How to hire a traffic administrator

How to hire a traffic administrator, step by step

Here's a step-by-step traffic administrator hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you post your traffic administrator 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 traffic administrator 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 traffic administrator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, traffic administrators 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 traffic administrator salaries for various roles:

   Type of Traffic Administrator	Description	Hourly rate
   Traffic Administrator	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$14-35
   Receiver	A receiver is responsible for confirming receipt of items delivered from distribution centers to the warehouse. Receivers carefully evaluate order invoices, ensuring the correct quantity of the items, and inspect the merchandise for any possible mislabeling and defects... Show more	$12-18
   Shipper	A shipper is an employee who is responsible for filling customer orders and ensures that the quality of these orders meets the company standards. Shippers are tasked with locating items in a warehouse and preparing them for shipping while completing all the transportation procedures so that no complications arise during the cargo-sending process... Show more	$12-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • International Shipments
   • Forwarders
   • DOT
   • Transportation Methods
   • Freight Bills
   • LTL
   • ITAR
   • US Customs
   • Freight Carriers
   • Postal Regulations
   • NAFTA
   • Production Schedules
   • AES
   • Inventory Control

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Develop and manage SharePoint site for streamlining internal team communications.
   • Arrange domestic outbound shipments with small package carriers, LTL and FTL truck carriers, air carriers, and railroads.
   • Communicate extensively with freight forwarders, export carriers, and local carriers to coordinate export shipments.
   • Establish and maintain key supplier relationships (carriers and freight forwarders), resulting in minimize cost and transit time.
   • Expedite inbound/outbound freight shipments by completing domestic and Canadian LTL and parcel shipment documentation.
   • Direct inbound or outbound logistics operations, such as transportation or warehouse activities, safety performance, or logistics quality management.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, traffic administrators' average salary in montana is 48% less than in new jersey.
   • Seniority. Entry-level traffic administrators 59% less than senior-level traffic administrators.
   • Certifications. A traffic administrator 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 traffic administrator's salary.

   Average traffic administrator salary

   $47,265yearly

   $22.72 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level traffic administrator salary

   $30,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

4. Writing a traffic administrator job description

   A traffic administrator 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 traffic administrator job description:

   Traffic administrator job description example

   The dispatcher is responsible for the development and execution of the Traffic Center schedule. High levels of customer service through effective communication and planning are a key function of this role. The dispatcher also works very closely with OTR Drivers, Sales, HQ, and Local Management.
   The working schedule will be primarily from Thursday to Monday from 2:00 pm - 10:00 pm.
   
   Responsibilities
   
   Major Tasks, Key Responsibilities and Key Accountabilities:
   
   * Answer incoming calls in a professional and pleasant manner.
   
   * Perform general administrative support work such as running reports, copying, filing, faxing, scanning, etc.
   
   * Coordinate the delivery of loads tendered to Common Carriers, Local Carriers and IMO.
   
   * Maintain the Dispatch Tracker (Dispatch timeliness, On-Time delivery; Return timeliness, Tractors that need PM service, changes made to runs, etc.)
   
   * Tender loads to drivers based on their bids and seniority. Assign loads as necessary to cover all runs on the board. Award OTR Assignment Dispatch Boards.
   
   * Verify Driver DOT Hours of Service and Award Runs Daily accordingly.
   
   * Maintain SOX compliance and drive organizational efficiency.
   
   * Facilitate Run Right Conference Calls between traffic, warehouse, and co-packers to ensure key performance indicators are on target.
   
   * Adjust delivery sequences in the Dispatch Planning System as necessary.
   
   * Comply with all Frito Lay record retention guidelines.
   
   * Make value-added decisions to ensure World Class Service to Sales.
   
   * Resolve dispatch issues driven by order changes, ship date delays or driver availability.
   
   * Coordinate Vend deliveries with customers.
   
   * Maintain driver compliance documents.
   
   * Onboard new drivers and schedule safety training.
   
   * Evaluate driver logs and process driver payroll.
   
   * Other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
   
   Qualifications
   
   * Understanding of transportation operations.
   
   * Understand and communicate DOT Hours of Service (8 day/70 hour rule, 11 hour rule, 14 hour rule).
   
   * Demonstrate strong computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
   
   * Demonstrate self-motivation, independence and initiative.
   
   * Strong training skills and the ability to work with deadlines, work under pressure, and be flexible.
   
   * Capable of prioritizing and completing multiple tasks. Demonstrates a positive and winning attitude.
   
   * Show strong attention to detail and communicate effectively with internal and external customers.
   
   * Multi-task in a fast-paced environment.
   
   * Able to adapt to changes and develop/implement best practices.
   
   * Strong analytical skills.
   
   * Excellent verbal and written skills.
   
   * Strong interpersonal skills and sense of customer service.
   
   * High school diploma or GED.
   
   Preferred:
   
   * Associates Degree or 3-5 years of transportation experience.
   
   * Able to navigate and perform work in SAP - plus.
   
   Covid-19 vaccination may be a condition of employment dependent on role and location. For specific information, please discuss role requirements with the recruiter.
   
   EEO Statement
   
   All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, or disability status.
   
   PepsiCo is an Equal Opportunity Employer: Female / Minority / Disability / Protected Veteran / Sexual Orientation / Gender Identity
   
   If you'd like more information about your EEO rights as an applicant under the law, please download the available EEO is the Law & EEO is the Law Supplement documents. View PepsiCo EEO Policy.
   
   Please view our Pay Transparency Statement

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with traffic administrator 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.

   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 traffic administrator

   Once you've selected the best traffic administrator candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new traffic administrator. 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.)

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