Recruiting delivery drivers is a fraught process, and now, with an increase in Canadian immigration, there are new challenges. Nicolas Fuoco, founder of the last-mile delivery Eastview Logistics Group, explores the impact these challenges can have on companies like his.
In 2021, 23% of all people in Canada were immigrants. This is the highest proportion recorded since 1921. The majority of immigrants coming to Canada were born in Asia and Africa.
There’s no doubt that having a diverse and vibrant community has significant benefits. Nicolas Fuoco is always looking for the right people for his company and reaches out to all groups for those who have the collaborative spirit he values so highly.
“My focus has always been to build strong teams,” he says. Often, bringing in people from different cultures provides new input and new ways of looking at situations. Not to mention there’s a constant need for drivers, no matter their background.
High turnover rates in the industry have affected even Fuoco’s company, though not as much as his competitors. It would make sense to recruit people who are actively searching for work.
When it comes to recruiting specialized delivery drivers, however, challenges can arise — especially related to language barriers. With Eastview Logistics Group’s headquarters being in Quebec, a primarily French-speaking territory, this barrier can be significant.
Communication is an essential part of Fuoco’s view of the job. According to him, it’s part of the “combined effort that goes into building and maintaining a company.” The drivers may be more than capable of doing the job, but Fuoco emphasizes his focus on ensuring that they can maintain the collaborative spirit.
There may also be regulatory challenges to overcome. The government is involved in the recruitment process because of the various checks that Fuoco performs on potential employees to make certain they’re the right hire for the company. That could potentially complicate the process and be a strain on both Fuoco and the employee.
Nicolas Fuoco’s company offers a welcoming hand to a number of immigrant communities as well as to other minorities, including women. According to Fuoco, this last group has been particularly elusive.
“The industry is 95% male. We’re trying to recruit more women, but honestly, it’s just not something that attracts a lot,” he states. “However, we’ve grown our female representation on the team, and they’re killing it.”
With his dedication to making the workplace a fair, safe, and equitable place for everyone, Fuoco has managed to create a microcosm of diversity while ensuring that communication, respect, and efficiency are at the forefront.
Eastview Logistics Group has evaded the worst of the turnover issues because of the environment Fuoco has been able to build. Workers who know they’re respected, no matter what their background is, are bound to stay where they’re wanted.
