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How to hire a garbage truck driver

Garbage truck driver hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring garbage truck drivers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a garbage truck driver is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new garbage truck driver to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a garbage truck driver, step by step

To hire a garbage truck driver, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a garbage truck driver:

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

What does a garbage truck driver do?

Just as the name implies, a garbage truck driver is someone who drives a truck and uses it to collect trash, waste products, and recycling from dumpsters and trash cans on a set route. Their responsibilities include driving the truck along a designated route and handling lifting devices to collect trash. Furthermore, they may have to operate a front-end loader truck that lifts the waste into a container behind the vehicle.

Learn more about the specifics of what a garbage truck driver does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    First, determine the employments status of the garbage truck driver you need to hire. Certain garbage truck driver roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    Hiring the perfect garbage truck 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.

    This list shows salaries for various types of garbage truck drivers.

    Type of Garbage Truck DriverDescriptionHourly rate
    Garbage Truck DriverHeavy 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$13-24
    DriverDrivers 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 DriverA 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
    • Customer Service
    • Post-Trip Inspections
    • Routine Maintenance
    • DOT
    • Safety Checks
    • Property Damage
    • Safety Policies
    • Federal Regulations
    • Pre-Trip Inspections
    • Customer Locations
    • Maintenance Checks
    • Hoisting
    • Residential Buildings
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage and expedite the secure transportation and accountability of logistic materials and HAZMAT chemicals to commercial, state and government facilities.
    • Operate automate or semi-automate hoisting devices that raise refuse bins and dump contents into openings in truck bodies.
    • Operate and run routes for garbage pickup.
    • Haul garbage and drive all CDL trucks they have.
    • Acquire CDL while working to be eligible for driver position.
    • Perform maintenance on heavy equipment, run backhoe and do interior painting.
    More garbage truck driver duties

  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, garbage truck drivers' average salary in florida is 50% less than in alaska.
    • Seniority. Entry-level garbage truck drivers 44% less than senior-level garbage truck drivers.
    • Certifications. A garbage truck 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 garbage truck driver's salary.

    Average garbage truck driver salary

    $38,257yearly

    $18.39 hourly rate
    Entry-level garbage truck driver salary
    $28,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 25, 2025

    Average garbage truck driver salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1New York$43,753$21
    2Oregon$37,755$18
    3Virginia$37,372$18
    4Texas$36,334$17
    5Idaho$35,352$17
    6Illinois$32,900$16
    7Tennessee$32,584$16
    8Louisiana$31,147$15
    9South Carolina$30,731$15
    10Kentucky$28,172$14
    11Florida$24,677$12

    Average garbage truck driver salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Trucking Partners$44,117$21.21
    2Amwaste Inc.$40,520$19.484
    3Waste Connections$38,722$18.62153
    4Richard$37,670$18.11
    5PeopleReady$30,419$14.6259

  4. Writing a garbage truck driver job description

    A job description for a garbage 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 garbage truck driver job description:

    Garbage truck driver job description example

    Pay Range is $17-$20/hr.

    Who Are We?

    WASTE CONNECTIONS, Inc. (NYSE: WCN) is not only the best waste services company in North America, it is also an amazing place to realize your potential, make decisions, have your voice heard, and partner with extremely hard working and passionate people! We seek servant leaders, mentors, top performers, and fun people. At Waste Connections, we value each individual’s unique background, experience, and passion to make us a great place to work.


    Why You Need to Join Us!

    • CULTURE: It’s a Great place to work! We work in an environment where empowered, self-directed all-stars know what they do is important.
    • INTEGRITY: Our definition is “saying what you will do and then doing it!” We keep our promises to our customers and our employees.
    • RESPECT: We show respect for our customers and fellow employees. Respect for ourselves grows through all the hard work and great service we provide to the communities we are privileged to serve.

    To be considered for this position you must have a Class A or B Commercial Drivers License, minimum 2 year of CDL driving experience, a very clean driving record, and excellent customer service skills.

    Do not stop by or call our local office.

    Please apply online at www.wasteconnections.com .

    Requirements:

    • Class A or B Commercial Drivers License.

    • 2 or more years of commercial driving experience.

    • Excellent customer service skills.

    Waste Connections is an Affirmative Action /Equal Opportunity Employer (Minority/Female/Disabled/Veterans).

  5. Post your job

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

    Once you've decided on a perfect garbage truck 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    To prepare for the new garbage 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 garbage truck driver?

There are different types of costs for hiring garbage truck drivers. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new garbage truck driver employee.

You can expect to pay around $38,257 per year for a garbage truck driver, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for garbage truck drivers in the US typically range between $13 and $24 an hour.

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Updated December 25, 2025

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