Among fuel marketers responding to that question in our recent survey , one who checked the box for “ networking with tech schools ,” appended this comment :

“ We take lunch over to each CDL driver training class at our local community college and get to know the candidates while they are training and let them know we have jobs when they graduate ( the

By Stephen Bennett instructors now steer the good ones our way ).” That comment caught our attention , but more about that in a moment .

Eighty-two marketers responded to the Fuel Oil News survey , though not every one answered every question . Of 81 who responded to the question at the top of this page , 18 ( 22 %) checked “ networking with tech schools .” ( Respondents were instructed to check all methods that they use .) The most used method ? “ Word of mouth .” Fifty-five of 81 ( 68 %) say they rely on word of mouth . “ Referrals ” are the second-most used method among respondents , with 49 of 81 marketers ( 60 %) indicating they rely on referrals . Thirty-six of 81 marketers ( 44 %) use “ Online job

services ,” such as Indeed , Monster and Glassdoor .

Maybe an argument can be made that the most-used methods aren ’ t working ? If they were working , so many fuel marketers would not say that hiring and retaining drivers is “ a big challenge ”— 54 of 78 , or 69 %, with another 21 marketers ( 27 %) reporting that hiring and retaining drivers is “ a moderate challenge .” The challenge of hiring and retaining service techs is almost exactly the same , based on responses to the survey . Fifty-three of 79 marketers ( 67 % of respondents ) say hiring and retaining techs is “ a big challenge .” Another

HOW MANY DRIVER POSITIONS DID YOU HAVE TO FILL BEFORE THE START OF THE 2018-19 HEATING SEASON ?

HOW BIG OF A CHALLENGE IS IT TO HIRE AND RETAIN FUEL DELIVERY DRIVERS ?

HOW MANY SERVICE TECH POSITIONS DID YOU FILL IN 2018 ?

HOW BIG OF A CHALLENGE IS IT TO HIRE AND RETAIN SERVICE TECHS ?

26 JUNE 2019 | FUEL OIL NEWS | www . fueloilnews . com