Labor shortages continue to challenge pest control companies across the country. To keep routes covered, many businesses are expanding their hiring pool and bringing on first-time or less experienced drivers. While this approach can solve short-term staffing needs, it often introduces a different kind of risk - one that shows up quickly in claims, costs, and operational challenges.
As outlined in our February 2026 blog, The True Cost of Hiring Inexperienced Drivers, the early months behind the wheel are the most dangerous for new drivers . The good news is that many of these risks can be reduced before a new hire ever starts their first route by making smarter, experience-focused hiring decisions.
Experience Is a Risk Control, Not Just a Resume Line
When evaluating candidates, it is easy to prioritize availability, attitude, and willingness to work. While those traits matter, driving experience is one of the most important and often overlooked risk controls a company can use.
Research consistently shows that experience, not age, is the stronger predictor of crash risk. Drivers who have spent more time behind the wheel develop critical skills that cannot be replicated in a short onboarding period, including:
- Anticipating hazards before they develop
- Managing complex traffic environments
- Maintaining awareness across multiple risk points
- Making quick, informed decisions under pressure
These are not just driving skills; they are loss prevention skills.
Reducing First-Month Mistakes
For pest control fleets, many of the most frequent and costly incidents occur within a driver’s first few months on the job. These include:
- Backing accidents in driveways and parking lots
- Minor collisions in residential neighborhoods
- Rear-end crashes at intersections
- Property damage claims involving structures or vehicles
Experienced drivers are far less likely to make these early-stage mistakes because they have already encountered similar scenarios and developed the instincts to handle them.
In contrast, novice drivers are still learning how to process multiple inputs at once. When combined with route pressure, unfamiliar vehicles, and mobile technology use, the likelihood of an incident increases significantly.
The Hidden Value of Familiarity with Work Vehicles
Driving a fully equipped pest control vehicle is very different from operating a personal car. Service vehicles are larger, carry equipment, and often require frequent stopping, backing, and maneuvering in tight residential and commercial spaces.
Experienced drivers adapt to these conditions more quickly. They understand:
- Vehicle dimensions and turning radius
- How loads can shift during transit
- The importance of controlled backing and parking
- How to navigate tight or obstructed environments
This familiarity reduces both the frequency and severity of claims, especially the small, preventable incidents that add up over time.
Better Hiring Decisions Support Safer Operations
Adjusting hiring strategies to prioritize experience does not mean excluding all new drivers. Instead, it means being intentional about how experience is weighted in the decision-making process.
Practical ways to incorporate this approach include:
- Establishing minimum driving experience requirements for certain roles
- Assigning more complex routes to experienced drivers
- Commit to on-the-job training and pair less experienced hires with seasoned technicians during onboarding
- Using driving history and prior vehicle experience as key evaluation criteria
These steps help align hiring decisions with long-term risk management goals.
A Proactive Approach to Risk Management
The most effective fleet safety programs start before a driver is hired. By prioritizing experience, pest control companies can reduce exposure to early-stage incidents, stabilize loss ratios, and create a stronger foundation for ongoing training and development.
This approach also sends a clear message internally that safety is not just a policy, but a priority built into every operational decision your company makes.
PestSure - Your Partner in Safety
At PestSure, we work with pest control companies to identify risk before it becomes a claim. From hiring strategies to driver safety programs, our focus is helping you protect your people, your fleet, and your business.
To learn more about how PestSure can support your risk management efforts, call To learn more, call 888.984.3813 or visit our contact page.
PestSure provides insurance, safety, and risk management consulting to pest management companies representing $2 billion in revenue, $400 million in payroll, and more than 13,000 service vehicles. The program is administered by Alliant Insurance Services.