In the trucking world, disruption isn’t a question of if—it’s when. A last-minute driver call-out, a surprise disqualification during a compliance audit, or a sudden spike in freight demand can throw even the most tightly run operation off course.
When your driver workforce is stretched thin, every absence puts deliveries at risk. And when your recruiting pipeline can’t respond fast enough, your customer service—and revenue—pay the price.
That’s where contingent workforce planning comes in.
Why Fleets Need to Plan for Workforce Gaps
Too often, CDL driver staffing is reactive. Someone quits, gets hurt, or disqualified, and operations scramble to fill the gap. But by then, it’s too late—the damage is already done.
Without a contingency plan, fleets risk:
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Missed delivery windows
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Overtime spikes for remaining drivers
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Increased burnout and turnover
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Unhappy customers—and lost contracts
Real example: A regional foodservice fleet recently lost two drivers in one week—one to illness, another to a license issue. With no backup bench in place, three routes went unstaffed, and deliveries were delayed for two days. The ripple effect led to overtime costs, customer complaints, and a damaged SLA.
Contingent workforce planning isn’t just smart—it’s essential.
What Is Contingent Workforce Planning?
It’s a proactive approach to driver staffing that builds flexibility into your operation. Instead of relying solely on your core team, you prepare for surges, vacancies, and uncertainties by creating a structured plan for backup coverage.
That can include:
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Bench-building for high-risk or high-priority routes
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Workforce forecasting based on seasonal or contract-driven trends
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Embedded or managed partnerships that scale with your business
Contingent planning gives you the ability to flex your capacity without compromising service or compliance.
4 Scenarios Where Contingent Drivers Make Sense
Not sure if this approach applies to your fleet? Here are some common use cases:
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Unexpected Driver Turnover
Turnover happens—even in top-tier fleets. Contingent planning ensures coverage without a scramble. -
Peak or Seasonal Demand
Whether it’s produce season, the holidays, or a regional event, demand surges can overwhelm your core workforce. -
Compliance-Related Gaps
Medical card lapses, DQ file issues, or DOT disqualifications can sideline drivers without warning. -
New Contracts or Market Expansions
Winning new business is great—unless you can’t staff it quickly. A contingent pool accelerates speed to launch.
How TransForce Helps Fleets Build a Contingent Workforce
At TransForce, we help fleets move from reactive to resilient and agile.
Our approach combines trucking-specific expertise, local service teams, and a ready-to-deploy pool of qualified CDL drivers. Whether you need support for one week, one year, or an ongoing basis, we deliver flexible truck driver workforce solutions that keep your fleet moving.
Here’s how we help:
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Rapid deployment of vetted, DOT-compliant drivers across the U.S.
- Best in class driver recruitment, safety and compliance standards
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Embedded teams that integrate with your operations and HR
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Fully managed workforce programs for turnkey staffing, backfilling, and compliance
From last-minute fill-ins to long-term staffing strategies, we act as an extension of your team—so you can stay focused on performance, not personnel.
How to Get Started with Contingent Workforce Planning
Want to build more resilience into your operation? Start here:
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Audit your workforce gaps.
Where are you most vulnerable to call-outs, turnover, or compliance disruptions? -
Review past trends.
Look at peak seasons, growth periods, and historical time-to-fill metrics. -
Identify critical coverage areas.
Prioritize routes, customers, or regions where missed deliveries are most costly. -
Engage a CDL workforce partner.
Work with a provider like TransForce to create a plan that scales with your business.
Final Word
Contingent workforce planning isn’t just about avoiding worst-case scenarios—it’s about building an agile, future-ready operation. In a tight labor market, the fleets that win are the ones that plan ahead.
Need help building your plan?