How to hire a tractor driver

How to hire a tractor driver, step by step

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

What does a tractor driver do?

Post a tractor driver job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

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

   Type of Tractor Driver	Description	Hourly rate
   Tractor 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	$11-16
   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
   • DOT
   • Mowing
   • Harvest
   • GRASS
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Drive Tractor
   • Safety Procedures
   • Mowers
   • MOW
   • Shovels
   • Rakes
   • Pickup
   • Manual Labor

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Supervise the harvest operation to accomplish daily production requirements.
   • Mow the lawn, grade the roads, spray tar, and drive/dump gravel.
   • Dispatch, pickup, and deliver local freight.
   • Work on lawn mowers, repair what are broken.
   • Work on the bailers and rakes when they break down.
   • Remove old roofing and concrete materials in an efficient manner.

   More tractor driver duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, tractor drivers' average salary in west virginia is 52% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level tractor drivers earn 34% less than senior-level tractor drivers.
   • Certifications. A tractor 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 tractor driver's salary.

   Average tractor driver salary

   $13.98hourly

   $29,084 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level tractor driver salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 20, 2025

   Average tractor driver salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$33,519	$16
   2	Oregon	$28,964	$14
   3	Ohio	$27,977	$13
   4	Tennessee	$26,059	$13
   5	Louisiana	$22,534	$11

   Average tractor driver salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	ADM	$40,730	$19.58	18
   2	Brown-Forman	$38,668	$18.59
   3	Kendall-Jackson	$29,496	$14.18	1
   4	Cal	$28,933	$13.91	1
   5	Southdown	$28,406	$13.66
   6	Jackson Family Wines	$27,284	$13.12
   7	Four Oaks	$25,913	$12.46

4. Writing a tractor driver job description

   A tractor driver 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 tractor driver job description:

   Tractor driver job description example

   TITLE: Tractor Driver REPORTS TO: Vineyard Manager LOCATION: North Coast Vineyard Operations General Description of Duties: A Tractor Driver must be able to operate any Tractor and/or ATV safely and properly. A tractor driver must maintain all of his equipment and/or implements in a clean and operational manner. He must also take excellent care of all vineyard property and maintaining a safe and quality based approach while working around all personnel. Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
   Beginning Tractor Driver:
   Mowing
   Laying Out all types of Trellis Materials with Trailer
   Discing
   Dusting
   Harvest (Hauling Gondolas)
   Vineyard Maintenance
   ATV Operation (e.g. Repairing Erosion Control Damage)
   (1) Spreading Wire
   (2) Spreading Hose Intermediate Tractor Driver: (Same as beginning)
   Hedging
   Forklift Operator
   Preprunner
   Spraying Vines
   Weed Spraying
   Under Vine Cultivation
   Front Loader Operation
   Spreading Amendments Advance Tractor Driver: (Same as Beginning & Intermediate)
   Stake Installation
   Track Tractor Operation
   End Post Installation
   Calibration of all Spray Equipment (Self)
   Operating side Mounted Mower
   Ripping
   Landplane
   Work in High Sloped Terrain
   Must be able to read and write Immediate Staff: Advance Tractor Driver (only) will be responsible for 2-3 employees depending on task. Experience and Training:
   
   Must be able to work weekends and/or overtime.
   A tractor driver working on highly sloped hillside vineyard properly will be paid at a higher wage. (TBD) Physical Demands and Work Environment: In order to perform this job successfully an individual must have some basic tractor experience, (2) or more years of experience and/or a willingness to learn quickly by on the job training. Must have good oral communication skills. Must be able to understand and interpret documents such as safety rules of operation and maintenance manuals. Tractor Driver will be exposed to mixing chemicals and will be required to work at night. The employee must be able to lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. The employee wile be frequently exposed to we/or humid conditions, dust, chemical residues as well as occasionally exposed to extreme heat.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find tractor 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 tractor drivers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level tractor 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 tractor driver job on Zippia to find and recruit tractor 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 tractor 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 to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you 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 tractor driver

   Once you've found the tractor driver 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.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new tractor driver. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a tractor driver?