If you manage a private fleet in the food and beverage industry, you’ve likely felt the pressure mounting — more routes, tighter delivery windows, and fewer qualified drivers ready to work.
You're not alone. In 2025, driver hiring is becoming one of the most pressing challenges facing foodservice distribution, production, and delivery operations across the country. But why now — and what can be done about it?
1. CDL Drivers Are in High Demand — But in Short Supply
While the trucking industry as a whole continues to feel the effects of a national driver shortage, food & beverage fleets face additional complexity: early morning shifts, touch freight, strict delivery schedules, and often, customer-facing roles.
This makes recruiting and retaining drivers more difficult. Candidates often opt for less physically demanding or more flexible driving jobs, leaving food fleets struggling to fill their rosters.
2. Competition from National Carriers Is Heating Up
Large carriers and third-party logistics providers are aggressively targeting the same driver pool — often with higher wages, signing bonuses, or more predictable routes.
For midsize and regional food or beverage fleets, it’s getting harder to compete. Internal teams are stretched thin, spending more time on hiring and turnover instead of focusing on operations and customer service.
3. Local & Federal Compliance Pressures Are Slowing Down the Process
Hiring CDL drivers today involves more than just a background check. Fleets must navigate:
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DOT Clearinghouse requirements
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State-by-state onboarding complexities
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Driver qualification files
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Ongoing safety and MVR monitoring
These compliance burdens add time and risk, often delaying start dates and increasing administrative overhead for HR and safety teams.
4. Seasonality and Volume Surges Require Agility — Not Just Capacity
Food and beverage fleets don’t just need drivers — they need flexibility. Peaks around holidays, promotional periods, or supply chain shifts can’t always be forecasted, and leaving a truck parked costs more than just revenue.
The challenge? Building a bench of drivers ready to deploy when needed — without over hiring or risking compliance shortcuts.
5. What Leading Fleets Are Doing Differently
To stay ahead, more food and beverage operators are rethinking how they source and manage their driver workforce.
Rather than pushing internal teams to do more with less, they’re partnering with CDL workforce specialists who bring:
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Local market expertise
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Recruiting and screening at scale
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Built-in compliance systems
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Flexible, on-demand driver solutions
It’s not just about filling seats — it’s about building a more resilient, efficient driver operation.
Conclusion:
The hiring crunch isn’t easing anytime soon. But with the right approach, food & beverage fleets can stop playing defense and regain control.
Looking to benchmark your current approach?
Download our free guide: “Driver Hiring Strategies for Food & Beverage Fleets”