How to hire a trucker

How to hire a trucker, step by step

Here's a step-by-step trucker hiring guide:

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

Post a trucker job for free, promote it for a fee

Post free

1. Identify your hiring needs

   The trucker 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

   A trucker's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, truckers 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 presents trucker salaries for various positions.

   Type of Trucker	Description	Hourly rate
   Trucker	Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. Others feed or remove material to and from machines, clean vehicles, pick up unwanted household goods, and pack materials for moving.	$11-22
   Stage Hand	Stagehands are skilled employees who work in the television, film, or theatre to assist other crew members set up the sound, lighting, and other equipment as well as helping performers change into their costumes. These employees are required to hang banners, update marquees, and handle other signage within the venue as it is important for any production... Show more	$12-23
   Material Handler	Material handlers are responsible for moving products, storing items, and managing supplies to proper shelf categories. A material handler also documents deliveries and ensures that all items for shipment are correct and free of any damage... Show more	$12-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Safety Procedures
   • Inventory Control
   • DOT
   • Unload Trucks

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage fuel process in compliance with opti stop and DCI objectives.
   • Operate all wheel vehicles and equipment over vary terrain and roadways for support of combat operations.
   • Prepare pallets by following prescribe stacking arrangement and properly tagging pallets.
   • Pass out PPE as needed by workers.

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, truckers' average salary in alabama is 52% less than in north dakota.
   • Seniority. Entry-level truckers 51% less than senior-level truckers.
   • Certifications. A trucker 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 trucker's salary.

   Average trucker salary

   $15.87hourly

   $33,013 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level trucker salary

   $23,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

4. Writing a trucker job description

   A job description for a trucker 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 trucker job description:

   Trucker job description example

   Imagine...working for a company that knows that its people are the key to its success in the marketplace. A company in which achieving extraordinary results and having a stimulating work experience are part of the same process.
   
   We cultivate and embrace a diverse employee population. We recognize that people with diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives fuel our growth and enrich our global culture.
   
   We are looking for an individual who enjoys working in a fast-paced, team oriented environment, likes to be challenged, and values the opportunity to make a difference.
   
   The Truck Jockey, under the general supervision of a Warehouse Supervisor, is responsible for the safe and efficient moving of tractor-trailers in the yard. This individual is also responsible for safely and efficiently handling the finished products.
   
   Demonstrates the ability to operate the following equipment in a safe and knowledgeable manner: tractor/trailer trucks, straight body trucks, forklifts, floor jacks, and pallet jacks.Operates in a safe and knowledgeable manner tractor/trailer trucks and straight body trucks to and from shipping and receiving dock areas. May be required to drive straight body trucks to other locations.Performs all DOT and/or Company required pre-trip safety inspections and maintains logs & records as appropriate. Keeps a daily record including trip reports and trailer yard inventory.Maintains exterior of all dock areas. Included is occasionally sweeping and removal of debris, removal of snow and ice as necessary, an inspection of trailer restraints, an inspection of exterior dock equipment, including but not limited to, dock shelters, dock enclosures, dock bumpers, lighting, painting, etc.Responsible for inspection of the tail end of drop trailer loads to ensure products are properly secured prior to closing doors, affixing trailer seal on rear doors of drop trailer loads, and corrects discrepancies immediately. Practices and adheres to appropriate safety and hygiene guidelines/procedures for safe housekeeping and personal protection; keeps work area clean; stores supplies in designated areas; identifies/reports defective equipment; reports all job-related injuries to supervision.Performs other job-related projects (including but not limited to inventory control and/or order management activities at the warehouse) duties and assignments as directed by warehouse supervision.May be responsible for placing paperwork (bill of lading, etc.) on dropped trailers.Assists in product transfer from the warehouse racks to the trucks when necessary.Maintains general housekeeping duties, sweeps floors, retrieves pallets and distributes to proper locations; performs light maintenance.May perform other duties as required.Scope of Responsibility:Must take full responsibility for the proper storage, location, safety, and cleanliness of equipment. Maintains a valid driver's license with a good driving record.Work as a team to cover vacations and other absent time across shifts. Maintain the outside dock areas in a clean and orderly fashion. Knowledge and Skill Requirements:Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals. Ability to write routine reports and correspondence. Ability to communicate effectively.Must be able to operate material handling equipment.Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
   Education and Experience:
   High School Diploma or GED and/or 1-year production experience in a manufacturing environment required.
   Professional Licenses or Certifications:
   DOT Medical CardDriver's license
   
   Physical Demands:
   While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear (wear radio). Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear, and use hands to finger, handle, or feel. The employee is frequently required to sit, stand, and walk. The employee must occasionally stoop or kneel.
   Weight:Up to 10 lbs.: Occasionally Up to 25 lbs.: Occasionally Up to 50 lbs.: OccasionallyUp to 100 lbs.: Seldom/Never More than 100 lbs.: Seldom/Never
   Work Environment:
   The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. The employee is sometimes exposed to wet and/or humid conditions. The employee is occasionally exposed to high, precarious places; fumes or airborne particles; toxic or caustic chemicals; outside weather conditions; and extreme heat.
   
   ACR
   
   The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity for employees and applicants in all aspects of the employment relationship, without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law.
   
   In that regard, U.S. applicants and employees are protected from discrimination based on certain categories protected by Federal law. Click here for additional information.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right trucker 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 truckers they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit truckers 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 trucker job on Zippia to find and recruit trucker 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 truckers, 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.

   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 trucker

   Once you've decided on a perfect trucker 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.

   It's equally important to follow up with applicants who don't get the job with an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   Once that's done, you can draft an onboarding schedule for the new trucker. 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.)

   Sign up to download full list

   Sign up

How much does it cost to hire a trucker?