How to hire a truck driver helper

How to hire a truck driver helper, step by step

Here's a step-by-step truck driver helper hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The truck driver helper 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

   Hiring the perfect truck driver helper also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   The following list breaks down different types of truck driver helpers and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Truck Driver Helper	Description	Hourly rate
   Truck Driver Helper	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	$10-22
   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
   Helper	Helpers are employed by families or homeowners to provide overall assistance in the house. They are usually assigned to do household chores such as cleaning the house, doing the laundry, cooking meals, and tending the garden... Show more	$11-18

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Safety Policies
   • CDL
   • DOT
   • Load Trucks
   • Safety Regulations
   • Safety Rules
   • Delivery Truck
   • Pallet Jack
   • Pickup
   • Retail Store
   • Hand Trucks
   • Stacks Merchandise
   • Delivery Vehicle
   • Construction Sites

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage and expedite the secure transportation and accountability of logistic materials and HAZMAT chemicals to commercial, state and government facilities.
   • Follow GPS directives and maintain in constant communication with dispatch when necessary.
   • Sort packages by region, deliver packages to customers, handle cash-on-delivery payments, process business pickups, utilize DIAD board technology

   More truck driver helper duties

3. Make a budget

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

   $15.62hourly

   $32,483 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level truck driver helper salary

   $22,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 22, 2025

   Average truck driver helper salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Pennsylvania	$38,739	$19
   2	Minnesota	$36,306	$17
   3	California	$33,588	$16
   4	Virginia	$32,079	$15
   5	Illinois	$31,730	$15
   6	North Carolina	$31,086	$15
   7	Indiana	$30,140	$14
   8	Texas	$28,657	$14
   9	Tennessee	$28,124	$14
   10	Georgia	$25,370	$12
   11	Missouri	$25,158	$12
   12	Florida	$21,150	$10

   Average truck driver helper salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Waste Connections	$39,149	$18.82	187
   2	Waste Management	$37,773	$18.16	15
   3	Green Mountain Coffee Roasters	$36,815	$17.70
   4	Packard Transport	$36,402	$17.50
   5	Carter Lumber	$36,390	$17.50	109
   6	Bruce Transportation Group	$34,732	$16.70
   7	Powerhouse	$34,107	$16.40	2
   8	Arlington County, VA	$32,234	$15.50
   9	Point 2 Point	$31,091	$14.95
   10	Salvation Army North	$30,664	$14.74
   11	First Transit	$29,749	$14.30
   12	PeopleReady	$28,472	$13.69	167
   13	Goodwill Industries of San Diego County	$26,901	$12.93	6
   14	Conduent	$26,822	$12.90
   15	The Salvation Army	$24,333	$11.70	147
   16	84 Lumber	$24,231	$11.65	6

4. Writing a truck driver helper job description

   A truck driver helper 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 truck driver helper job description:

   Truck driver helper job description example

   PeopleReady of Green Cove Springs, FL is now hiring Waste Truck Helpers!
   
   Apply today and you could start as soon as tomorrow. No resume or interview required – yep, you read that right.
   
   As a PeopleReady associate you'll benefit from:
   
   * The freedom to work where you want, when you want and as often as you want.
   
   * Next-day pay* for many of our open positions.
   
   * The ability to choose long-term positions for steady work or short-term positions if you just want some extra cash.
   
   * The ability to sign up for jobs right from our mobile app, JobStack!
   
   Pay Rate:
   
   The pay rate for this job is $17.50 / hour plus OT
   
   What you'll be doing as a Waste Truck Helper:
   
   * Riding on the back of garbage or recycling collection truck and collecting solid waste on a designated route
   
   * Directing driver when pulling out in traffic and backing up, and directing incoming vehicles to dumping area at solid waste disposal facilities
   
   * Knowledge of standardized work routines used for manual tasks and operation of collection vehicles in solid waste operations
   
   * Checking operating and safety conditions of vehicles, performing minor servicing, and reporting needed repairs or servicing
   
   * Assisting driver with various tasks during waste runs
   
   Available shifts:
   
   Shift Timings: 1st shift (Day)
   
   Job requirements:
   
   * Deep knowledge of work routines and procedures in collecting solid waste materials for disposal, reuse, and recycling
   
   * Able to lift up to 50 pounds, and able to carry, reach, bend, push, pull, and climb
   
   * Flexibility to work in all weather conditions
   
   * After 300 hrs. worked
   
   * Background check and Drug required.
   
   Ready to take control of the way you work?
   
   Complete our application to join the PeopleReady team today. In case you missed it, no resumes or interviews are required!
   
   \#TIER2
   
   PeopleReady is an equal opportunity employer, and we value diversity. We do not discriminate based on race, religious affiliation, color, national origin, gender, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability, or any other basis protected by law. We will get to know you and connect you with jobs that match your skills, experience and preferences. We work hard every single day to find jobs so each employee has opportunity and variety in their work.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are various strategies that you can use to find the right truck driver helper for your business:

   • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your truck driver helper job on Zippia to find and recruit truck driver helper candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with truck driver helper 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.

   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 truck driver helper

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

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new truck driver helper. Human Resources should complete Employee Action Forms and ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc. They should also ensure that new employee files are created for internal recordkeeping.

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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