How to hire a Flatbed Driver

How to hire a flatbed driver, step by step

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

What does a Flatbed Driver do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The flatbed 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

   Hiring the perfect flatbed driver also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   Here's a comparison of flatbed driver salaries for various roles:

   Type Of Flatbed Driver	Description	Hourly Rate
   Flatbed 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	$18-39
   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
   Driver Trainer	Driver trainers are instructors who teach their clients how to drive. They are often considered experts in driving, and they are credible enough to impart their driving knowledge to clients... Show More	$14-33

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common Skills:

   • CDL
   • OTR
   • Customer Service
   • Safety Regulations
   • TWIC
   • DOT Regulations
   • Post-Trip Inspections
   • Load Securement
   • Safety Hazards
   • Tarp Loads
   • Commodities
   • Building Materials
   • Shingles
   • FMCSA

   Check All Skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Route development now reduce to GPS mapping and computer logs.
   • Operate flatbed tractor/trailer unit in the pickup and delivery of metals auto parts to area recycling yards.
   • Utilize forklift to load and unload pallets and product rolls in company's yard and at delivery site.
   • Load truck from warehouse, operate forklift, organize stock pallets and unload trucks and make deliveries to multiple customers.
   • Obtain and maintain proper delivery authorization and pickup documentation.
   • Provide transportation services for major commercial shipping customers, including Walmart and Budweiser.

   More Flatbed Driver duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the flatbed driver job description is a good way to get more applicants. A flatbed 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 flatbed driver in Hawaii may be lower than in North Dakota, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level flatbed driver. Additionally, a flatbed driver with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average flatbed driver salary

   $57,099yearly

   $27.45 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level flatbed driver salary

   $39,000 yearly salary

   Updated March 23, 2025

   Average flatbed driver salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. Salary	Hourly Rate
   1	Illinois	$74,978	$36
   2	Delaware	$70,255	$34
   3	Connecticut	$67,737	$33
   4	Minnesota	$67,460	$32
   5	Virginia	$67,408	$32
   6	Maryland	$67,230	$32
   7	New York	$66,692	$32
   8	Tennessee	$66,308	$32
   9	Indiana	$66,071	$32
   10	Nebraska	$65,142	$31
   11	Michigan	$65,106	$31
   12	Missouri	$63,659	$31
   13	Kentucky	$63,645	$31
   14	North Carolina	$63,447	$31
   15	Alabama	$63,139	$30
   16	Oklahoma	$63,012	$30
   17	Iowa	$62,427	$30
   18	New Jersey	$62,273	$30
   19	Texas	$62,106	$30
   20	West Virginia	$62,067	$30

   Average flatbed driver salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average Salary	Hourly Rate	Job Openings
   1	Hub Group	$68,750	$33.05	136
   2	Ryder System	$68,622	$32.99	876
   3	Venture Logistics	$66,561	$32.00
   4	PGT Trucking	$66,140	$31.80	6
   5	Alliance Transportation Group	$65,992	$31.73
   6	Fraley and Schilling	$65,895	$31.68	103
   7	Hornady Transportation	$65,633	$31.55	5
   8	Stone Trucking	$65,422	$31.45
   9	Central Oregon Truck	$65,200	$31.35	2
   10	Gypsum Express	$65,119	$31.31	30
   11	Koch Trucking	$65,010	$31.25	35
   12	Paul Transportation	$64,643	$31.08	5
   13	Melton Truck Lines	$64,339	$30.93	20
   14	TMC Transportation	$64,018	$30.78	143
   15	Decker Truck Line	$63,747	$30.65	19
   16	The Complete Logistics Company	$63,363	$30.46
   17	Sharkey Transportation	$62,296	$29.95	1
   18	Buchanan Hauling Rigging	$62,026	$29.82	26
   19	Dedicated Logistics	$61,656	$29.64	4
   20	Roehl Transport	$60,731	$29.20	8,622

4. Writing a Flatbed Driver Job Description

   A flatbed 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 flatbed driver job description:

   Flatbed Driver job description example

   OTR Class A Flatbed Driver Job - Athens, Georgia
   
   Regional/Home Weekly/Dedicated
   
   CDL Regional Truck Driver / SIGN ON BONUS!
   We are looking for experienced CDL Regional Truck Drivers and recent, entry level graduates of a CDL A training program to join our flatbed fleet as a member of a team that strives to be the best at everything it does! The industry's premier flatbed carrier, TMC Transportation is known for its integrity, innovation, highly-trained drivers, impeccably maintained late-model equipment, superior safety record and unwavering dedication to quality and customer service. In this role you will haul flatbed freight throughout the lower 48, but most of your loads will deliver in the eastern half of the United States. Our drivers work for a company that values its driver fleet and are home 46 out of 52 weekends!
   
   Benefits of joining our flatbed team as a CDL- Regional Truck Driver include:
   
   Amount varies based on experience
   
   We do not require any previous flatbed experience. We offer a paid, top-notch flatbed training program.
   
   TMC also provides corporate-style benefits, job security, and advancement opportunities. We are proud that former TMC drivers have advanced to office opportunities in multiple departments: Sales, Operations, Recruiting, Training, Road Repair, and more. As an Employee-Owned company, all eligible employees own shares in the company at no cost to them through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). Own a piece of the company you work for. Come be a co-owner with us today!
   
   JOB BENEFITS
   
   TMC Benefits:
   
   Weekend Hometime
   A performance based percentage pay package designed by TMC drivers!
   Health, Dental, Vision, and Prescription Insurance Plan
   One of the best retirement plans in trucking…401(k) with company match and an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
   Life Insurance
   Paid Vacation
   Weekly Pay, Direct Deposit
   Paid, Industry Leading Flatbed Training
   VA-Approved Apprenticeship Program
   Peterbilt Trucks with your name on the door of your truck!
   
   Athens, Georgia OTR Class A Flatbed Driving Job
   TMC Transportation OTR Class A Flatbed Driver Job - Athens, GA
   
   This job originated on HiringDriversNow.com

   Copy This Example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right flatbed 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 flatbed drivers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit flatbed 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 flatbed driver job on Zippia to find and recruit flatbed driver candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit flatbed drivers, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 flatbed driver

   Once you've found the flatbed driver candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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 flatbed 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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