How to hire a commercial truck driver

How to hire a commercial truck driver, step by step

Here's a step-by-step commercial truck 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 commercial truck driver job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new commercial truck driver
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a commercial truck driver do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a commercial truck driver, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

   A commercial truck driver's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, commercial truck 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 shows salaries for various types of commercial truck drivers.

   Type of Commercial Truck Driver	Description	Hourly rate
   Commercial Truck 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	$19-48
   CDL Driver	A CDL driver is responsible for the transportation of goods from the manufacturing warehouse to specific store locations. CDL drivers' duties include inspecting the items before and after the delivery to ensure that the orders are correct with the right quantity, providing proof of delivery from the receiving customers, following the delivery schedule and report any delays immediately, monitoring the vehicle's engine for efficiency, and escalating concerns of incorrect deliveries and defective items... Show more	$19-46
   Van Driver	A van driver is responsible for operating a wide and a larger-sized vehicle than a regular car, usually used as a company shuttle to pick up and drop employees to designated areas. Van drivers should have a clean driving record, ensuring the safety and comfortability of the passengers while on the road... Show more	$11-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • Good Time Management
   • Safety Issues
   • Safety Equipment
   • Federal Regulations
   • OTR
   • Good Communication
   • Safety Regulations
   • Hazmat
   • Post-Trip Inspections
   • GPS
   • Vehicle Service
   • Asphalt
   • Propane

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate a forklift following OSHA safety regulations and maintenance standards.
   • Work OTR for duration of lease.
   • Complete nationwide OTR training including all terrains and climates.
   • Train and mentore new CDL certify students from the company.
   • Attend licensing to learn about new laws and Hazmat industry procedures.
   • Maintain commercial driver's license (CDL) without incident or accident.

   More commercial truck driver duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the commercial truck driver job description is a good way to get more applicants. A commercial truck driver salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a commercial truck driver in Oregon may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level commercial truck driver. Additionally, a commercial truck driver with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average commercial truck driver salary

   $64,512yearly

   $31.02 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level commercial truck driver salary

   $41,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 30, 2025

   Average commercial truck driver salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$75,383	$36
   2	New Jersey	$74,441	$36
   3	Pennsylvania	$72,798	$35
   4	Delaware	$71,199	$34
   5	Mississippi	$69,712	$34
   6	Kentucky	$69,550	$33
   7	Illinois	$69,037	$33
   8	Missouri	$68,923	$33
   9	Oklahoma	$68,290	$33
   10	Minnesota	$68,220	$33
   11	Maryland	$67,729	$33
   12	Indiana	$67,254	$32
   13	North Carolina	$67,150	$32
   14	Georgia	$66,915	$32
   15	Tennessee	$66,308	$32
   16	Kansas	$66,265	$32
   17	Alabama	$65,772	$32
   18	Texas	$65,722	$32
   19	California	$65,544	$32
   20	Connecticut	$65,339	$31

   Average commercial truck driver salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Tyson Foods	$77,885	$37.44
   2	The Dart Network	$74,446	$35.79	7
   3	Bob's Discount Furniture	$74,441	$35.79	3
   4	Covenant	$71,811	$34.52	21
   5	Woodfield Country Club	$71,188	$34.23	5
   6	Werner Enterprises	$71,077	$34.17	5
   7	Sysco	$70,721	$34.00	306
   8	McLane	$70,376	$33.83	162
   9	Averitt Express	$70,150	$33.73
   10	Allied Reliability	$68,098	$32.74
   11	Ace Hardware	$67,984	$32.68	46
   12	Marvin and	$67,230	$32.32	4
   13	Jm	$67,228	$32.32	1
   14	Ryder System	$66,627	$32.03	598
   15	Carvana	$66,428	$31.94	108
   16	Alliance Transportation Group	$65,880	$31.67
   17	Advance Auto Parts	$65,462	$31.47	139
   18	OnLine Transport	$64,701	$31.11	1
   19	Penske Truck Leasing	$64,627	$31.07	195
   20	Jk-Co	$64,381	$30.95	2

4. Writing a commercial truck driver job description

   A job description for a commercial truck driver role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a commercial truck driver job description:

   Commercial truck driver job description example

   • Lift and move a minimum of 50 pounds without assistance.
   • Climb a ladder to a height of at least 20 feet.
   • Ability to climb in and out of truck several times a day
   • Ability to climb onto the back of a truck several times a day
   • Ability to bend at the waist and kneel to secure the load with clamps and straps
   • Ability to pull slaps apart
   • Ability to walk the warehouse
   • Wear appropriate safety equipment.
   • Ability to sit for long periods of time.
   • Ability to use hands to finger, handle or feel on a regular basis.

   WORK ENVIRONMENT:
   • A large percentage of work time is spent outdoors where temperatures vary.
   • Environment may be cool or hot and noise level can be moderate to high.

   Pre-Employment Screening: Drug screen and background check required.

   Chase Technical Staffing is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer: that does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, disability, medical condition, pregnancy, gender (orientation or identification), sexual orientation, veteran status, or any other basis covered by federal, state, or local laws. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit, skills, individual performance, and business needs.

   ADA Statement: CHASE Technical is committed to complying fully with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and ensuring equal employment opportunities for qualified persons with disabilities.

   Company DescriptionCHASE Staffing, formerly CHASE Professionals, is a US-based staffing firm with 20 branch locations and over 10,000 jobs filled in 2021. Most of our locations provide full-service staffing, while several specialize in a particular field.
   
   For 40 years we have helped hundreds of thousands of people accomplish their goals. This includes people looking for full-time jobs, those looking for opportunities to earn money on a temporary basis, those seeking to improve skills and learn new ones, and new grads entering the work force wanting to get some experience.
   
   Working together to meet your needs is our #1 goal.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find commercial truck drivers for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any commercial truck drivers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level commercial truck drivers with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with commercial truck driver candidates should focus on their interest in the role and background experience. As the hiring process goes on, you can learn more about how they'd fit into the company culture in later rounds of interviews.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 commercial truck driver

   Once you've selected the best commercial truck driver candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the 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 commercial truck 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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How much does it cost to hire a commercial truck driver?