CDL truck driver phone screen questions
Driver screens are mostly compliance and fit: license class, endorsements, record, and whether the route type matches what the driver wants. Drivers apply from the road, so a screen they can do from a truck stop wins.
Eight questions, and what to listen for
Ask them in this order. The first two sort the pool; the middle ones show judgment; the last ones settle logistics before anyone books an interview.
- 1
What class of CDL do you hold, and which endorsements?
Listen for: Class A or B plus endorsements (Hazmat, tanker, doubles/triples). Match to the freight.
- 2
How many years of verifiable commercial driving experience do you have, and with what equipment?
Listen for: Years plus equipment: dry van, reefer, flatbed, tanker. Most insurers require a minimum; ask for the number.
- 3
In the last three years, any moving violations, preventable accidents, or license suspensions?
Listen for: An honest, specific answer. The MVR will show it anyway; you are testing candor.
- 4
Are you looking for OTR, regional, or local? How many nights away from home per week are you okay with?
Listen for: A clear preference. Mismatched home time is the top reason drivers quit in the first 90 days.
- 5
Are you able to pass a DOT physical and pre-employment drug screen?
Listen for: A plain yes.
- 6
Tell me about a time you had a delivery problem on the road. What did you do?
Listen for: Communication with dispatch, judgment, and safety over schedule.
- 7
Do you have experience with ELDs and the current hours-of-service rules?
Listen for: Familiarity with electronic logging and the 11/14/70 rules. Newer drivers may need training; note it.
- 8
When can you start, and do you need to give notice?
Listen for: A date.
Red flags on the call
- Vague about endorsements or record
- Wants local but applied to OTR (or the reverse)
- Cannot describe equipment they have driven
- Unwilling to confirm DOT physical or drug screen
Keep it short
Five questions, four to six minutes. CDL truck driver candidates are usually applying to several jobs at once; a screen they can finish between shifts gets finished. Save the deeper questions for the interview, where the candidate has already answered these once.
Never ask about age, health, family, religion, or national origin, and do not follow up if a candidate volunteers them.
Run this exact screen for every CDL truck driver who applies
Create a role in PhoneScreen with these five questions, share the link, and every candidate gets the same screen the moment they call. You read the scorecards. First 10 screens are free.
- 1What class of CDL do you hold, and which endorsements?
- 2How many years of verifiable commercial driving experience do you have, and with what equipment?
- 3In the last three years, any moving violations, preventable accidents, or suspensions?
- 4Are you looking for OTR, regional, or local, and how much home time do you need?
- 5Are you able to pass a DOT physical and pre-employment drug screen, and when could you start?
Common questions
Drivers rarely answer calls. How does a phone screen reach them? +
They call you. The apply link shows a number; drivers call from a rest stop when they are off the clock, and the screen starts immediately. No scheduling, no voicemail tag.
Can results go to our recruiting system? +
Yes. Scorecards post to your ATS through a webhook or the API, with your driver id attached.
Screening for trucking companies · More roles: forklift operator, caregiver, line cook, restaurant server, cashier and retail associate, warehouse associate · Why the same questions for everyone