How to hire a route sales associate

How to hire a route sales associate, step by step

Here's a step-by-step route sales associate hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a route sales associate, 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

   A route sales associate's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, route sales associates 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 route sales associate salaries for various roles:

   Type of Route Sales Associate	Description	Hourly rate
   Route Sales Associate	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	$17-29
   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
   Pizza Delivery Driver	A pizza delivery driver is primarily in charge of delivering pizza and other orders to homes, establishments, and other locations, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. Although the extent of their responsibilities depends on their place or company of employment, it typically includes checking to see if the orders are complete and accurate before leaving the restaurant, securing invoices, and accepting and processing payments... Show more	$11-24

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • DOT
   • Customer Accounts
   • Customer Satisfaction
   • Customer Service
   • Customer Locations
   • Product Inventory
   • Customer Issues
   • CDL
   • Merchandise Product
   • Delivery Truck
   • Product Sales
   • Unload Product
   • Retail Store
   • Customer Relations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage logs and records as per dot regulations.
   • DOT certify for instances involving driving a Frito-Lay truck.
   • Utilize point of purchase (POS) materials to drive sales.
   • Execute merchandise standards and increase impulse sales through POS promotions and special displays.
   • Use effective communication and interpersonal skills when interacting with customers during pickup and/or delivery of packages.
   • Deliver and sell Pepsi products to corporate businesses and retail establishments.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your route sales associate job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A route sales associate salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, route sales associates' average salary in pennsylvania is 46% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level route sales associates earn 39% less than senior-level route sales associates.
   • Certifications. A route sales associate with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a route sales associate's salary.

   Average route sales associate salary

   $48,097yearly

   $23.12 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level route sales associate salary

   $37,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 30, 2026

4. Writing a route sales associate job description

   A route sales associate 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. To help get you started, here's an example of a route sales associate job description:

   Route sales associate job description example

   Imagine...working for a company that knows that its people are the key to its success in the marketplace. A company in which achieving extraordinary results and having a stimulating work experience are part of the same process.
   
   We cultivate and embrace a diverse employee population. We recognize that people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives fuel our growth and enrich our global culture.
   
   We are looking for an individual who enjoys working in a fast-paced, team oriented environment, likes to be challenged, and values the opportunity to make a difference.
   
   The Route Transaction Associate is responsible for coordinating the route transaction process from initial prospect engagement to closing. This position will work with field sales management, legal, third party financing/depot services, and various internal departments. This position will work directly with the Route Transaction team to route prospects through the route transaction process under the direction of the Route Transaction Manager.
   
   Acts as the liaison between prospect and internal departments such as Legal, Route Engineering, Route Finance, Master Data and DSD Support throughout entire transaction process.Works closely with field sales team and Business Development Managers to maintain a continual flow of prospects to close open routes.Takes ownership of successful route closing rates by reviewing progress and identifying gaps with the Route Transaction ManagerEngage with prospective buyers and sellers to clearly communicate expectations throughout the entire transaction process. Initiates, reviews, and approves all electronic contracts once required documents have been obtained. Coordinates the evaluation of each prospective buyer based on credit score with third party lenders in the route loan program, if applicable.Ensures timeliness of credit decision with financing partners.Confirms receipt of all payments due, including down payment, before execution and funding of loan needed for closing finalization.Effectively builds and maintains relationships with various team members.Proposes opportunities for streamlining business processes.Participates in projects, assists teammates, and performs other duties as assigned.
   Scope of Responsibility:
   Minimal supervision; this job has no supervisory responsibilities.
   
   Knowledge and Skill Requirements:
   Strong interpersonal and conflict resolution skills.Strong teamwork skills; ability to balance team and individual responsibilities and exhibit objectivity and openness to others' views; ability to give and receive feedback; puts success of team above own interests.Ability to read, analyze, and interpret common data. Ability to respond to common inquiries or complaints.Calculates figures and amounts such as interest, proportions, percentages, area, and volume. Ability to apply concepts of basic algebra and geometry. Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions. Uses intuition and experience to complement data. Ability to exercise discretion while managing confidential information. Strong knowledge of word processing software, spreadsheet software, and internet software. Ability to build morale and group commitments to goals and objectives; team oriented and supportive of everyone's efforts to succeed.Excellent written and verbal communication skills; speaks clearly and persuasively in positive or negative situations; listens and gets clarification; good presentation skills.
   
   Education and Experience:
   Associate's Degree or a minimum of 5 years of DSD related experience required.
   
   Physical Demands:
   The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, talk or hear, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel.
   
   Work Environment:
   Office environment; noise level is usually minimal.
   
   Travel Required:
   No travel required.
   
   To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed above are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
   
   ACR
   
   The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity for employees and applicants in all aspects of the employment relationship, without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.
   
   In that regard, U.S. applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law. Click here for additional information.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find route sales associates 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 route sales associate job on Zippia to find and recruit route sales associate candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with route sales associate 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.

   You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 route sales associate

   Once you've found the route sales associate candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   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.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new route sales associate. 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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