How to hire a flatbed truck driver

How to hire a flatbed truck driver, step by step

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

What does a flatbed truck driver do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The flatbed truck 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 flatbed truck 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 flatbed truck driver that fits the bill.

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

   Type of Flatbed Truck Driver	Description	Hourly rate
   Flatbed 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	$19-43
   Driver	Drivers are responsible for safely transporting people, packages, or goods from one destination to another. They should be familiar with the different routes that may be taken to reach the desired goal... Show more	$10-25
   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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • Flatbed
   • OTR
   • Commodities
   • Building Materials
   • Load Securement
   • DOT Regulations
   • GPS
   • Post-Trip Inspections
   • Pickup
   • Log Book
   • Unload Trucks
   • Safety Regulations
   • Tarp Loads

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and expedite the secure transportation and accountability of logistic materials and HAZMAT chemicals to commercial, state and government facilities.
   • Make sure that all proper PPE is used.
   • Deliver OTR flatb cargo as assigned by driver manager.
   • Job safety observe at all times with proper PPE.
   • Navigate routes using GPS to find the most efficient route.
   • Dive semi truck and haul all commodities associate with the flatbedindustry.

   More flatbed truck driver duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your flatbed truck driver job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A flatbed truck driver salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a flatbed truck driver in California may be lower than in Montana, and an entry-level flatbed truck driver usually earns less than a senior-level flatbed truck driver. Additionally, a flatbed truck driver with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average flatbed truck driver salary

   $61,065yearly

   $29.36 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level flatbed truck driver salary

   $40,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 27, 2025

   Average flatbed truck driver salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New Hampshire	$68,169	$33
   2	Washington	$68,111	$33
   3	Minnesota	$67,826	$33
   4	Colorado	$66,742	$32
   5	Arizona	$66,489	$32
   6	Oklahoma	$66,378	$32
   7	Delaware	$66,216	$32
   8	Kansas	$65,926	$32
   9	Pennsylvania	$64,620	$31
   10	Nebraska	$64,571	$31
   11	Maine	$64,514	$31
   12	Utah	$64,004	$31
   13	Iowa	$63,515	$31
   14	Illinois	$63,046	$30
   15	Texas	$62,926	$30
   16	Michigan	$62,752	$30
   17	Wisconsin	$62,194	$30
   18	Tennessee	$62,105	$30
   19	Mississippi	$62,035	$30
   20	Indiana	$61,983	$30

   Average flatbed truck driver salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Jordan Company	$88,234	$42.42	1
   2	Schneider National	$70,453	$33.87	3
   3	Woodfield Country Club	$70,026	$33.67	5
   4	Averitt Express	$69,874	$33.59
   5	Hub Group	$69,711	$33.51	130
   6	Carvana	$67,094	$32.26	108
   7	Ryder System	$66,790	$32.11	596
   8	Transportation Services, Inc. (tsi)	$66,345	$31.90	5
   9	Alliance Transportation Group	$65,205	$31.35
   10	Hornady Transportation	$63,446	$30.50	5
   11	Koch Trucking	$62,947	$30.26	5
   12	Watsontown Trucking	$62,812	$30.20
   13	Gypsum Express	$62,748	$30.17	31
   14	Paul Transportation	$62,589	$30.09	12
   15	Maverick Transportation	$62,525	$30.06
   16	Montgomery Transport	$62,489	$30.04
   17	Melton Truck Lines	$62,478	$30.04	1
   18	Decker Truck Line	$62,231	$29.92	16
   19	TMC Transportation	$62,217	$29.91	86
   20	JLE Industries	$61,914	$29.77

4. Writing a flatbed truck driver job description

   A flatbed truck 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 truck driver job description:

   Flatbed truck driver job description example

   OTR Student Flatbed Truck Driver Job - Mobile, Alabama
   
   TMC Transportation is seeking recent graduates of a CDL-A training program for an over-the-road, tractor-trailer combination flatbed position. These drivers will be delivering freight such as steel products, lumber, wallboard, pipe and other building materials that must be hauled on a flatbed trailer. TMC drivers are away from home during the week and home on the weekends. Average earnings for a first year driver with our company is around $54,000/year, with top performers making $70,000 and up!
   
   We have been committed to hiring students from truck driving schools for over 20 years. 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!
   
   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!
   
   Trucking Industry Benefits:
   
   Instant ticket to the middle class! What other industry can you typically train for only 4-6 weeks and earn $50k and up and full benefits right away in the first year?
   Job Security and In Demand Skills. The bulk of products on today's shelves were delivered on a truck - these are essential and important jobs that cannot be shipped overseas.
   Who says trucking isn't a tech-y job? With the majority of our employees being constantly on-the-go, the industry comes up with amazing technology to keep them safe and connected.
   
   Mobile, Alabama OTR Student Flatbed Truck Driving Job
   
   TMC Transportation OTR Student Flatbed Truck Driver Job - Mobile, AL
   
   This job originated on HiringDriversNow.com

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find flatbed 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 flatbed truck drivers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level flatbed 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 flatbed truck driver job on Zippia to find and recruit flatbed 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 flatbed 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 flatbed truck driver

   Once you've found the flatbed truck 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new flatbed truck driver. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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