How to hire a tank driver

How to hire a tank driver, step by step

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

What does a tank driver do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the tank driver you need to hire. Certain tank driver 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

   Hiring the perfect tank driver also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of tank drivers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Tank Driver	Description	Hourly rate
   Tank 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	$16-36
   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
   Truck Driver-Over-The-Road	A truck driver-over-the-road (OTR) is a professional driver who specializes in hauling items such as heavy freight, machinery, or construction materials from a home terminal to delivery points. OTR truck drivers usually spend more time on the road due to the long distances they are required to reach... Show more	$24-45

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • Hazmat
   • Post-Trip Inspections
   • OTR
   • Customer Locations
   • PTO
   • Propane
   • TWIC
   • DOT Regulations
   • PPE
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Tanker Truck
   • Good Communication
   • OSHA

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Deliver a variety of commodities to surrounding mines OTR and locally.
   • Employ industry standard HAZMAT procedures.
   • Deliver chemicals to various locations in town and OTR.
   • Deliver liquid propane to commercial and residential accounts/perform safety checks/operate forklifts/follow D.O.T.
   • Operate equipment, such as truck cab computers and CB radios.
   • Hooked/Unhook trailers and converter dollies to or from a tractor and/or trailer.

   More tank driver duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your tank driver job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A tank driver salary can be affected by several factors, such as geography, experience, seniority, certifications, and the prestige of the hiring company.

   For example, the average salary for a tank driver in South Carolina may be lower than in Colorado, and an entry-level tank driver usually earns less than a senior-level tank driver. Additionally, a tank driver with certifications may command a higher salary, and working for a well-known company or start-up may also impact an employee's pay.

   Average tank driver salary

   $51,471yearly

   $24.75 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level tank driver salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average tank driver salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Colorado	$64,726	$31
   2	Washington	$61,980	$30
   3	New Jersey	$61,438	$30
   4	New York	$60,390	$29
   5	Maryland	$59,771	$29
   6	Pennsylvania	$59,494	$29
   7	Missouri	$59,205	$28
   8	Oregon	$58,878	$28
   9	Arkansas	$58,537	$28
   10	Indiana	$57,548	$28
   11	Louisiana	$57,512	$28
   12	Kansas	$57,479	$28
   13	Arizona	$57,460	$28
   14	New Mexico	$57,368	$28
   15	Alabama	$57,208	$28
   16	Ohio	$56,362	$27
   17	Minnesota	$56,142	$27
   18	Illinois	$55,668	$27
   19	Tennessee	$55,059	$26
   20	Georgia	$54,350	$26

   Average tank driver salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Kemira Chemicals	$82,290	$39.56
   2	Praxair	$70,297	$33.80
   3	Eagle Transport	$68,279	$32.83
   4	Andrews Logistics	$68,225	$32.80	18
   5	Venezia Bulk Transport	$67,978	$32.68
   6	Oakley Transport	$67,655	$32.53
   7	United Petroleum Transports	$67,352	$32.38	35
   8	Ryder System	$67,009	$32.22	903
   9	PGT Trucking	$67,005	$32.21	4
   10	Kenan Advantage Group	$67,000	$32.21	245
   11	Ace Hardware	$66,747	$32.09	37
   12	CLI Transport	$65,530	$31.50
   13	Groendyke Transport	$59,931	$28.81
   14	Transportation Unlimited Inc	$58,185	$27.97
   15	Custom Commodities Transport	$57,619	$27.70
   16	TransForce	$57,073	$27.44	612
   17	CPC Logistics	$56,881	$27.35	7
   18	AmeriGas Propane	$55,713	$26.79	74
   19	Centerline Solutions	$54,308	$26.11	112
   20	Flyers Energy	$54,220	$26.07

4. Writing a tank driver job description

   A good tank 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 tank driver job description:

   Tank driver job description example

   Job DescriptionOpportunities Available for Company DriversBenefits

   • Up to $310 “Shift Pay” Per Shift OR Mileage Rate - based on experience
   • Average $1600+ per week = $83,000 Annually!
   • New Hires Receive a $7,500 Sign-On Bonus!
   • Earn Up To 4cpm Extra Every Month (on top of starting mileage rate) OR Potentially $50 Every Day (on top of shift pay) with our Productivity Bonus
   • Earn Up To 6cpm Extra Every Month (on top of starting rate) with our Safe Driving Performance Program
   • Earn Up To $2000 with our Annual Safety Bonus Program
   • $300 Orientation Incentive + Paid Orientation; Get In & Get Rolling!
   • Two Days Home for Every Two Weeks Out!
   • Driver Mentor, Retention & Recognition Programs
   • Unlimited Driver Referral Opportunities - $2,000 Bonus, Per Referral
   • Late-Model Volvo Tractors & High Quality Food Grade Tanks
   • Premium Health Benefits After 60 Days – medical, dental, vision
   • 401(k) w/ Company Contributions
   • Rider Program

   At Oakley Transport, we aren’t a trucking company, we are a people company that happens to work in trucking. We value our professional drivers and to prove it, we’ve blown up our pay, taking our established, industry-leading pay scale to new heights. Oakley drivers receive support from all our staff, starting with our President Tommy Oakley. There’s never been a better time to Explore Your Opportunities at Oakley Transport!Requirements

   • Valid Class-A CDL License
   • Must be 22 years old
   • 12 months tractor-trailer experience within the last 5 years
   • Safe driving record
   • Endorsements may be required

   *Military Members – Ask About our Military Sign On Bonus

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right tank 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 tank driver job on Zippia to find and recruit tank driver candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with tank 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.

   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 tank driver

   Once you have selected a candidate for the tank 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.

   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.

   To prepare for the new tank 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 tank driver?