How to hire a water truck driver

How to hire a water truck driver, step by step

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

What does a water truck driver do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   Before you start hiring a water truck 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 water truck driver's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, water truck 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 water truck drivers.

   Type of Water Truck Driver	Description	Hourly rate
   Water Truck Driver	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	$16-33
   Driver Trainer	Driver trainers are instructors who teach their clients how to drive. They are often considered experts in driving, and they are credible enough to impart their driving knowledge to clients... Show more	$14-33
   CDL Driver	A CDL driver is responsible for the transportation of goods from the manufacturing warehouse to specific store locations. CDL drivers' duties include inspecting the items before and after the delivery to ensure that the orders are correct with the right quantity, providing proof of delivery from the receiving customers, following the delivery schedule and report any delays immediately, monitoring the vehicle's engine for efficiency, and escalating concerns of incorrect deliveries and defective items... Show more	$19-46

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • CDL
   • Asphalt
   • Post-Trip Inspections
   • DOT Regulations
   • Construction Sites
   • Hand Tools
   • Loaders
   • Dust Control
   • Production Water
   • Construction Projects
   • Fresh Water
   • Frac Tanks
   • Water Tanks
   • MSHA

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Utilize CDL by driving from fresh water pits, drilling rigs, frac jobs, mud farms to service clients.
   • Guide dump trucks while being fill with milling from asphalt.
   • Drive and operate water truck by watering soil cement foundation base and for asphalt.
   • Load oil .transport products using dot regulations.unload products at designate facilities.
   • Check all load documentation for accuracy, inspect load and receive required signatures for pickup and delivery.
   • Keep track of logs, miles, and bol's.

   More water truck driver duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the water truck driver job description is a good way to get more applicants. A water truck 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 water truck driver in Alabama may be lower than in North Dakota, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level water truck driver. Additionally, a water truck driver with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average water truck driver salary

   $50,440yearly

   $24.25 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level water truck driver salary

   $35,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

   Average water truck driver salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$62,535	$30
   2	Wyoming	$58,358	$28
   3	Utah	$55,761	$27
   4	Colorado	$51,337	$25
   5	Wisconsin	$50,910	$24
   6	Pennsylvania	$49,977	$24
   7	Arizona	$49,096	$24
   8	Maryland	$48,482	$23
   9	Oklahoma	$47,366	$23
   10	North Carolina	$43,480	$21
   11	Texas	$42,836	$21
   12	Florida	$39,837	$19

   Average water truck driver salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	MBI Energy Services	$53,670	$25.80
   2	Anheuser-Busch	$52,945	$25.45	11
   3	United Service Technologies	$52,818	$25.39	3
   4	Wanzek Construction	$52,476	$25.23
   5	Lehigh Hanson	$52,213	$25.10
   6	Arcosa	$51,416	$24.72	7
   7	Abci	$51,216	$24.62	1
   8	JetStream Ground Services	$51,208	$24.62
   9	Holcim	$51,170	$24.60
   10	Croell Ready Mix	$51,096	$24.57
   11	Kilgore Companies	$51,027	$24.53
   12	Milestone	$51,016	$24.53	3
   13	ABM Industries	$51,009	$24.52	144
   14	RELYANT Global	$50,908	$24.48
   15	Sun Coast Resources	$50,814	$24.43	1
   16	S.T. Wooten	$50,534	$24.30	4
   17	Ruppert Landscape	$49,571	$23.83	1
   18	MDU Resources	$49,499	$23.80
   19	Adams Construction	$49,434	$23.77
   20	Hunter Contracting	$49,149	$23.63

4. Writing a water truck driver job description

   A water truck driver 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 water truck driver job description:

   Water truck driver job description example

   Building a career at Granite may be the most valuable thing you could do...
   Are you interested in the opportunity to work for an industry-leading company that will give you the experience and exposure you need to build your career and personal brand? If so, then you've come to the right place!
   
   General Summary
   This position is responsible for safely operating a water tanker truck to transport water for use throughout job sites, drainage, and structures to control dust by spraying water on roadways or to achieve compaction of construction materials.
   
   Essential Job Accountabilities
   Filling truck with water from approved supply sources.May drive truck equipped with sprinkling attachment to settle dust on roadways and streets to saturate flexible base for compaction.Distinguish when roads are over-watered, creating unsafe operating conditions.Safety operate truck in often unstable ground conditions.Perform pre- and post-inspections on truck, pursuant to DOT regulations, company guidelines and manufacture's specifications.Maintain the equipment according to the standards set in place by the company and manufacturer's specifications. Assist crews with other tasks as required when not operating water truck.Perform other duties as required.
   
   Work Experience
   Class A or B CDL driver's license with tanker endorsement, required. Experience driving a water truck on roadway construction sites, preferred.Experience operating heavy equipment, preferred.
   
   Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
   Knowledge with DOT regulations.Ability to navigate uneven and rough terrain safely.Ability to recognize hazardous conditions.Ability to work, day, swing, and night shifts (occasionally extended hours).Ability to work in constant exposure to outside elements, in all weather conditions.Ability to work in safety sensitive construction setting, including exposure to moving machinery and heavy equipment.Ability to work collaboratively with a team in a fast-paced and complex environment.Ability to squat, crawl, and work in awkward positions/confined spaces.
   
   Physical Demands
   Physical dexterity, stamina, and excellent hand-eye coordination with ability to: grasp, assemble, and lift objects, stand, sit, and walk for extended periods over uneven surfaces, squat, bend, climb ladders onto equipment or other objects, and potentially lie down.Lifting, pushing, pulling of heavy items weighing up to 50 lbs. or more.
   
   Additional Requirements/Skills
   Comply, understand, and support corporate safety initiatives to ensure a safe work environment.Ability and willingness to abide by Granite's Code of Conduct daily.
   
   About Granite Construction IncorporatedGranite Construction Incorporated is a member of the S&P 400 Index and is the parent company of Granite Construction Company, one of the nation's largest heavy civil contractors and construction materials producers. Granite Construction is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer of Minorities, Females, Protected Veterans, Individuals with Disabilities and a Drug-Free Workplace. For additional information on applicant/employee rights please click here.Notice to Staffing AgenciesGranite Construction, Inc. and its subsidiaries ("Granite") will not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to Granite, including unsolicited resumes sent to a Granite mailing address, fax machine or email address, directly to Granite employees, or to Granite's resume database will be considered Granite property. Granite will NOT pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. Granite will consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume to have been referred by the Agency free of any charges or fees. Agencies must obtain advance written approval from Granite's recruiting function to submit resumes, and then only in conjunction with a valid fully-executed contract for service and in response to a specific job opening. Granite will not pay a fee to any Agency that does not have such agreement in place. Agency agreements will only be valid if in writing and signed by Granite's Human Resources Representative or his/ her designee. No other Granite employee is authorized to bind Granite to any agreement regarding the placement of candidates by Agencies.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   There are a few common ways to find water truck drivers for your business:

   • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
   • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
   • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.

   Post your job online:

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

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit water truck 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.

   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 water truck driver

   Once you have selected a candidate for the water truck driver position, it is time to create an offer letter. In addition to salary, the offer letter should include details about benefits and perks that are available to the employee. Ensuring your offer is competitive is vital, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and it is important to be open to discussion and reach a mutually beneficial agreement. After the offer has been accepted, it is a good idea to formalize 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.

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