You should be very careful about how you interview new drivers for your fleet, including making sure you ask the right questions. What you ask a driver about their background, experience, and how they do their job can tell you a lot about how well they’d fit in with your group.
So, here are the 27 best questions you should ask a truck driver when you interview them.
Landing a job as a box truck driver requires more than just an impressive resume. You need to showcase your skills, experience, work ethic, and personality during the interview.
This comprehensive guide will help you tackle some of the most common and tricky box truck driver interview questions We provide example answers as well as tips on what the employer is looking for in your responses
Why Prepare for the Interview?
Thorough preparation is key to interview success Here are some of the top reasons to get ready
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Show you’re serious about the job – Putting time into practicing shows this role matters to you.
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Reduce stress – The more prepared you are, the more relaxed and confident you’ll feel.
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Highlight your fit – You can tailor responses to show how you’re a great match for the role and company.
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Stand out from other applicants – Preparation gives you an edge over those who just wing it.
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Avoid mistakes – It lets you avoid common pitfalls and put your best foot forward.
With practice, you’ll be ready to put your skills and experience on display.
General Interview Questions
Let’s start with some of the commonly asked introductory interview questions:
What three adjectives would you use to describe yourself?
This gives you a chance to share positive personality traits and skills that make you stand out. Sample adjectives include responsible, dependable, hard-working, friendly, organized, detail-oriented, and team player. Pick words that align with qualities the role requires.
Why would you like to work for our company?
Do your research beforehand so you can highlight things that genuinely interest you about the company. Show enthusiasm for their mission, culture, values, growth potential, and industry leadership.
Are you comfortable traveling for a week or longer?
Being on the road for extended periods is often part of the job. Emphasize your flexibility, independence, and comfort with traveling frequently. Share any previous experience with long hauls or overnight trips.
Why do you think you’re right for this role?
This is your chance to explain why your skills, experience, work ethic, and interests make you an excellent fit. Tie specific requirements from the job description to your background and motivations.
How would you describe your driving record?
Highlight any clean driving awards, safe driving milestones, and your commitment to obeying traffic laws. Share that you have a valid commercial driver’s license (CDL) and are insurable. If you do have violations, own up to them and the lessons you learned.
Questions About Your CDL and Driving Experience
Employers want to ensure applicants have the proper licensing, training, and experience:
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Do you have a valid CDL? What class and endorsements do you have?
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How long have you held your CDL?
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Can you describe your experience inspecting vehicles and checking systems like lights, tires, brakes etc.?
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What types of trucks have you driven, including size and configuration?
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How many miles/years of commercial driving experience do you have? What routes did you primarily handle?
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Are you experienced driving box trucks in urban areas as well as on highways?
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What do you do on a daily basis to ensure your truck is safe to drive?
For these questions, don’t just confirm if you have a license or experience. Provide details to showcase your qualifications, knowledge, and commitment to safety.
Behavioral and Situational Interview Questions
Many box truck driver interview questions focus on behavioral competencies and situational scenarios:
Describe a time you had to drive in hazardous weather conditions. How did you ensure safety?
They want to know you can adapt your driving and make smart decisions in bad weather. Emphasize safe driving practices like slowing down, increasing distance between vehicles, and pulling over if necessary.
Give an example of when you had to resolve a conflict with a coworker. How did you handle it?
Share a story demonstrating your communication skills, patience, and how you maintain professionalism even when faced with interpersonal challenges. Emphasize a constructive resolution.
Tell me about a time you missed a delivery deadline. What actions did you take?
Explain the circumstances that led to the delay. Then highlight your accountability, time management, and problem-solving abilities in how you handled the situation and got things back on track.
Describe a time you had to handle multiple deliveries with a tight deadline. How did you prioritize?
Share how you organized the tasks, managed your time, kept calm under pressure, communicated with dispatch, and ultimately ensured you met the deadline successfully.
Have you responded to a roadside emergency while on the job? What was the situation and how did you handle it?
Showcase how you take charge in an emergency, while following safety protocols. Share any medical, mechanical, or crash-related emergencies you have successfully dealt with.
Preparing examples from your past experience will help you smoothly address situational and behavioral interview questions.
Questions About Customer Service
People skills are a big part of the job. Expect questions like:
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How do you provide excellent customer service as a delivery driver?
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What techniques do you use to establish rapport with customers?
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Tell me about a time you had to handle an angry or upset customer. How did you respond?
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Have you received any customer service awards or positive feedback from your past roles?
Show you understand the importance of representing the company professionally. Share your approach to building connections, communicating effectively, and resolving issues with grace even when dealing with difficult personalities.
Questions About Safety
Safety is paramount for truck driving roles. Common questions include:
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What precautions or safety protocols do you follow on the job?
