How to hire a spotter driver

How to hire a spotter driver, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your spotter 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 spotter 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 spotter driver's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, spotter 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 spotter driver salaries for various positions.

   Type of Spotter Driver	Description	Hourly rate
   Spotter Driver	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	$16-33
   Driver Trainer	Driver 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/Mover	A 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

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • Dock Doors
   • DOT
   • Yard Truck
   • Spotter Truck
   • Spot Trailers
   • Semi Trailers
   • Drop Yard
   • Unload Trucks
   • Rail Cars
   • Storage Lot
   • OTR
   • RAN
   • Assembly Line

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Communicate daily with dispatch for pickup and delivery appointments.
   • Drive flatb with sand sacs from train depot to load site.

   More spotter driver duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, spotter drivers' average salary in kentucky is 40% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level spotter drivers earn 51% less than senior-level spotter drivers.
   • Certifications. A spotter driver 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 spotter driver's salary.

   Average spotter driver salary

   $48,925yearly

   $23.52 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level spotter driver salary

   $34,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 25, 2025

   Average spotter driver salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$62,845	$30
   2	Washington	$56,044	$27
   3	New Jersey	$54,062	$26
   4	Wisconsin	$53,454	$26
   5	Michigan	$52,178	$25
   6	Arizona	$50,472	$24
   7	Kansas	$49,234	$24
   8	Illinois	$48,357	$23
   9	Indiana	$44,156	$21
   10	Georgia	$43,105	$21
   11	North Carolina	$43,004	$21
   12	Texas	$39,429	$19
   13	Missouri	$38,511	$19
   14	Kentucky	$37,245	$18

   Average spotter driver salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Nationwide Express	$62,395	$30.00
   2	Bulkmatic Transport	$59,056	$28.39	4
   3	FirstFleet	$54,659	$26.28	231
   4	ProDrivers	$53,447	$25.70	2
   5	TransAm Trucking	$52,403	$25.19	3
   6	Black Horse	$51,646	$24.83
   7	SC2 Services	$50,897	$24.47
   8	NFI	$50,602	$24.33	718
   9	RGL Logistics	$49,651	$23.87
   10	Paper Transport	$49,553	$23.82	278
   11	Ryder System	$48,643	$23.39	344
   12	Cardinal Logistics Management	$48,422	$23.28
   13	Land O'Lakes	$48,350	$23.25	6
   14	Shaw Industries	$48,316	$23.23	2
   15	Medical Billing	$46,165	$22.19
   16	United Auto Recovery	$45,969	$22.10
   17	National Retail Systems, Inc.	$45,068	$21.67
   18	Ace Hardware	$36,591	$17.59	43
   19	Elwood Staffing	$33,172	$15.95
   20	Express Employment Indy South	$32,313	$15.54	17

4. Writing a spotter driver job description

   A job description for a spotter driver role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a spotter driver job description:

   Spotter driver job description example

   RGL Logistics, the company that helps you reinvent logistics by asking 'WHAT IF' to come up with creative solutions, has an immediate opening for a Spotter with a class A CDL. (Monday-Friday, 6pm-2am) NO SWING SHIFT

   We are looking for positive, highly motivated self-starters to join our team! RGL's culture is to guide and develop our people, empower them to make decisions at the appropriate levels, and give them the tools to be successful and feel fulfilled, all in a safe and healthy environment.

   $19.89 per hour

   Paid Vacation available after 6 months 1 week, after 1 year, 2 weeks

   Healthcare, paid holidays, 401K program, and more

   Mainly be responsible for:

   • Promote and maintain a flexible, cooperative, positive, team-oriented and customer-focused attitude within and between co-workers
   • Safely, effectively, and efficiently operate material handling equipment as required (lift trucks, tow motors, spotter truck etc.) to perform daily duties/responsibilities
   • Complete forklift duties as assigned inside a warehouse setting

   The successful Candidate will have the following competencies:

   • Work Safe, Live Safe
   • Treat Everyone with Dignity and Respect
   • Act with Honesty and Integrity
   • Continuously Improve
   • Be Accountable

   The successful candidate will have the following qualifications:

   • Must have current class A CDL
   • Must be self-motivated with the ability to work effectively and efficiently in a fast-paced, constantly changing, environment.
   • Must be able to safely and efficiently operate material handling equipment such as forklifts, clamp lifts, box clamps etc.
   • Must be team-oriented and safety conscious.

   
   

   We are an equal opportunity employer, with a competitive benefit package in a drug free work place

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right spotter driver for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your spotter driver job on Zippia to find and recruit spotter 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 spotter 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 spotter driver

   Once you have selected a candidate for the spotter 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 equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   To prepare for the new employee's start date, you can create an onboarding schedule and complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9 forms, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Human Resources should also ensure that a new employee file is created.

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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