How to hire a traffic coordinator

How to hire a traffic coordinator, step by step

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

What does a traffic coordinator do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The traffic coordinator hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   A traffic coordinator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, traffic coordinators 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.

   The following list breaks down different types of traffic coordinators and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Traffic Coordinator	Description	Hourly rate
   Traffic Coordinator	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. They ensure proper scheduling, recordkeeping, and inventory control.	$13-25
   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:

   • Customer Service
   • Data Entry
   • Freight Carriers
   • PowerPoint
   • Account Executives
   • Wide Orbit
   • Purchase Orders
   • Traffic Control
   • Order Entry
   • Troubleshoot
   • Traffic System
   • LTL
   • Traffic Management
   • Sales Orders

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage return shipments for LTL and small packages, ensuring they are return or redirect to new locations as instructed.
   • Complete documentation and manage inventory levels by utilizing ERP systems.
   • Communicate and coordinate with customs brokers and freight forwarders to facilitate creation of documentation for overseas import and export shipments.
   • Correspond with overseas vendors for shipping allocations and delivery schedules with nominate freight forwarders to assure timely mode of transportation.
   • Write SQL queries when specific information is requested.
   • Verify all transmitter log readings as requested by FCC rules and regulations

   More traffic coordinator duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your traffic coordinator job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A traffic coordinator 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 traffic coordinator in Pennsylvania may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level traffic coordinator usually earns less than a senior-level traffic coordinator. Additionally, a traffic coordinator 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 traffic coordinator salary

   $40,092yearly

   $19.27 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level traffic coordinator salary

   $29,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 16, 2025

   Average traffic coordinator salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$49,412	$24
   2	California	$45,250	$22
   3	Texas	$43,816	$21
   4	Oregon	$41,995	$20
   5	Maryland	$40,844	$20
   6	Nevada	$40,582	$20
   7	Colorado	$40,067	$19
   8	Missouri	$38,841	$19
   9	Arizona	$38,625	$19
   10	Utah	$38,071	$18
   11	Florida	$37,622	$18
   12	New Mexico	$37,547	$18
   13	Indiana	$36,725	$18
   14	North Carolina	$36,476	$18
   15	Kansas	$36,241	$17
   16	Delaware	$36,087	$17
   17	Georgia	$34,963	$17
   18	Pennsylvania	$34,929	$17
   19	Michigan	$32,844	$16

   Average traffic coordinator salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	DeWitt LLP Law Firm	$65,525	$31.50
   2	Los Alamos National Laboratory	$64,550	$31.03	1
   3	Wpp Us Holdings Inc	$56,797	$27.31	3
   4	EON	$55,594	$26.73
   5	HDR	$55,379	$26.62	50
   6	Altice USA	$54,046	$25.98	2
   7	Cumulus Media	$53,383	$25.66
   8	Zimmerman Advertising	$52,076	$25.04
   9	Omnicom Media Group	$50,710	$24.38
   10	Northrop Grumman	$50,127	$24.10	2
   11	Lopez Negrete Communications	$48,700	$23.41
   12	Spanish Broadcasting System	$47,755	$22.96	3
   13	Sinclair Broadcast Group	$47,586	$22.88	3
   14	NBCUniversal	$47,001	$22.60	5
   15	Ball Arena	$46,865	$22.53
   16	iHeartMedia	$46,563	$22.39	3
   17	Starz	$46,371	$22.29
   18	Belcan	$46,118	$22.17
   19	Oldcastle Infrastructure	$44,863	$21.57	8
   20	Legacy Health	$44,184	$21.24

4. Writing a traffic coordinator job description

   A job description for a traffic coordinator 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 traffic coordinator job description:

   Traffic coordinator job description example

   Job Title: Traffic Coordinator - On Site
   
   Job Location: Folsom, CA
   
   We have an exciting opportunity for an on-site Traffic coordinator to manage multiple levels of customer interaction and serve as a point of contact to our DGF customers. This position will be based at the customer location in Folsom, CA
   
   Key Responsibilities:
   
   * Develops relationship with allocated customers
   * Participates in joint meetings with internal customers if necessary
   * Accepts all orders (from customer or overseas office) and processes them for handover to operations
   * Proactively informs customer on shipment status, exceptions, and provides intermediate updates on incident solution
   * Provides spot quotations, follow up, and help to bring best solution to the customer
   * Takes and handles customer inquiries, e.g. Track and Trace
   * Processing all Integrated Shipping Memos (ISMs) for US exports from the site
   * Ensure record retention process per Service Letter Agreement (SLA)
   * Collaborates closely with carrier's operations and cross functional groups on site for smooth handling of shipments and continuous updates
   
   Skills / Requirements:
   
   * Strong MS Office skills such as Excel, Word and Outlook
   * Ability to identify and meet customer needs in a pleasant and friendly manner
   * Excellent customer service experience and abilities
   * Very strong communication skills (oral and written)
   * SAP experience is a plus
   * Knowledge of International Supply Chain / Logistics / Freight forwarding industry is preferred but not required
   
   DHL Global Forwarding is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.
   
   Work Authorization:
   
   DHL Global Forwarding will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States. This is not a position for which visa sponsorship will be provided. Individuals who need sponsorship for work authorization, now or in the future, are not eligible for hire for this role.
   
   Equal Opportunity Employer, Disability/Vets. Click here for EEO Statements and Reasonable Accommodations.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with traffic coordinator 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 traffic coordinator

   Once you've decided on a perfect traffic coordinator candidate, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, it should include benefits and perks available to the employee. Qualified candidates may be considered for other positions, so make sure your offer is competitive. Candidates may wish to negotiate. Once you've settled on the details, formalize your 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 coordinator. 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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How much does it cost to hire a traffic coordinator?