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Have you received any safe driving awards or had any accidents?
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How do you ensure safe operation of your vehicle and compliance with regulations?
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What steps would you take if your vehicle broke down in an unsafe location?
Use these questions to demonstrate your safety knowledge, vigilance, and responsible attitude. Provide examples of how you put safety first, follow protocols, and make smart decisions on the road.
Asking Insightful Questions
Towards the end of the interview, you will usually have a chance to ask your own questions. Prepare at least 2-3 thoughtful queries such as:
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What are the most important skills or qualities you look for in drivers?
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How does this role contribute to the company’s business objectives?
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What training opportunities are available for professional development?
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What are some of the challenges facing the logistics team right now and how can drivers help address them?
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How is performance measured and reviewed for drivers?
Asking smart questions shows your engagement in the role and company, while also helping you gather information to evaluate the position.
How to Prepare for the Box Truck Driver Interview
Here are some tips to ensure effective preparation:
Research the company – Go beyond just knowing what they do. Understand their mission, values, culture, organizational structure, and any major initiatives.
Practice aloud – Actually vocalizing your answers out loud is the best way to prepare. It helps you organize your thoughts.
Highlight transferable skills – Focus on skills from past jobs or education that apply, even if the roles were not driving-related.
Review commonly asked questions – Being familiar with likely questions takes away some of the surprise factor.
Prepare examples ahead of time – Having stories ready about when you solved a problem, dealt with a conflict, or provided great customer service makes it easier to respond smoothly.
Anticipate curveballs – No preparation can cover every eventuality but think of some tough or offbeat questions that may arise and have an approach for answering.
Know your resume – Refresh yourself on dates, responsibilities, and achievements from your work history and education so you can discuss comfortably.
Prepare questions to ask – This is your chance to show enthusiasm and gather useful insights about the company.
With the right preparation, you can highlight your talents and qualifications when interviewing for box truck driver openings. Use these common questions and example answers to get ready for success. Show them you have exactly what it takes to excel in keeping their trucks – and business – moving.
On-the-Job Truck Driver Interview Questions
Beyond general questions, you’ll want to ask the candidate how they handle work-related problems. The answers will give you a glimpse into how the candidate works through challenges and makes decis.
You could ask the person for specific examples of how they handled a tough situation at a previous job. Here are some other options:
- When was the last time you messed up at work? How did you handle it?
- Tell me about a time when your job caused you stress, and if you can, give an example of a truck driver.
- What do you do or would you do to keep yourself going on long drives?
- Can you tell me about a time when something unexpected happened at work, like a sudden mechanical breakdown?
- What skills and abilities do you have that make you a good fit for the job?
- What is one of your greatest successes on the job?
General Truck Driver Interview Questions
As you learn more about the person you’re interviewing and how well they fit the job, you can ask them more general questions.
You can learn a lot by asking about their background and why they applied for this position:
- What makes you think you’d be a good fit for this job?
- Why do you want to work for [company name]?
- Are you comfortable with the travel demands of the job?
- What skills and credentials do you have that make you fit to be a CDL driver?
- Do you have any special licenses or certifications?
- What’s your driving record like? Are there any accidents or tickets on it?
- What are three words you would use to describe yourself?
- What strengths would you bring to this truck driver job?
- Can you describe your career path plans?
People might feel a little awkward being asked some of these questions, like about their driving record, but that’s not the point. How the candidate answers a question about a past violation will show how honest they are and how willing they are to be responsible.
Truck Driver Job Interview Questions And Answers
FAQ
How to prepare for a truck driver interview?
Why should you hire me as a truck driver?
What is box truck skill?
How do you answer a box truck interview question?
Driving a box truck can involve long distances, so the interviewer wants to know if you’re comfortable with this. If you have experience driving long distances, share your strategies for staying alert and focused on the road. If you don’t have much experience driving long distances, explain how you would handle it.
What questions do employers ask a box truck driver?
Employers may ask this question to learn more about your experience operating a box truck. They want drivers who are comfortable with the size of their fleet vehicles and can operate them safely. In your answer, share what you have learned about operating large trucks in the past.
Is a box truck driver a good job?
If you’re looking for a job that involves a lot of driving, the box truck driver position may be a good fit for you. As a box truck driver, you’ll transport goods to and from businesses and warehouses. This job can be physically demanding, so make sure you’re prepared to answer some questions about your ability to do the job.
How do you answer a truck driver interview question?
Describe one of your greatest successes as a truck driver. In-depth interview questions help an employer learn more about your truck driving strategies and how you may approach a variety of professional situations. They often address industry-specific knowledge and can allow you to demonstrate your expertise.
