How to hire a city driver

How to hire a city driver, step by step

Here's a step-by-step city driver hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a city driver job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new city driver
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a city driver do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The city driver hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A city driver's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, city drivers from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

   This list presents city driver salaries for various positions.

   Type of City Driver	Description	Hourly rate
   City Driver	Heavy and tractor–trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. Most tractor–trailer drivers are long-haul drivers and operate trucks with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) capacity—that is, the combined weight of the vehicle, passengers, and cargo—exceeds 26,000 pounds... Show more	$15-36
   Truck Driver-Over-The-Road	A truck driver-over-the-road (OTR) is a professional driver who specializes in hauling items such as heavy freight, machinery, or construction materials from a home terminal to delivery points. OTR truck drivers usually spend more time on the road due to the long distances they are required to reach... Show more	$24-45
   Truck Driver Class A	The responsibilities of a Truck Driver Class A mainly revolves around driving heavy vehicles and ensuring that all transported goods meet the expected delivery deadlines and quality. The Driver needs to have a Class A license and be emotionally and physically healthy to qualify... Show more	$20-44

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • DOT
   • Post-Trip
   • Hazmat
   • LTL
   • Pallet Jack
   • Pallets
   • Safety Inspections
   • Safety Regulations
   • External Customer Service
   • Straight Truck
   • Manual Equipment
   • Tractor-Trailer Combination
   • Dollies

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Conduct daily pre-trip and post-trip inspections according to federal regulations.
   • Have held cdl a throughout career.
   • Reason for leaving left for training in OTR truck driving.
   • Obtain CDL and promote to position of freight pick-up and delivery.
   • Hook and unhook trailers and converter dollies to/from tractors and trailers.
   • Maintain vehicle cleanliness and replace gaskets, nozzles and other relate articles as necessary.

   More city driver duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your city driver job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A city driver can vary based on:

   • Location. For example, city drivers' average salary in florida is 49% less than in north dakota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level city drivers 56% less than senior-level city drivers.
   • Certifications. A city driver with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a city driver's salary.

   Average city driver salary

   $50,203yearly

   $24.14 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level city driver salary

   $33,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average city driver salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$57,067	$27
   2	Washington	$56,371	$27
   3	Oregon	$54,604	$26
   4	Maryland	$53,880	$26
   5	Minnesota	$53,769	$26
   6	New Jersey	$53,472	$26
   7	Nevada	$52,795	$25
   8	Pennsylvania	$52,736	$25
   9	Maine	$51,654	$25
   10	Illinois	$51,108	$25
   11	Wisconsin	$50,408	$24
   12	Nebraska	$50,397	$24
   13	California	$50,302	$24
   14	Arizona	$49,932	$24
   15	Virginia	$49,628	$24
   16	Ohio	$49,620	$24
   17	Indiana	$49,420	$24
   18	Michigan	$48,944	$24
   19	Iowa	$46,869	$23
   20	Colorado	$45,489	$22

   Average city driver salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	U&s Services, Inc.	$58,458	$28.10
   2	YRC Freight	$56,194	$27.02
   3	Dedicated Logistics	$56,156	$27.00	3
   4	UPS	$55,756	$26.81	200
   5	Rude Transportation	$55,597	$26.73	1
   6	Saia	$55,054	$26.47	10
   7	Estes Express Lines	$54,635	$26.27	55
   8	Safety-Kleen	$53,294	$25.62	34
   9	Clean Harbors	$53,154	$25.55	253
   10	ArcBest	$52,938	$25.45	32
   11	USF Reddaway	$52,487	$25.23
   12	AMR	$51,443	$24.73
   13	Conagra Foods	$51,313	$24.67	4
   14	Missouri State University	$50,888	$24.47
   15	Ach Food Companies	$50,159	$24.11
   16	Knight Transportation	$50,078	$24.08	1,273
   17	DoorDash	$49,507	$23.80	647
   18	PepsiCo	$48,246	$23.20
   19	Assist International	$48,177	$23.16
   20	ADM	$47,320	$22.75	40

4. Writing a city driver job description

   A city driver job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a city driver job description:

   City driver job description example

   Mission Statement
   
   The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.
   
   Position Summary
   
   Driver picks up food rescue items from the routes within San Diego County for redistribution to those facing food insecurity. The driver may be utilized for additional pick-ups and deliveries, as needed.
   
   Essential Functions
   
   1. Pick up food from various organizations within the seven routes in San Diego County.2. Record and document temperatures, total counts, and other necessary information.3. Assist in unloading of the food at the Corps, to included properly documenting the amount of food received for reporting purposes.4. Check the daily condition of vehicle to ensure that it is properly maintained in working mechanical order, record daily condition and mileage on vehicle inspection log.5. Maintain the internal and external cleanliness of the vehicle.6. Perform other duties, as assigned.
   
   Working Conditions
   
   Ability to walk, stand, bend, squat, climb, kneel and twist on an intermittent or sometimes continuous basis. Ability to lift and carry 40 lbs. Ability to grasp, push, pull objects such as files, file cabinets drawers and reach overhead. Ability to operate computer, fax and telephone.
   
   Minimum Qualifications
   
   1. Grant funded position requires current homeless status.2. Must be able to read, write and communicate well in English.3. Bilingual in English / Spanish, helpful.4. Must have or be able to obtain within 30 days of hire a Food Handler's Card.5. Prior experience driving a 12+ passenger van, preferred.6. Must maintain a valid California Class B driver license.7. Must pass drug screen.8. No felony or theft convictions within past 7 years. 9. Before hire, submit a copy of DMV driving record with less than two (2) violations (moving or accident) in the last twelve months. Before hire, must pass Fleet Test of The Salvation Army. Certification by and participation in The Salvation Army's Fleet Program, annually, is required. May not obtain more than two (2) violations, moving or accident, in one year. Salvation Army Fleet Policy dictates those persons no longer meeting the qualifications of this position if more than (2) violations in a 12-month period accrue to their DMV Driving Record will be terminated.
   
   Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
   
   1. Must be detail oriented.2. Ability to demonstrate a strong customer service orientation.3. Ability to maintain poise while working in a fast-paced environment. 4. Ability to maintain confidentiality of program information.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities
   
   The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor's legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right city driver for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with city drivers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit city drivers who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your city driver job on Zippia to find and recruit city driver candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit city drivers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new city driver

   Once you've decided on a perfect city driver candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new city driver first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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