How to hire a warehouse/driver

How to hire a warehouse/driver, step by step

Here's a step-by-step warehouse/driver hiring guide:

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

What does a warehouse/driver do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a warehouse/driver, 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

   A warehouse/driver's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, warehouse/drivers 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 warehouse/drivers.

   Type of Warehouse/Driver	Description	Hourly rate
   Warehouse/Driver	Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers pick up, transport, and drop off packages and small shipments within a local region or urban area. They drive trucks with a gross vehicle weight (GVW)—the combined weight of the vehicle, passengers, and cargo—of 26,000 pounds or less... Show more	$12-19
   Material Handler/Warehouse	A warehouse material handler is responsible for assisting warehouse operations, moving merchandise from one place to another, labeling products, performing quality check procedures, packaging goods, and loading and unloading items from distribution vehicles. Warehouse material handlers operate warehouse tools and equipment for production, as well as ensuring the adequacy of stock inventory needed for orders and deliveries... Show more	$12-18
   Delivery Driver/Warehouse	A warehouse delivery driver is responsible for transporting goods and services from the warehouse to different assigned locations. Warehouse delivery drivers record the inventory materials receipt before and after delivery to ensure the merchandise's correct quantity and quality... Show more	$12-19

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Customer Service
   • Math
   • Basic Math
   • CDL
   • Cleanliness
   • Pallets
   • Delivery Truck
   • Load Trucks
   • Safety Regulations
   • Customer Orders
   • Electric Pallet Jack
   • Pickup
   • HVAC
   • Warehouse

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Load unload trucks deliver water with box truck CDL.
   • Load truck with appropriate product and deliver accordingly, return to warehouse for receiving and other warehouse duties including monthly inventory.
   • Sort packages by region, deliver packages to customers, handle cash-on-delivery payments, process business pickups, utilize DIAD board technology

   More warehouse/driver duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the warehouse/driver job description is a good way to get more applicants. A warehouse/driver salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a warehouse/driver in West Virginia may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level warehouse/driver. Additionally, a warehouse/driver with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average warehouse/driver salary

   $16.35hourly

   $34,000 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level warehouse/driver salary

   $27,000 yearly salary

   Updated January 23, 2026

   Average warehouse/driver salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	Washington	$41,061	$20
   2	Oregon	$39,350	$19
   3	Illinois	$38,885	$19
   4	California	$38,290	$18
   5	Massachusetts	$37,868	$18
   6	Colorado	$37,659	$18
   7	Utah	$35,319	$17
   8	Nebraska	$35,147	$17
   9	New York	$34,652	$17
   10	Arizona	$34,151	$16
   11	Kansas	$34,064	$16
   12	Wisconsin	$33,842	$16
   13	Missouri	$33,099	$16
   14	Michigan	$33,018	$16
   15	Tennessee	$31,573	$15
   16	Oklahoma	$31,132	$15
   17	North Carolina	$30,957	$15
   18	Indiana	$30,560	$15
   19	Virginia	$30,421	$15
   20	Texas	$30,261	$15

   Average warehouse/driver salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	Bunge	$42,406	$20.39	5
   2	Dairy Farmers of America	$40,288	$19.37	28
   3	Target	$40,071	$19.26	18
   4	NBCUniversal	$38,540	$18.53	3
   5	Staples	$38,508	$18.51	79
   6	Ashley HomeStore	$37,939	$18.24	25
   7	UPS	$37,241	$17.90	71
   8	Greif	$37,121	$17.85	5
   9	Bob's Red Mill	$37,108	$17.84	2
   10	Amcor	$36,810	$17.70	32
   11	Applied Industrial Technologies	$36,726	$17.66	11
   12	The Eagle	$36,652	$17.62	1
   13	Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc.	$36,589	$17.59	3
   14	KONE	$36,510	$17.55	5
   15	E. & J. Gallo Winery	$36,474	$17.54
   16	U.S. Venture	$36,295	$17.45	52
   17	BakeMark	$36,256	$17.43	25
   18	Johnson Matthey Plc	$36,216	$17.41
   19	Sysco	$36,210	$17.41	122
   20	Hudson Group	$36,181	$17.39

4. Writing a warehouse/driver job description

   A job description for a warehouse/driver 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 warehouse/driver job description:

   Warehouse/driver job description example

   Job DescriptionOpen your future to incredible career potential. Work for an industry-leader who invests in their people.
   Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits is North America’s preeminent wine and spirits distributor , as well as a family-owned, privately held company with a 50+ year legacy of success. We were named by Newsweek as a Most Loved Workplace and are included on the Forbes lists for Largest Private Companies and Best Employers for Diversity.
   
   Southern Glazer’s offers a competitive compensation package with a pay rate of $25.00 / hour plus incentives. In determining a final offer, the company will evaluate a specific candidate's education, skills and experience and will make an offer appropriately. Visit our website Requisition # 12030!
   
   As a full-time employee, you can choose from a full menu of our Top Shelf Benefits, including comprehensive medical and prescription drug coverage, dental and vision plans, tax-saving Flexible Spending Accounts, disability coverage, life insurance plans, and a 401(k) plan. We also offer tuition reimbursement, a wellness program, parental leave, vacation accrual, paid sick leave, and more.
   
   At Southern Glazer’s, you’ll enjoy an environment where continuous learning and growth are supported and experience a culture where you are respected, and your voice is heard. If you’re looking to fill your glass with opportunity, come join our FAMILY.
   
   Overview The Distribution Driver Class A is responsible for delivering products to clients; inspect general condition of vehicle; prepare, load, unload, operate, and clean vehicle including following all safety precautions in accordance with SGWS and Department of Transportation (DOT) guidelines. Review standing orders, develop sales, process payments, and maintain records.
   
   Primary Responsibilities Deliver statewide products to bars, restaurants, hotels, or other customer locations Perform daily pre-trip and post-trip inspections on vehicle Receive payment for goods delivered Sort merchandise by invoice for delivery Adhere to safe and courteous operation of delivery vehicle at all times Check in money and returned goods daily with Driver Check-in & Accounting Cashier Complete all required paperwork daily, including Department of Transportation logbook and driver vehicle inspection report (DVIR) Report to work in adherence to company uniform standards (e.g., neat, clean, and properly attired) Adhere to all Safety regulations, and perform all duties in a safe manner Plan trip logistics and obtain necessary documents to transport goods Load and unloaded cargo make sure safety equipment is being utilized Ensure cargo is secured properly compliant with safety requirements Report any incidents to dispatcher Follow/adhere to all traffic laws Maintain vehicle, product, and equipment tidy and in good working order Perform other related duties as assigned
   Additional Primary Responsibilities
   
   Minimum Qualifications 1 year of experience Must be Department of Transportation (DOT) certified Class A Commercial Driver s License required
   Physical Demands Physical demands include a considerable amount of time walking, bending, reaching, standing, squatting, and stooping Additional hours may be required during October, November, and December and other peak periods Capable of working flexible hours which could include overnight, early morning, and/or late evening May require lifting/lowering, pushing, carrying, or pulling up to 56lbs

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit warehouse/drivers, 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. 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 warehouse/driver

   Once you've selected the best warehouse/driver 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 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.

   To prepare for the new warehouse/driver 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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