How to hire a transportation mechanic

How to hire a transportation mechanic, step by step

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

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

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

   Type of Transportation Mechanic	Description	Hourly rate
   Transportation Mechanic	Diesel service technicians and mechanics inspect, repair, and overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engine.	$14-26
   Diesel Technician	Diesel technicians specialize in repairing and handling the maintenance of vehicles powered by diesel. They are primarily responsible for inspecting cars, conducting tests, and identifying its problems to determine what course of action to take... Show more	$15-31
   Shop Technician	Shop Technicians are skilled workers assigned to a retail store. Their main activities depend on the nature of the business their company is in... Show more	$12-25

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Combat
   • USMC
   • Hand Tools
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Electrical Systems
   • Diagnosis
   • Diesel Engines
   • DOT
   • Maintenance Services
   • Fuel Systems
   • Routine Maintenance
   • Oil Changes
   • Diagnostic Tests
   • Vehicle Maintenance

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Operate heavy machinery, hydraulic lifts, hoists and jacks, brake lathes.
   • Ensure all equipment are combat operational during operations mostly in hostile territory.
   • Document repairs, modifications and inspections in accordance with FAA requirements on both paper and in an automate maintenance information database.
   • Perform initial and in-process inspections; perform mechanical diagnostics and troubleshoot to localize defects and determine cause of malfunction.

   More transportation mechanic duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your transportation mechanic job description helps attract top candidates to the position. A transportation mechanic 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 transportation mechanic in West Virginia may be lower than in Massachusetts, and an entry-level transportation mechanic usually earns less than a senior-level transportation mechanic. Additionally, a transportation mechanic 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 transportation mechanic salary

   $42,103yearly

   $20.24 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level transportation mechanic salary

   $31,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 19, 2025

   Average transportation mechanic salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	New York	$52,183	$25
   2	California	$51,094	$25
   3	Illinois	$50,342	$24
   4	Virginia	$46,644	$22
   5	Oregon	$45,277	$22
   6	New Jersey	$45,016	$22
   7	Colorado	$40,913	$20
   8	Texas	$39,173	$19
   9	Kansas	$38,483	$19
   10	Georgia	$37,618	$18
   11	Arizona	$36,867	$18
   12	Florida	$36,859	$18
   13	Mississippi	$33,723	$16
   14	South Carolina	$33,373	$16

   Average transportation mechanic salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	WEC Energy Group	$56,037	$26.94	1
   2	Steel Dynamics	$51,766	$24.89	10
   3	Tracy Unified School District	$46,863	$22.53
   4	Lodi Unified School District	$46,352	$22.28
   5	Jordan/Jackson Elementary School	$44,567	$21.43
   6	McLane	$44,513	$21.40	49
   7	Auburn-Washburn USD 437	$43,281	$20.81
   8	Salem-Keizer Public Schools	$42,447	$20.41	1
   9	Carbon Lehigh IU #21	$42,022	$20.20
   10	KBR	$41,892	$20.14	73
   11	Select Energy Services	$40,855	$19.64
   12	College Station Isd	$40,402	$19.42
   13	Grandville Public Schools	$38,491	$18.51
   14	Paradise Valley Unified School District	$36,517	$17.56	1
   15	Derby Public Schools	$34,721	$16.69

4. Writing a transportation mechanic job description

   A job description for a transportation mechanic 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 mechanic job description:

   Transportation mechanic job description example

   SCHEDULE: TUES-SAT 3:30PM-12:00AM
   
   PAY RATE: $25.00HR
   
   BENEFITS SUMMARY:
   
   Becoming a McLane teammate is to become part of an honest, stable, and reliable company with 125 years of success. We are looking for teammates with perseverance who will take the extra step for our customers, our community, and the company. In return, we will pay you well and offer you the opportunity to go as far in your career as you want to go.
   
   Pay rate: $. per hour.
   Generous benefits such as medical, dental, and vision insurance and company-paid life insurance begin your 60th day.
   401(k) with annual company match begins your 90th day.
   Paid holidays, vacation time, tuition assistance program, and more!
   
   ABOUT THE JOB:
   
   This position is an entry-level training and development position. The Mechanic I performs tasks associated with the wash bay, fuel Island, and yard clean up and assists other mechanics when needed. They may drive (or be trained to drive) tractors and/or tractor-trailer combinations.
   
   Tech school classes or equivalent training are preferred for this position.
   
   The typical schedule for this position is [RECRUITER - PROVIDE SHIFT TIMES BEFORE POSTING]. Some schedule flexibility is preferred.
   
   Make a variety of minor repairs that Drivers may write up.
   Pressure-test and diagnose coolant systems.
   Check and diagnose electrical systems and make minor electrical repairs.
   Check tire alignments and maintain the fleet's tires.
   Perform preventive maintenance and stay current on preventive maintenance schedules.
   Work the fuel island and make repairs to fuel island as needed; clean the transportation shop areas as needed.
   
   MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:
   
   At least 18 years of age.
   High School Diploma or GED preferred.
   Valid driver's license.
   At least 1 year of preventative maintenance experience that includes minor repairs on tractor and trailers, some electrical diagnostics, light repairs, dismounting and mounting tire machine, and use of tire bars and tire gun.
   
   Candidates may be subject to a background check and drug screen, in accordance with applicable laws.
   
   All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find transportation mechanics 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 transportation mechanic job on Zippia to find and recruit transportation mechanic candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Recruiting transportation mechanics requires you to bring your A-game to the interview process. The first interview should introduce the company and the role to the candidate as much as they present their background experience and reasons for applying for the job. During later interviews, you can go into more detail about the technical details of the job and ask behavioral questions to gauge how they'd fit into your current company culture.

   Remember to include a few questions that allow candidates to expand on their strengths in their own words. Asking about their unique skills might reveal things you'd miss otherwise. At this point, good candidates 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 mechanic

   Once you've found the transportation mechanic 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 important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   To prepare for the new transportation mechanic 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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