Questions to Ask a Trucking Recruiter Before You Sign On

The best questions to ask a trucking recruiter are specific ones about average weekly pay, how miles are counted, real home time, equipment, and what you owe if you leave. Vague questions get sales pitches. Specific questions get answers you can compare and hold a carrier to. Use the grouped checklist below on every recruiter call, and watch for the red flags that suggest a job will not match the ad.

Key takeaways#

• Ask for averages, not maximums. What does a typical driver in this division earn and run each week?
• Get pay, mileage method, home time, and any training contract terms in writing before you travel to orientation.
• Ask how detention, layover, and breakdown pay work. They matter as much as the base rate.
• Check the carrier's safety record on FMCSA's website and ask to talk to a current driver.
• Red flags include refusing written terms, pressure to decide today, and dodging questions about turnover or contracts.

Before the call: do five minutes of homework#

A little preparation makes the conversation far more useful.

1. Know what you want. Decide on your must-haves: home time, route type, minimum weekly pay, freight type, and whether you will accept touch freight or team driving.
2. Look up the carrier's safety data. Use the FMCSA Safety Measurement System to look up the company by name or USDOT number. Look at out-of-service rates and crash history compared to similar-size fleets.
3. Check what similar jobs pay. Use live pay data so you know whether an offer is strong or weak before the recruiter frames it.
4. Have your record ready. Know your violations, accidents, and employment gaps so you can answer honestly and find out right away whether you qualify.
5. Keep notes. Write down each recruiter's name, the date, and every number they quote.

Questions about pay#

Pay is where recruiting ads and paychecks drift apart most often. For a deeper explanation of pay types, see our guide to truck driver pay structures.

• How am I paid: cents per mile, percentage, hourly, salary, or a mix?
• What is the starting rate for someone with my experience, and when and how does it increase?
• What do average drivers in this division earn per week, not top earners?
• How many paid miles does a typical driver run per week in this division?
• Are miles paid as practical miles, household goods miles, or actual hub miles?
• Is there a weekly pay guarantee? What conditions void it?
• How much is detention pay, and after how many hours does it start?
• Do you pay for extra stops, layovers, breakdowns, and hand unloads?
• Which bonuses are guaranteed, and which depend on things I do not control?
• Is there a sign-on bonus? How is it paid out, and do I have to repay it if I leave?
• When is payday, and do you offer direct deposit and advances?
• What deductions come out of each paycheck besides taxes?

Questions about miles, freight, and dispatch#

• What freight will I haul, and is it mostly drop and hook or live load?
• Is there touch freight or driver unload? If so, how is it paid?
• What does a typical week look like in terms of miles, stops, and days out?
• How are loads assigned? Is dispatch forced, or can I turn down a load?
• How much slow time or waiting do drivers on this account usually see?
• Do I have a dedicated dispatcher or driver manager, and how many drivers do they handle?
• Are there any states, cities, or regions I will run into frequently, such as the Northeast or Canada?

Questions about home time#

Home time is one of the most common reasons drivers leave a carrier, so pin it down. Our comparison of OTR, regional, and local trucking jobs explains what each schedule usually means in practice.

• How often will I actually be home, and for how long?
• Is home time guaranteed, or is it a goal?
• Where does home time start and end? At my house, a terminal, or a drop yard?
• Can I park the truck at or near my home? Is there a place to park it?
• How far in advance do I request time off, and how often are requests approved?
• What happens to my home time if a load runs late?

Questions about equipment#

• What make, model, and year of trucks will I drive?
• Are trucks automatic or manual? Are they speed governed, and at what speed?
• Do trucks have APUs or inverters, refrigerators, and in-cab cameras? Are cameras driver-facing?
• Is this a slip seat operation, or will I have an assigned truck?
• How are repairs handled on the road? Am I paid while the truck is in the shop?
• What is the company's pet and passenger policy?

Questions about benefits and costs#

• When do health, dental, and vision benefits start, and what do they cost per week?
• Is there a 401(k), and does the company match contributions?
• How much paid time off do I get, and how is it earned?
• Are there costs for uniforms, equipment, fuel card use, or escrow?
• Do you offer per diem pay, and how does it affect my taxable income?

Questions about training contracts and orientation#

This section matters most for newer drivers, especially if a carrier is paying for your CDL school.

• Is there a training or tuition agreement? What is the total amount?
• How long must I stay to satisfy it, and does the balance decrease each month?
• What do I owe if I leave early or am terminated?
• How long is orientation, and is it paid? Who covers travel, lodging, and meals?
• How long will I ride with a trainer? Am I paid during that time, and how?
• Will I be a solo driver after training, or will I be placed on a team?

Questions about safety, compliance, and culture#

• What does the hiring process check? MVR, PSP report, drug test, Clearinghouse query?
• What is your policy on accidents and violations for current drivers?
• What is your approximate driver turnover rate, and why do most drivers leave?
• Can I speak with a current driver on the account I would be hired for?
• If I report a safety concern, such as being too fatigued to drive, what happens?
• How do you handle hours of service disputes with dispatch?

Carriers must run a pre-employment query in the FMCSA Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse for CDL drivers. If you are not sure what that means for you, ask the recruiter to explain the query and consent process.

Red flags when talking to a trucking recruiter#

Not every issue is a deal breaker, but these are signs to slow down or walk away.

If a lease-purchase offer comes up, read our breakdown of owner operator vs company driver before agreeing to anything.

Green flags that suggest a good carrier#

• The recruiter volunteers average pay and miles, not just top numbers.
• You receive a written offer that matches the verbal conversation.
• The recruiter knows the specific account, not just the company in general.
• They encourage you to talk to drivers and give you time to decide.
• Detention, layover, and breakdown pay are clearly defined.
• Their safety data looks reasonable compared to similar fleets.

A printable recruiter call checklist#

Use this short version on every call:

1. Average weekly pay in this division
2. Pay type, rate, and mileage method
3. Detention, stop, and layover pay
4. Weekly miles or hours for a typical driver
5. Home time frequency and whether it is guaranteed
6. Truck type, age, and assigned vs slip seat
7. Benefits start date and weekly cost
8. Training contract amount and repayment terms
9. Paid orientation and travel coverage
10. Permission to talk to a current driver
11. All of the above in writing

Compare carriers on NovaLinx before you call#

The best recruiter conversations happen when you already know what the job should look like. On NovaLinx you can browse CDL jobs with pay, route type, and home time listed up front, and research carriers that are hiring before you pick up the phone. Drivers use NovaLinx free, and the NovaLinx app keeps job matches on your phone while you are on the road.