How to hire a residential recycle driver

How to hire a residential recycle driver, step by step

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

Post a residential recycle driver job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The residential recycle driver hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

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

   Yes

   No

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

   Here's a comparison of residential recycle driver salaries for various roles:

   Type of Residential Recycle Driver	Description	Hourly rate
   Residential Recycle Driver	Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Others feed or remove material to and from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.	$13-24
   Trash Collector	Also known as trash collectors, garbage collectors work for a private waste management firm or the municipal government. Trash collectors collect and remove recyclable and waste materials for processing... Show more	$10-18
   Driver	Drivers 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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Pre
   • Mechanical Problems
   • Safety Standards
   • Vehicle Operation
   • Mechanical Failures
   • DOT
   • Collection Truck
   • Clean Vehicle
   • Route Sheet
   • Safety Policies
   • Federal Regulations
   • OSHA
   • Side Load
   • Removal Services

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate automated and semi-automate hoisting devices that raise refuse bins and dump contents into openings in truck bodies.
   • Conduct deliveries of medical equipment throughout Florida, collect payments, and ensure proper cleanliness of medical equipment
   • Deliver customers to their destination/homes/doorsteps with luggage/baggage groceries

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, residential recycle drivers' average salary in tennessee is 54% less than in massachusetts.
   • Seniority. Entry-level residential recycle drivers 42% less than senior-level residential recycle drivers.
   • Certifications. A residential recycle 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 residential recycle driver's salary.

   Average residential recycle driver salary

   $38,339yearly

   $18.43 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level residential recycle driver salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 30, 2026

4. Writing a residential recycle driver job description

   A good residential recycle 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 residential recycle driver job description:

   Residential recycle driver job description example

   Safely operate tractor-trailer truck on assigned route to service customers in a safe and efficient manner. Deliver collected solid waste to transfer station or landfill.
   Essential Functions:
   
   * Operate tractor-trailer truck and on-board hydraulic systems on assigned route to collect solid waste and/or recyclables on a specified collection route.
   * Make sure each load is secure by checking that tarp is closed properly and that no loose trash is visible.
   * Ensure all trash is emptied out of the trailer when dumping a load.
   * Provide CSR with each trailer number after the load is dumped and net weight.
   * Complete pre-trip and post-trip safety lane inspections and reports, daily truck report, route sheets and other documentation requested by supervisor daily.
   * Communicate vehicle mechanical problems to mechanic and supervisor immediately.
   * Maintain route quality standards as predetermined by management.
   * Operate truck and equipment using prescribed techniques to eliminate driver-induced mechanical failures.
   * Follow all safety standards, equipment checks and precautions in performance of all duties. Comply with all federal, state, local and company rules on safety and vehicle operation.
   * Maintain clean vehicle by cleaning cab interior and exterior of vehicle.
   
   Job Requirements:
   
   Education, Training, Experience and Licensing/Certification Requirements:
   
   * High school diploma or general education degree (GED) desired.
   * Possess valid Class A Commercial Driver's License (CDL).
   * One (1) year of satisfactory driving experience of Class A vehicles preferred.
   * Satisfactory driving record.
   * Must pass a DOT physical, drug screen and background check.
   * Must pass written and road test evaluation.
   
   Physical/Mental Demands:
   
   * Ability to stand, walk, use hands and fingers, reach, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, talk, hear, climb, balance, taste, and smell.
   * Visual requirements include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus due to the constant maneuvering of vehicle in tight and high traffic areas.
   * Ability to regularly lift/move up to 10 pounds, frequently lift/move up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift/move up to 50 pounds manually.
   * Sitting is required 75% of the time due to the primary function of driving.
   * Ability to work in usually loud conditions
   
   GFL Environmental, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We will make reasonable accommodations to enable employees to perform their jobs.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right residential recycle 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 residential recycle drivers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit residential recycle 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 residential recycle driver job on Zippia to find and recruit residential recycle driver candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with residential recycle 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.

   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 residential recycle driver

   Once you've decided on a perfect residential recycle 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.

   You should also follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that you've filled the position.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new residential recycle driver. 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a residential recycle driver?