How to hire an industrial truck driver

How to hire an industrial truck driver, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring an industrial 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

   An industrial truck driver's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, industrial 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.

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

   Type of Industrial Truck Driver	Description	Hourly rate
   Industrial Truck Driver	Material moving machine operators use machinery to transport various objects. Some operators move construction materials around building sites or excavate earth from a mine... Show more	$13-56
   Operator	Operators are skilled workers who are in charge of working on an industrial machine or a specific aspect of the manufacturing business. They are trained to operate machines, learning how to use them... Show more	$12-25
   Machine Operator/Forklift Operator	A machine operator/forklift operator is responsible for operating industrial trucks to move merchandise around the warehouse facilities and other assigned areas. Machine operators/forklift operators also assist with inventory tasks by scanning orders and ensuring the correct merchandise for shipment... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Procedures
   • CDL
   • Trip Inspections
   • Unload Trucks
   • Vacuum Truck
   • Pre-trip
   • RF
   • Operation Procedures
   • Unload Materials
   • DOT
   • Clamp Truck
   • Transport Vehicles
   • Customer Orders
   • Hoists

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and expedite the secure transportation and accountability of logistic materials and HAZMAT chemicals to commercial, state and government facilities.
   • Operate lift beams and swivel-hooks, hoists, and elevating platforms, manually or mechanically.
   • Perform safety inspections in truck as required by DOT.9.
   • Simulate and gather data on connectors and wire resistance via LabVIEW software tool.
   • Implement wire harness from the power fuse box to the connectors making sure the wire perform efficiently and reliably.
   • Conduct deliveries of medical equipment throughout Florida, collect payments, and ensure proper cleanliness of medical equipment

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, industrial truck drivers' average salary in florida is 38% less than in new york.
   • Seniority. Entry-level industrial truck drivers 75% less than senior-level industrial truck drivers.
   • Certifications. An industrial 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 an industrial truck driver's salary.

   Average industrial truck driver salary

   $58,782yearly

   $28.26 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level industrial truck driver salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average industrial truck driver salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Pennsylvania	$81,331	$39
   2	Ohio	$79,568	$38
   3	West Virginia	$69,673	$34
   4	Oregon	$67,343	$32
   5	California	$67,331	$32
   6	South Carolina	$64,620	$31
   7	Texas	$62,820	$30
   8	Indiana	$55,399	$27

   Average industrial truck driver salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Daimler Trucks North America	$81,135	$39.01	1
   2	Republic Services	$65,429	$31.46	45
   3	US Ecology	$61,099	$29.37
   4	Waste Management	$59,802	$28.75	21
   5	Red Wing Shoes	$33,130	$15.93
   6	Adecco	$31,770	$15.27	40

4. Writing an industrial truck driver job description

   An industrial 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. Below, you can find an example of an industrial truck driver job description:

   Industrial truck driver job description example

   ***$3,000.00 Sign on BONUS!***
   
   Position Snapshot
   You will be responsible for efficiently transporting hazardous/nonhazardous waste according to DOT & HAZMAT regulations with a Commercial Driver License. In addition, you will be required to respond to Emergency Response Calls to perform clean ups, spills and other duties and be on an on call 24/7 rotation.
   
   About You
   You have a strong work ethic, are reliable and consider yourself a go-getter. You enjoy being the first person on the scene working in different environments with heavy equipment. You like being part of a team and feel accomplished after a hard day's work. You can always be counted on to exercise sound judgement on and off the jobsite. You desire to learn new skills, take safety seriously, and advance within a growing company.
   
   Day in the Life
   Perform work under the direction of a Supervisor or Foreman involving the clean up of hazardous & nonhazardous waste and materials Perform remediation services which include storage tank cleaning, industrial cleaning & maintenance, environmental site remediation, vacuum truck services, and demolition/dismantlement Perform daily inspection and required preventative maintenance of trucks, equipment, and vehicles; ensure readiness for use Comply with Company, DOT and HAZMAT regulations as a driver including logs, time sheets, expense reports, vehicle inspection reports, etc.Properly load/unload hazardous/non-hazardous waste; adhere to weight limits and ensure proper utilization of company equipment Perform strenuous physical labor including lifting, pulling and pushing heavy objects Maintain on-call availability to perform emergency response services including the cleanup of hazardous/non-hazardous waste spills, disaster response and recovery, and waste management
   
   What you need to apply
   Valid Commercial Driver License (CDL) Class A (preferred) or B w/hazmat & tanker endorsement Valid Driver's License.3 years clean driving record Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.HAZWOPER 40-hour training highly desired, but we will train Ability to wear and use personal protective equipment (PPE) & be clean shaven at all times Pass a pre-employment physical & background screening Able to be on call rotation 24/7/365 for emergency response calls.Willing to travel out of town on short notice
   
   US Ecology is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We consider all qualified applicants without regard to race, religion, color, sex, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, disability or veteran status, among other factors.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right industrial truck driver for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your industrial truck driver job on Zippia to find and recruit industrial 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 industrial 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 industrial truck driver

   Once you've decided on a perfect industrial 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 also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new industrial 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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