How to hire a newspaper delivery driver

How to hire a newspaper delivery driver, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your newspaper delivery driver job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a newspaper delivery driver for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

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

   This list presents newspaper delivery driver salaries for various positions.

   Type of Newspaper Delivery Driver	Description	Hourly rate
   Newspaper Delivery Driver	Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers pick up, transport, and drop off packages and small shipments within a local region or urban area. They drive trucks with a gross vehicle weight (GVW)—the combined weight of the vehicle, passengers, and cargo—of 26,000 pounds or less... Show more	$9-21
   Route Sales Person	A route salesperson specializes in securing sales targets while traveling to different areas to meet with clients. They are primarily responsible for devising strategies on selling products and services, making calls and answering correspondence, arranging meetings, conducting follow-up calls, and building rapport with customers to strengthen client base... Show more	$18-28
   Driver/Merchandiser	A driver/merchandiser's role in society is to directly deliver products to customers on time, bearing good communication skills to interpret and relay messages and instructions. A driver/merchandiser is also tasked to check on the truck's condition, repair or replace damaged parts, and deliver it to reliable auto shops if the damage is severe... Show more	$7-27

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Newspapers
   • Deliver Newspapers
   • City Streets
   • Drive Trucks
   • Food Products
   • Customer Accounts
   • Time-Management
   • Customer Complaints

   Responsibilities:

   • Hire and manage drivers who run the routes.
   • Drive automobile over prescribe route to deliver newspapers to wholesale or retail newspaper dealers.
   • Drive through neighborhoods delivering newspapers to designate customers.
   • Utilize time management skills to facilitate the timely delivery and pickup of residential and corporate packages during the busy holiday season.
   • Apply mathematics to determine average charges base on distance.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, newspaper delivery drivers' average salary in mississippi is 59% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level newspaper delivery drivers 55% less than senior-level newspaper delivery drivers.
   • Certifications. A newspaper delivery 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 newspaper delivery driver's salary.

   Average newspaper delivery driver salary

   $14.40hourly

   $29,949 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level newspaper delivery driver salary

   $20,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a newspaper delivery driver job description

   A newspaper delivery 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 newspaper delivery driver job description:

   Newspaper delivery driver job description example

   Limited time only: Join our team now for a $2,000 sign-on bonus! Bring a friend and get another $1000.00

   
   

   PCF is a leader in orchestrating newspaper delivery and distribution logistical

   services for publications across the country, including The New York Times, Wall

   Street Journal, The Boston Globe, USA Today as well as many other regional, local

   and specialty publications. These publications and their subscribers rely on PCF to

   arrange to get their product to be delivered on time, every morning.

   
   

   WE NEED DELIVERY SERVICE PROVIDERS TO SUPPORT OUR EFFORTS!

   
   

   QUALIFIED DELIVERY SERVICE PROVIDERS (DSPs):

   • Are independently contracted, meaning they are self-employed (1099)
   • Typically provide early morning delivery of newspapers and related printed materials on a designated route, according to a specific contractual agreement
   • Operate their assigned routes 7 days per week, 2-3 hours daily, starting around 3am
   • Must be at least 18 years of age
   • Typically receive $400 – $500 / bi-weekly as compensation
   • Have a reliable means of delivery to fulfill contractual obligations. PCF does not provide vehicles or back-up vehicles
   • Have the right to engage the services of others to provide for or assist in the deliver

   
   
   REQUIREMENTS
   

   • Access to vehicle for deliveries
   • Flexible schedule to work early mornings, 7 days per week
   • 18 years of age or older

   
   
   ABOUT THE COMPANY
   

   As long as print media remains viable, PCF is ready to support the industry with world-class operational and technological support. Publishers Circulation Fulfillment, Inc. (PCF) will help you reduce costs, improve service and maximize the value of your delivery footprint.

   
   

   Whether we’re providing boots-on-the-ground distribution services, or supporting your existing team with our state-of-the-art delivery software, Dart, PCF enables media companies of all sizes to streamline a wide range of daily operational and administrative headaches, and focus on managing results, retaining subscribers and pursuing growth.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right newspaper delivery 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 newspaper delivery drivers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit newspaper delivery 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 newspaper delivery driver job on Zippia to find and recruit newspaper delivery 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 newspaper delivery 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 newspaper delivery driver

   Once you have selected a candidate for the newspaper delivery driver position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize the agreement with a contract.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new newspaper delivery 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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