How to hire a transport truck driver

How to hire a transport truck driver, step by step

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

What does a transport truck driver do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a transport truck driver to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a transport truck driver that fits the bill.

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

   Type of Transport Truck Driver	Description	Hourly rate
   Transport Truck 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	$18-41
   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	Drivers are responsible for safely transporting people, packages, or goods from one destination to another. They should be familiar with the different routes that may be taken to reach the desired goal... Show more	$10-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • Traffic Violations
   • Customer Service
   • Customer Locations
   • Emergency Equipment
   • Safety Procedures
   • OTR
   • Asphalt
   • Alertness
   • Log Book
   • State Regulations
   • Post-Trip Inspections
   • Hazardous Materials
   • Federal Regulations

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and expedite the secure transportation and accountability of logistic materials and HAZMAT chemicals to commercial, state and government facilities.
   • Certify CDL with all endorsements.
   • Deliver loads in tractor/trailer OTR in timely manner.
   • Prompt delivery of materials using GPS navigation software
   • Follow GPS directives and maintain in constant communication with dispatch when necessary.
   • Check all load documentation for accuracy, inspect load and receive required signatures for pickup and delivery.

   More transport truck driver duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the transport truck driver job description is a good way to get more applicants. A transport truck driver salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a transport truck driver in Georgia may be lower than in New York, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level transport truck driver. Additionally, a transport truck driver with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average transport truck driver salary

   $57,936yearly

   $27.85 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level transport truck driver salary

   $38,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 30, 2025

   Average transport truck driver salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Massachusetts	$72,544	$35
   2	Connecticut	$68,020	$33
   3	New Jersey	$67,600	$33
   4	Rhode Island	$67,427	$32
   5	New Hampshire	$66,998	$32
   6	Wyoming	$65,303	$31
   7	Oklahoma	$63,702	$31
   8	Pennsylvania	$63,550	$31
   9	Ohio	$62,997	$30
   10	California	$61,499	$30
   11	Iowa	$61,224	$29
   12	Texas	$60,420	$29
   13	Wisconsin	$60,330	$29
   14	Virginia	$58,405	$28
   15	Idaho	$54,673	$26

   Average transport truck driver salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Walmart	$86,823	$41.74	46
   2	Carvana	$66,272	$31.86	108
   3	Ryder System	$64,399	$30.96	572
   4	AmeriGas Propane	$61,645	$29.64	1
   5	Energy Inc.	$58,626	$28.19
   6	World Fuel Services	$56,516	$27.17
   7	The Walsh Group	$55,947	$26.90	3
   8	Mesilla Valley Transportation	$54,527	$26.21	75
   9	The Black Sheep	$54,477	$26.19
   10	Parker Global Strategies	$54,122	$26.02	678
   11	auto	$53,636	$25.79
   12	Southern Auto Group	$53,546	$25.74
   13	Walsh Electric	$52,443	$25.21
   14	Buffalo Restoration, LLC	$51,503	$24.76
   15	Texas Pride Fuels	$51,340	$24.68	10
   16	FNF Construction	$50,878	$24.46
   17	Prairie Farms Dairy	$47,516	$22.84	10
   18	Turner Industries	$46,677	$22.44

4. Writing a transport truck driver job description

   A job description for a transport truck 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 transport truck driver job description:

   Transport truck driver job description example

   $60,000 to $80,000 Average and TOP DRIVERS earn over $100,000

   
   

   Western Dairy Transport is the most trusted name in dairy logistics with over 50 years of experience on the road. Our charge is to continue building strong communities, servant leaders, and lasting relationships with our most important resource - you! Yes, we have trucks, and yes, our trucks move bulk dairy products and dry freight, but what is most important to us, and what makes WDT a truly great company, is our passion for serving people and doing things the right way.

   
   

   At WDT, we take the guesswork out of your paycheck. Say goodbye to surprises. We've launched a new and improved weekly pay package that's driven by transparency, fairness, and respect.

   
   

   What We Offer:

   • Frequent Pay Increases! $60,000 to $80,000 Average and TOP DRIVERS Earn over $100,000
   • New clean, reliable equipment
   • Trucks/trailers receive regular maintenance in house
   • Out 2 - 3 weeks, with flexibility from driver managers
   • Home weekly for regional drivers
   • Driver referral and rewards program - easy additional income
   • Family atmosphere with a team of dedicated people working with you

   
   

   Company Driver Qualifications:

   • CDL A License
   • Must be at least 23 years of age
   • Tanker endorsement

   
   

   WDT Advantages and Benefits:

   • Drive Healthy - Medical, Dental, Vision plans to fit your needs
   • Drive Protected - Variety of insurance options for you & your family - long & short-term disability, life insurance
   • Drive at Peace - Employee Assistance Program
   • Drive Retirement - 401K with company contributions
   • Drive Vacation Time - PTO time quickly, so you can spend more time doing what you love

   
   

   Apply now or call us!

   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find transport truck drivers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your transport truck driver job on Zippia to find and recruit transport truck 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 transport truck 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 transport truck driver

   Once you've decided on a perfect transport truck driver 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.

   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 transport truck 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 transport truck driver?