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How to hire a professional driver

Professional driver hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring professional drivers in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a professional driver is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per professional driver on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 890,749 professional drivers in the US and 1,043,986 job openings.
  • Covington, KY, has the highest demand for professional drivers, with 5 job openings.
  • Dallas, TX has the highest concentration of professional drivers.

How to hire a professional driver, step by step

To hire a professional driver, you should create an ideal candidate profile, determine a budget, and post and promote your job. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a professional driver:

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

    Before you start hiring a professional 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?

    You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a professional 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 professional driver that fits the bill.

    This list shows salaries for various types of professional drivers.

    Type of Professional DriverDescriptionHourly rate
    Professional 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$15-35
    Driver TrainerDriver trainers are instructors who teach their clients how to drive. They are often considered experts in driving, and they are credible enough to impart their driving knowledge to clients... Show more$14-33
    Driver/MoverA driver/mover is responsible for preparing and arranging items for delivery from the distribution center to assigned destinations. Driver/movers assist with loading and unloading merchandise using various warehouse tools and equipment... Show more$11-21
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Safety Regulations
    • Vehicle Inspections
    • CDL
    • Delivery Schedules
    • Customer Service
    • OTR
    • Post-Trip Inspections
    • DOT Regulations
    • Pickup
    • Log Book
    • Pre-Trip Inspections
    • Hazmat
    • Tractor-Trailer Combination
    • On-Time Delivery
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage delivery locations and execute pickup and delivery routes.
    • Hold CDL license with a clean driving record.
    • Evaluate and test new CDL grands and new applicants.
    • Deliver HAZMAT products with the highest quality, safety and cost- effective form.
    • Experience in combination, triples, tankers, flatbeds, cargo containers and HAZMAT.
    • Maintain radio, telephone and GPS contact with base supervisor to receive instructions or be dispatch to new location.
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, professional drivers' average salary in florida is 30% less than in massachusetts.
    • Seniority. Entry-level professional drivers 55% less than senior-level professional drivers.
    • Certifications. A professional 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 professional driver's salary.

    Average professional driver salary

    $49,556yearly

    $23.82 hourly rate

    Entry-level professional driver salary
    $33,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 21, 2026
  4. Writing a professional driver job description

    A good professional driver job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a professional driver job description:

    Professional driver job description example

    Hourly Pay $20/hr plus tips. Must be 21+

    Moving experience recommended, not required.

    Immediate need, flexible hours. Seeking RELIABLE employees who like physical work.

    As a Driver/Mover for College Hunks Moving, you are the first point of contact for clients on the job.

    Qualifications

    Who we're looking to hire: If you love customer service and helping others while working in a physical environment, you've come to the right place. No experience necessary! We provide hands-on training to all to ensure you succeed. Must meet the following qualifications:

    Must be able to lift 50 pounds with a team.
    Reliable transportation to and from work.
    Valid/Active Driver's License.
    Eligible to work in the United States.
    Drug and alcohol-free.

    Job Summary
    Do you enjoy a fast-paced, multi-faceted work environment where you get to be exposed to different types of professional work like Sales, Marketing, Logistics, Customer Service, Equipment operations, project management, conflict resolution, and communication? If so, we have an incredible opportunity with excellent growth potential. You will be involved in learning techniques on how to develop rapport, establish value while having a sense of accomplishment each day! There is no other place young people with little experience can work to build a resume like College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving!

    Responsibilities

    Handle, wrap, carry and load furniture and other household goods.
    Provide excellent customer service through communication and efficient work.
    Collaborate with team members to successfully complete moves lasting up to 10 hours/day.
    SAFELY operate at all times.
    Go out of your way to be friendly (smile, eye contact, small-talk) to everyone whom you come in contact with throughout the day - especially your clients.
    Educate clients about pricing and services and the benefit to them prior to giving an estimate, ensuring 110% satisfaction.
    Make sure all daily truck inspections are performed (tire pressure, oil, equipment, etc).
    Make sure the truck has enough receipts, safety equipment, and marketing material.
    Be able to make logistical decisions (how to best complete a job, how to package items and load a truck, how to market during downtime).
    Lead your team by relevant examples, showing them what the core values of the company are all about.
    Help to train new hires about the day to day operations and core values.
    Prevent careless and costly mistakes, including damage, injury, unhappy clients, lost equipment, etc.
    Check-in regularly throughout the day with direct supervisor for additional assignments and troubleshooting guidance

    Benefits:

    Being a part of a team with great attitudes and work ethic.
    Flexibility with scheduling.
    Open-Door Environment; Dynamic culture.
    Paid training, continued development programs.
    Overtime pay rate, when applicable
    Team outings.

    Company Overview
    To live our four core values of: Building Leaders, Always Branding, Listen, Fulfill, and Delight, and Creating a Fun Enthusiastic Team Environment. To always provide our brand promise of a stress-free moving or hauling experience, and always provide our clients with H.U.N.K.S. (which stands for Honest, Uniformed, Nice, Knowledgeable, Service).

    Each CHHJ location is independently owned and operated by a franchisee. Your application will go directly to the franchisee, and all hiring decisions will be made by the management of that franchise. All inquiries about employment at this franchise should be made directly to the franchisee, and not to College Hunks Hauling Junk Corporate.

  5. Post your job

    To find professional 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 professional drivers they would recommend.
    • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level professional 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 professional driver job on Zippia to find and recruit professional driver candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    Recruiting professional drivers requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

    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 professional driver

    Once you've selected the best professional driver candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the 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 professional 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 professional driver?

There are different types of costs for hiring professional 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 professional driver employee.

You can expect to pay around $49,556 per year for a professional 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 professional drivers in the US typically range between $15 and $35 an hour.

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