiting for heavy equipment industries across North America. As active members of the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED) and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), we stay connected to the trends shaping equipment manufacturers, dealerships, distributors, and vocational equipment organizations. Our team also attends major industry events, including the AED Summit and CONEXPO-CON/AGG, allowing us to stay informed while strengthening relationships throughout the equipment community.

That industry involvement helps us better understand the workforce challenges affecting trucking, trailer, and specialized equipment companies.

Why companies choose Herk & Associates

Organizations partner with Herk & Associates because they want recruiters who understand the industries they serve. Our clients benefit from:

• More than 25 years of heavy equipment recruiting experience
• Recruiting across North America
• Industry-specific expertise
• Access to passive candidates
• Executive search capabilities
• Long-standing industry relationships

Whether your organization manufactures equipment, operates dealerships, distributes products, or supports commercial transportation customers, we understand the hiring challenges unique to your business.

What our clients say

Long-term recruiting partnerships are built on trust, communication, and results. Here's what one equipment manufacturer had to say about working with Herk & Associates:

"I have used Herk & Associates for several years in both searching and sourcing. They are the best in the industry for equipment-related employee recruitment, no matter what position you are trying to fill. Herk & Associates' specialized focus on industry networking brings me candidates that already have industry experience, saving me time and money. How much is it costing you for every day your position is not filled? If your time is worth as much as mine, use Herk & Associates."

— ODRA Road Sweepers

Companies we support

We recruit for organizations throughout the trucking and trailer industries, including:

• Heavy-duty truck dealerships
• Commercial truck manufacturers
• Trailer manufacturers
• Trailer dealerships
• Vocational truck equipment manufacturers
• Municipal and specialized equipment manufacturers
• OEM organizations
• Equipment distributors
• Product support organizations

Whether you're expanding your territory, growing your dealership network, or strengthening your leadership team, our recruiters understand the talent challenges unique to your business.