How to hire a trucking contractor

How to hire a trucking contractor, step by step

Here's a step-by-step trucking contractor hiring guide:

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

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a trucking contractor, 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

   You should also consider the ideal background you'd like them a trucking contractor to have before you start to hire. For example, what industry or field would you like them to have experience in, what level of seniority or education does the job require, and how much it'll cost to hire a trucking contractor that fits the bill.

   The following list breaks down different types of trucking contractors and their corresponding salaries.

   Type of Trucking Contractor	Description	Hourly rate
   Trucking Contractor		$34-61
   Fleet Manager	A fleet manager is responsible for monitoring the delivery processes, including the maintenance and registration of delivery vehicles, recruiting delivery drivers, and regularly inspecting the vehicle's engine to boost optimal performance for efficient deliveries. Fleet managers purchase the vehicles, negotiating contracts with trusted manufacturers, and try to keep minimal costs without compromising quality... Show more	$14-37
   Airport Manager	An airport manager oversees all of an airport's activities. They are responsible for managing flights, communicating with all pilots on takeoff and landing, coordinating airport employees, and ensuring passengers' comfort... Show more	$13-29

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • DOT
   • Mechanical Safety

   Responsibilities:

   • Maintain fleet of semi-trucks -Responsible daily operations -supervise sub-contractors
   • Collaborate with management to develop and implement accounting and operational processes and controls to allow for efficient operations and GAAP compliance.
   • Receive BFE in, labele parts work road blocks find missing parts, perform audits and pull BFE parts for shipsets
   • Maintain fleet of semi-trucks -Responsible daily operations -supervise sub-contractors

3. Make a budget

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

   • Location. For example, trucking contractors' average salary in north dakota is 38% less than in florida.
   • Seniority. Entry-level trucking contractors 44% less than senior-level trucking contractors.
   • Certifications. A trucking contractor 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 trucking contractor's salary.

   Average trucking contractor salary

   $96,774yearly

   $46.53 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level trucking contractor salary

   $72,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

4. Writing a trucking contractor job description

   A job description for a trucking contractor 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 trucking contractor job description:

   Trucking contractor job description example

   Drive with NOW Courier and earn great money as an independent contractor. Get paid weekly by making deliveries within the community for one of our customers. With work available between Monday - Saturday, 6:00 AM - 5:00 PM , you'll have opportunities to earn an income that matches your desired lifestyle and goals . The more you drive, the more you can earn.

   16' Box Truck or larger vehicles are required for this type of work! It's ideal for those looking for full time opportunity.

   Opportunity Snapshot:

   • Preferred vehicle : 16' Box Truck or larger
   • Type of work : Direct Delivery
   • Coverage area : Alexandria, Anderson, Gas City, Marion, Middletown, Muncie, Upland, and Yorktown
   • Average miles : 180 per day
   • Availability : Monday - Saturday, 6:00 AM - 5:00 PM
   • Classification : Independent contractor
   • Additional work : Interested in working more? List your availability on the application. We'll match you to needed work!
   • Commission : $200 per day + Fuel Surcharge

   The more you drive, the more you can earn.

   Wait! Is this opportunity not a good fit? View our other openings at nowcourier.com/drivenow

   Requirements

   As an industry leader, maintaining a fleet of professional drivers is a top priority. Qualified applicants must own a vehicle no more than 10 years old, be at least 21 years of age, own a smartphone that can run our driver app, valid driver's license and insurance, and pass a driver screening, which reviews your driving history and criminal background check. View more at nowcourier.com/start.

   Benefits

   Earn great money : The more you drive, the more you earn.
   

   Flexible opportunities : Additional opportunities may be available for extra income.

   Sound guidance : Access to dedicated advisors - no experience required!

   Get paid weekly : Get payments deposited into your bank account weekly.

   Discounted services : Keep more money in your pocket; includes automotive, legal, financial, & other services*.

   Health & wellness : Medical, dental, and vision insurance options available for you and your family*.

   Work for an industry leader : NOW Courier, an award-winning company, responds faster and offers more efficient solutions than our competition, utilizing seven strategic locations and 500 drivers serving Indiana and surrounding states.

   *Via third-party partner

   
   

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find trucking contractors for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any trucking contractors they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level trucking contractors with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit trucking contractors, 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 trucking contractor

   Once you've selected the best trucking contractor candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the 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.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new trucking contractor. 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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