How to hire a truck technician

How to hire a truck technician, step by step

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

What does a truck technician do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a truck technician, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

   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 technician 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.

   Here's a comparison of truck technician salaries for various roles:

   Type of Truck Technician	Description	Hourly rate
   Truck Technician	Diesel service technicians and mechanics inspect, repair, and overhaul buses and trucks, or maintain and repair any type of diesel engine.	$15-28
   Mechanic Helper	The job of a mechanic helper is to support lead mechanics and perform a variety of duties and responsibilities. You will be assisting in the maintenance of cars, such as changing tires and oils, replacing brakes, and diagnosing vehicle issues... Show more	$11-19
   Light Wheel Mechanic	A light wheel mechanic is responsible for maintaining the optimal performance and efficiency of light-wheeled vehicles used for industrial operations, especially in a military setting. Light wheel mechanics inspect the condition of the vehicle's engine, perform preventive maintenance, replace defective components, assemble upgrade systems based on schematics and blueprints, and create resolution reports for reference... Show more	$12-32

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • Preventative Maintenance
   • Customer Service
   • Electrical Systems
   • Hand Tools
   • HVAC
   • Troubleshoot
   • Customer Vehicles
   • ASE
   • Driveline
   • A/C
   • Transmissions
   • Diesel Engines
   • Hydraulic Systems

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Inspect cars, service and repairs specializing in BMW repairs, manage shop, price and order parts, customer service
   • Install or repair air conditioners and service components, such as compressors, condensers, and controls.
   • Inspect, diagnose, and repair engines, transmissions, electric systems, a/c systems, and drive systems on trucks.
   • Service and diagnostic on HVAC systems and electronic systems.
   • Train on negative air machines, power wash machine and HVAC's.
   • Perform diagnostics, repair and overhaul, as well as warranty work on A/C systems.

   More truck technician duties

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, truck technicians' average salary in arkansas is 43% less than in california.
   • Seniority. Entry-level truck technicians 47% less than senior-level truck technicians.
   • Certifications. A truck technician 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 truck technician's salary.

   Average truck technician salary

   $44,554yearly

   $21.42 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level truck technician salary

   $32,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 3, 2026

   Average truck technician salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$62,454	$30
   2	Washington	$60,165	$29
   3	New York	$55,312	$27
   4	Colorado	$53,323	$26
   5	Hawaii	$52,917	$25
   6	Pennsylvania	$52,837	$25
   7	Oregon	$47,949	$23
   8	Wisconsin	$47,860	$23
   9	Missouri	$46,639	$22
   10	Kansas	$46,608	$22
   11	Virginia	$45,396	$22
   12	Georgia	$45,064	$22
   13	Arizona	$44,767	$22
   14	Maryland	$44,642	$21
   15	Texas	$43,737	$21
   16	North Carolina	$43,589	$21
   17	Florida	$42,615	$20
   18	Tennessee	$42,401	$20
   19	Michigan	$41,834	$20
   20	Idaho	$41,814	$20

   Average truck technician salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	National Grid plc	$60,664	$29.17
   2	Nikola Motor	$59,087	$28.41
   3	Stewart & Stevenson	$58,274	$28.02
   4	PACCAR	$55,591	$26.73	8
   5	Ring Power Cat	$52,120	$25.06	32
   6	Roehl Transport	$52,011	$25.01	5,475
   7	Construction Services Company	$51,801	$24.90
   8	Brubacher	$51,020	$24.53	4
   9	FIRST	$50,981	$24.51
   10	Progressive Auto Group	$50,784	$24.42	5
   11	Clean Harbors	$50,555	$24.31	248
   12	NMC	$50,315	$24.19	6
   13	Safety-Kleen	$50,169	$24.12	3
   14	Peterson Holding	$49,909	$23.99	18
   15	Casella Waste Systems	$49,060	$23.59	102
   16	Bruce Transportation Group	$48,042	$23.10
   17	Waste Connections	$47,395	$22.79	185
   18	First Transit	$46,210	$22.22
   19	LAUNCH Technical Workforce Solutions	$46,072	$22.15	5
   20	Bradley-Morris	$45,863	$22.05

4. Writing a truck technician job description

   A truck technician 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. Below, you can find an example of a truck technician job description:

   Truck technician job description example

   Feld Entertainment is the worldwide leader in producing and presenting live touring family entertainment experiences that bring people together and uplift the human spirit. Properties include Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey, Monster Jam , Monster Energy Supercross, Disney On Ice, Marvel Universe LIVE!, Sesame Street Live!, Jurassic World Live Tour, Kawasaki and Spin Master. Across the brand portfolio, Feld Entertainment has entertained millions of families in more than 75 countries and on six continents. Visit feldentertainment.com for more information.
   
   Successful candidates must be fully vaccinated or be qualified for a medical or religious exemption. Proof of vaccination is required and may be submitted via the Company's secure website. Florida employees may request exemption pursuant to FL House Bill No. 1-B. Fully vaccinated is defined as 14 days after the second dose of a two dose vaccine or 14 days after the single dose of a one dose vaccine.
   
   Please note that all Mitigation Guidelines for touring employees remain in effect as do any applicable venue, local, state, and/or international requirements, rules, regulations, and/or laws in territories outside of Florida.)
   
   The Technician is responsible for maintenance and general upkeep of vehicles, and performing race team duties, as instructed by Crew Chief and Shop Management.
   
   Essential Job FunctionsPerform Race Team duties as instructed by Team Crew Chief and Shop ManagementMaintain some paperwork for assigned Monster Truck Transport Vehicle, including but not limited to, paperwork, service records, expense reports and pre-show inspection.Maintenance, service, and repairs for assigned Monster Truck and Monster Truck Transport vehicle.Perform all mechanical procedures as instructed by Team Crew Chief or Shop ManagementRepresent Feld Entertainment /Motor Sports in a professional manner at assigned events.Perform other duties as assigned by management.
   
   Job RequirementsHigh School Diploma or Equivalent.Technical degree in mechanics or a vocational certificate preferred.Demonstrated skills in mechanics and repair required.Previous mechanical experience /or a technical degree in engineering or a vocational certificate preferred.Must be task oriented to meet deadlines.Must have strong skills in team building and critical thinking.Ability to frequently bend, lift, stand, climb and reach.Ability to lift and carry up to 25 pounds, and occasionally lift and carry 75 or more pounds.Ability and willingness to work in climactic conditions of both hot and cold.International travel of up to 75% is required while performing the duties of this position.
   
   PLEASE NOTE: This position remains posted on our website year-round. We may or may not currently have an opening, but we encourage you to submit your resume now in the event one becomes available. We will keep your resume on file and contact you within a year of submitting if your skills and experience meet the job qualifications. You may be contacted via phone or email for any of our touring properties.
   Feld Entertainment is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer and a Drug Free Workplace. We are committed to providing an inclusive environment for our employees, customers, and partners worldwide. We celebrate diversity and encourage our profoundly talented workforce to express themselves proudly. Our successful business model requires different perspectives and voices so that we can create the incredible live shows we put on. Come join us and help us light up the world.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   Your first interview with truck technician 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.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   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 technician

   Once you've found the truck technician 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new truck technician. 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 truck technician?