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How to hire a Transportation Driver

Transportation driver hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring transportation drivers in the United States:

  • In the United States, the median cost per hire a transportation driver is $1,633.
  • It takes between 36 and 42 days to fill the average role in the US.
  • Human Resources use 15% of their expenses on recruitment on average.
  • On average, it takes around 12 weeks for a new transportation driver to become settled and show total productivity levels at work.

How to hire a transportation driver, step by step

To hire a transportation driver, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a transportation driver:

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

What does a Transportation Driver do?

A transportation driver is responsible for transporting people and goods from one place to another. A transportation driver must have a clean driving record to operate vehicles carefully and efficiently. Transportation drivers must ensure that the passengers are safe and comfortable during the trip and that goods are in proper condition to avoid damage and defects. They should strictly adhere to the transport schedules and assigned routes to avoid delays of operations. A transportation driver should also understand maintenance basics of vehicles to perform repair and reconditioning of any engine malfunction.

Learn more about the specifics of what a transportation driver does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

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

    A transportation driver's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, transportation 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 shows salaries for various types of transportation drivers.

    Type Of Transportation DriverDescriptionHourly Rate
    Transportation DriverHeavy 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$12-33
    Driver TrainerDriver 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/MoverA 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
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common Skills:
    • CDL
    • DOT
    • Tractor Trailer
    • Hazmat
    • Post-Trip Inspections
    • Cleanliness
    • Vehicle Inspections
    • Patients
    • Safety Procedures
    • Shuttle Bus
    • Safety Rules
    • Customer Service
    • Hazardous Materials
    • Math
    Check All Skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Utilize CDL to transport elderly patients to doctor appointments, dining and recreation activities.
    • Maintain safe CDL driving record.
    • Haul chemicals OTR to customers assist in load and unload as needed
    • Certify in CPR, chauffeur license, perform administrative support functions.
    • Transport clients in a safe and professional manner; ability to understand maps and GPS
    • Assist in loading and unloading of van for patients with slight disabilities such as walkers, wheelchairs.
    More Transportation Driver duties
  3. Make a budget

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

    • Location. For example, transportation drivers' average salary in maine is 40% less than in wyoming.
    • Seniority. Entry-level transportation drivers 63% less than senior-level transportation drivers.
    • Certifications. A transportation driver 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 transportation driver's salary.

    Average transportation driver salary

    $43,236yearly

    $20.79 hourly rate

    Entry-level transportation driver salary
    $26,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 18, 2025

    Average transportation driver salary by state

    RankStateAvg. SalaryHourly Rate
    1Wyoming$59,619$29
    2California$55,102$26
    3Nevada$52,883$25
    4Indiana$49,806$24
    5Utah$49,630$24
    6Wisconsin$49,362$24
    7Colorado$48,819$23
    8Iowa$48,323$23
    9Pennsylvania$47,890$23
    10Hawaii$47,658$23
    11Arizona$46,582$22
    12New Mexico$45,906$22
    13Ohio$44,981$22
    14New York$44,503$21
    15Illinois$44,441$21
    16Oregon$44,202$21
    17Minnesota$44,147$21
    18New Jersey$43,799$21
    19Texas$43,323$21
    20West Virginia$42,899$21

    Average transportation driver salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage SalaryHourly RateJob Openings
    1West Tennessee Healthcare$76,077$36.58
    2AmeriGas Propane$75,411$36.26117
    3Marathon Petroleum$73,139$35.1616
    4World Fuel Services$73,035$35.114
    5Central Vermont Medical Center$70,170$33.74
    6Tolunay-Wong Engineers$69,891$33.604
    7Sheetz$65,104$31.3019
    8Self Regional Healthcare$63,977$30.76
    9Dayton Freight$62,675$30.131
    10Saint Xavier University$62,509$30.051
    11The Coca-Cola Company$59,835$28.7782
    12Seton Catholic School$58,846$28.29
    13McLane$58,749$28.2494
    14Ferrellgas$58,606$28.18274
    15Cheshire Academy$57,814$27.801
    167-Eleven$57,706$27.74
    17Speedway$57,410$27.60
    18AAA Cooper Transportation$57,146$27.47628
    19UGI$56,603$27.21111
    20Airgas$56,599$27.21128
  4. Writing a Transportation Driver Job Description

    A job description for a transportation 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 transportation driver job description:

    Transportation Driver job description example

    Availability to Work: Special shift requirements, if any, will vary depending on a location's hiring needs. If applicable, availability to work 3rd shift and/or week-ends may be a requirement.

    Language Skills: Ability to read and comprehend simple instructions, short correspondence, and memos. Ability to write simple correspondence. Ability to effectively present information in one-on-one situations to customers and other employees of the company.

    Mathematical Skills: Ability to add, subtract, two digit numbers and multiply and divide with 10’s and 100’s. Ability to perform these operations using units of American money.

    Appearance: Employees will be required to maintain a neat and clean appearance and be in complete uniform at all times.

    Physical Demands: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

    While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; and use hands to handle cash and equipment. The employee is occasionally required to sit and climb or balance. The employee may be required to occasionally lift and/or move up to 75 pounds.

    SP+ is an equal opportunity employer committed in policy and practice to recruit, hire, train, and promote, in all job classifications, without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, veteran status, disability or other classes protected by federal or state law. SP+ does not tolerate harassment of or retaliation against any employee or applicant on the basis of these characteristics, or because the individual exercised his or her EEO rights Women encouraged to apply.

    Company DescriptionAt SP+ you will find an inclusive and supportive environment that promotes professional development and opportunity for growth. We like to inspire our team members to be creative and proactive leaders in the field while maintaining our goal of providing the best service possible to our clients. Our commitment to innovation has made us a leader in out industry. We offer professional job growth and developmental programs to help team members achieve their careers goals.
  5. Post your job

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

    To successfully recruit transportation drivers, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

    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 transportation driver

    Once you've found the transportation 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.

    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.

    To prepare for the new transportation 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 transportation driver?

There are different types of costs for hiring transportation drivers. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new transportation driver employee.

Transportation drivers earn a median yearly salary is $43,236 a year in the US. However, if you're looking to find transportation drivers for hire on a contract or per-project basis, hourly rates typically range between $12 and $33.

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