How to hire light truck drivers
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Inspect and maintain vehicle supplies and equipment, such as gas, oil, water, tires, lights, or brakes, to ensure that vehicles are in proper working condition. • Load and unload trucks, vans, or automobiles. • Maintain records, such as vehicle logs, records of cargo, or billing statements, in accordance with regulations. • Obey traffic laws and follow established traffic and transportation procedures. • Present bills and receipts and collect payments for goods delivered or loaded. • Read maps and follow written or verbal geographic directions. • Report any mechanical problems encountered with vehicles. • Verify the contents of inventory loads against shipping papers. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: High school diploma or equivalent] • Strong active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension, speaking and critical thinking skills • Working knowledge of English Language • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $21.57 an hour ($44,860 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for light truck drivers
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to inspect and maintain vehicle supplies and equipment, such as gas, oil, water, tires, lights, or brakes, to ensure that vehicles are in proper working condition. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to load and unload trucks, vans, or automobiles. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to maintain records, such as vehicle logs, records of cargo, or billing statements, in accordance with regulations. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to obey traffic laws and follow established traffic and transportation procedures. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- How do you keep track of your own work quality during a busy shift or week? Give an example of catching a problem early.
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What light truck drivers do
- Inspect and maintain vehicle supplies and equipment, such as gas, oil, water, tires, lights, or brakes, to ensure that vehicles are in proper working condition.
- Load and unload trucks, vans, or automobiles.
- Maintain records, such as vehicle logs, records of cargo, or billing statements, in accordance with regulations.
- Obey traffic laws and follow established traffic and transportation procedures.
- Present bills and receipts and collect payments for goods delivered or loaded.
- Read maps and follow written or verbal geographic directions.
- Report any mechanical problems encountered with vehicles.
- Verify the contents of inventory loads against shipping papers.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for light truck drivers
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: Up to 1 month (O*NET)
- Training on the job: Short-term on-the-job training (BLS)
- Job outlook: +6.3% over ten years, faster than average · about 107,200 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay light truck drivers
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $57,190 |
| District of Columbia | $49,330 |
| Washington | $49,070 |
| Minnesota | $48,880 |
| Colorado | $48,410 |
| Mississippi | $38,140 |
| South Carolina | $37,680 |
| Arkansas | $37,080 |
See light truck drivers pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
- Driver/Sales Workers
- Couriers and Messengers
- Shuttle Drivers and Chauffeurs
- Taxi Drivers
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
- Railroad Conductors and Yardmasters
- Cargo and Freight Agents
- Postal Service Mail Carriers
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.