How to hire a courier driver

How to hire a courier driver, step by step

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

What does a courier driver do?

Post a courier driver job for free, promote it for a fee

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The courier 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a courier driver to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a courier driver that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of courier drivers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Courier Driver	Description	Hourly rate
   Courier Driver		$12-20
   Messenger	A messenger takes messages, packages, and other items to requested addresses. The mode of transport used to perform deliveries varies for each messenger... Show more	$9-28
   Laboratory Courier	A laboratory courier is responsible for transporting laboratory specimens, equipment, supplies, and pertinent documents in a clinic or a hospital. They need to ensure that packages will be delivered on schedule... Show more	$14-30

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Patients
   • Cleanliness
   • Customer Service
   • Rehabilitation
   • Delivery Service
   • Punctuality
   • CDL
   • Safety Policies
   • Specimen Handling
   • FedEx
   • Safety Procedures
   • Traffic Laws
   • DHL
   • Courier Services

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Hire and manage drivers who run the routes.
   • Serve as DHL supervisor for Atlanta route.
   • deliver mail to customers -comply with DHL regulations -make sure all deliveries are make in timely manner
   • Map quick and short ways of reaching delivery destination on the GPS or on regular maps.
   • Check shipments for conformance to FedEx features of service and provide coverage for all assign routes within the station service area.
   • Maintain strict confidentiality to meet HIPPA requirements.

   More courier driver duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, courier drivers' average salary in alabama is 44% less than in hawaii.
   • Seniority. Entry-level courier drivers 40% less than senior-level courier drivers.
   • Certifications. A courier 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 courier driver's salary.

   Average courier driver salary

   $15.93hourly

   $33,137 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level courier driver salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average courier driver salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Hawaii	$44,740	$22
   2	Washington	$43,925	$21
   3	California	$42,457	$20
   4	Oregon	$41,505	$20
   5	Massachusetts	$39,073	$19
   6	New York	$37,786	$18
   7	New Jersey	$36,552	$18
   8	Idaho	$34,578	$17
   9	Colorado	$34,320	$17
   10	Utah	$33,861	$16
   11	Kansas	$32,588	$16
   12	Wisconsin	$32,203	$15
   13	Arizona	$31,631	$15
   14	Ohio	$31,522	$15
   15	Pennsylvania	$31,516	$15
   16	Nebraska	$31,468	$15
   17	Virginia	$30,837	$15
   18	Indiana	$30,815	$15
   19	Tennessee	$29,482	$14
   20	Florida	$28,026	$13

   Average courier driver salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	UPS	$42,871	$20.61	20
   2	Lamb Weston	$38,593	$18.55
   3	FedEx	$37,525	$18.04	15
   4	LifeScan	$37,521	$18.04
   5	Management Consulting	$36,759	$17.67
   6	Data	$35,457	$17.05
   7	Transcat	$34,809	$16.74	1
   8	ALS, LLC	$34,757	$16.71	1
   9	Ricoh	$34,480	$16.58	26
   10	CA BOCES	$34,261	$16.47	1
   11	Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings	$34,233	$16.46	55
   12	Quest Diagnostics	$34,182	$16.43	89
   13	BayCare Health System	$33,857	$16.28	4
   14	MS Companies	$33,239	$15.98
   15	Woodforest Financial Group Inc	$33,078	$15.90
   16	Universal Health Services	$32,956	$15.84	5
   17	Riverside Medical Center	$32,835	$15.79	1
   18	Alutiiq	$32,811	$15.77
   19	UTMB HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS	$32,745	$15.74	3
   20	Chenega	$32,729	$15.74

4. Writing a courier driver job description

   A courier 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. Below, you can find an example of a courier driver job description:

   Courier driver job description example

   • Signup in Seconds : Get started today, and we’ll provide support along the way.
   • Get Paid Fast : Cash out up to 5X a day with Instant Pay.
   • Flexible Schedule : You control when and where you drive.
   • 24/7 Support : The app gives you turn-by-turn directions and access to 24/7 support if you need help.
     
     

   What you need to get started?

   • 21 years old or older
   • A 4-door vehicle
   • A valid U.S. driver’s license and vehicle insurance
   • At least one year of driving experience in the U.S. (3 years if you’re under 23 years old)

   Additional Information

   • If you have previous employment experience in transportation (such as a delivery driver, driver, professional driver, driving job, truck driver, heavy and tractor-trailer driver, CDL truck driver, class a or class b driver, local truck driver, company truck driver, taxi driver, taxi chauffeur, cab driver, cab chauffeur, taxi cab driver, transit bus driver, bus driver, coach bus driver, bus operator, shuttle driver, bus chauffeur) you might also consider driving with our client and earn extra money.
   • We also welcome drivers who have worked with any other peer-to-peer ridesharing or driving networks.
   • Drivers come from all backgrounds and industries ranging from traditional driving and transportation industries to other industries.
   • Driving is a great way to supplement your part-time or full-time income.

   Ready to get started? Sign up today and start earning!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find courier drivers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting courier drivers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 courier driver

   Once you've decided on a perfect courier 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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 courier driver?