How to hire an owner/operator

How to hire an owner/operator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step owner/operator hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write an owner/operator job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new owner/operator
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does an owner/operator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the owner/operator you need to hire. Certain owner/operator 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?

   Yes

   No

   An owner/operator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, owner/operators 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 owner/operator salaries for various positions.

   Type of Owner/Operator	Description	Hourly rate
   Owner/Operator	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	$50-126
   CDL Class A Driver	A CDL Class A driver is a driver with a Class A commercial driver's license. A commercial driver's license is necessary to operate large, heavy, and placarded vehicles... Show more	$17-36
   Truck Driver	The truck driver transports goods and materials by land from and to manufacturing factories or retail businesses and distribution centers with the use of heavy trucks or tractor-trailers. Truck drivers assist and supervise the safe unloading of cargos to the destination... Show more	$19-43

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • PET
   • Customer Service
   • Payroll
   • Human Resources
   • Windows
   • Inventory Control
   • Business Development
   • Mowing
   • Business Plan
   • Customer Relations
   • Real Estate
   • Business Operations
   • Gross Revenue

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Create and manage a free subscription, advertising- base facsimile publication and franchising system.
   • Manage all inventory for eBay store, including its labeling, storage, sales, and overall organization.
   • Design, implement and manage processes base on ITIL best practices, standards and relate support tools across the organization.
   • Direct daily operations of four profit centers, managing all financial functions to include A/R, A/P, payroll and purchasing.
   • Create and manage print and electronic co-op advertising program
   • Manage end to end business operations including hiring, scheduling visits, conducting customer consultations and performing pet visits.

   More owner/operator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the owner/operator job description is a good way to get more applicants. An owner/operator 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 an owner/operator in Arkansas may be lower than in Oregon, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level owner/operator. Additionally, an owner/operator with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average owner/operator salary

   $167,288yearly

   $80.43 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level owner/operator salary

   $105,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average owner/operator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Connecticut	$188,221	$90
   2	Washington	$184,425	$89
   3	Delaware	$181,608	$87
   4	Utah	$180,721	$87
   5	Illinois	$178,796	$86
   6	California	$177,605	$85
   7	Massachusetts	$177,324	$85
   8	Pennsylvania	$173,118	$83
   9	New Jersey	$172,720	$83
   10	Colorado	$170,838	$82
   11	Virginia	$170,604	$82
   12	New York	$169,112	$81
   13	Minnesota	$169,059	$81
   14	Arizona	$168,829	$81
   15	Oklahoma	$168,457	$81
   16	North Carolina	$167,636	$81
   17	Missouri	$166,222	$80
   18	Kansas	$165,325	$79
   19	Wisconsin	$164,800	$79
   20	Indiana	$164,367	$79

   Average owner/operator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Reddy Ice	$198,613	$95.49	1
   2	Clean Harbors	$195,707	$94.09	58
   3	The Next Level	$190,883	$91.77
   4	Medical Diagnostic Laboratories	$189,473	$91.09
   5	Crossland Construction	$188,902	$90.82	1
   6	VIA Motors	$187,496	$90.14
   7	Bennett Enterprises	$186,423	$89.63
   8	Amazon	$185,057	$88.97	93
   9	North American Corporation	$184,947	$88.92
   10	Allegis Group	$182,927	$87.95	3
   11	CEVA Logistics	$182,907	$87.94
   12	Copart	$182,621	$87.80	16
   13	Associated Asset Management	$181,985	$87.49
   14	Carrier	$180,884	$86.96
   15	Celadon Group	$180,328	$86.70
   16	Billy Goat	$180,209	$86.64
   17	United Road Services	$178,740	$85.93
   18	Cal-Ark International, Inc.	$178,436	$85.79	1
   19	Buchanan Hauling Rigging	$178,064	$85.61	8
   20	Champion Homes	$177,661	$85.41

4. Writing an owner/operator job description

   An owner/operator 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 owner/operator job description:

   Owner/operator job description example

   Job DescriptionOpportunities Available for Owner OperatorsBenefits

   • Just Announced! $2,500 Sign On Bonus for a limited time!
   • Earn 67% of gross revenue + 100% FSC
   • 2,500+ miles per week average
   • Varied freight base to keep you moving
   • Runs East of the Rocky Mountains
   • Plate and Insurance programs available
   • Safety bonus program
   • Fuel discounts & Fuel card
   • No trailer rental fees
   • Don’t Wait – take a look at our Refreshed approach at Rush Trucking Today!

   CDL-A Owner Ops: New At Rush –$1.50/mile Avg + Big Miles! $2500 Sign On! Varied Freight! Rush Has Expanded! OTR Runs W/ Variety of Freight! Big Miles = Big Earnings!Requirements

   • Valid Class A CDL
   • 23 years old
   • 6 months OTR experience
   • No DUI or reckless driving in 5 years
   • No more than 2 moving violations in 3 years
   • Trucks must be 10 years old or newer; will review older equipment.

   Rush Trucking is refreshing our approach! We’ve always been focused on safety first, so we decided to expand our services to a more diversified freight base. What that means for Rush Owner Operators is more opportunities to run heavy miles, earn bigger paychecks and be a part of a strategically growing company. But the only way we can succeed is to bring on professional drivers who are ready to prove that Rush Trucking is one of the strongest carriers based in the Midwest. Owner Operators will enjoy great rates, regular hometime, solid support from our entire team, and lots of perks to keep your wheels rolling. There hasn’t been a better time than NOW to Refresh your career, and your paycheck, at Rush Trucking!

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find owner/operators for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your owner/operator job on Zippia to find and recruit owner/operator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit owner/operators, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   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 owner/operator

   Once you have selected a candidate for the owner/operator 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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new owner/operator. 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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How much does it cost to hire an owner/operator?