Free Sample Truck Driver Contract Template

 To help you grow your business, we have created a fairly simple yet reliable truck driver contract template in Word and PDF versions so you can use it over and over.

What is a truck driver contract?

A trucker independent contractor contract is a document that legally binds a contractor and their client to an employment agreement. 

Generally speaking, truckers are hired to transport goods from one facility to another or from a seller to a buyer. A clear description of the tasks that the contractor is required to perform should be provided in the work agreement. 

In addition, the amount and method of payment should also be described, as well as the expenses that the client will cover. The contract can be designed to allow the contractor to hire additional subcontracted truck drivers or to require them to perform the truck driving duties themselves. As part of the agreement, all vehicles and equipment must be provided by the contractor. Some agreements may also require the contractor to have auto insurance and liability insurance before accepting the job.

What is a truck driver?

A truck driver is someone who transports goods and products for various customers. In fact, he is responsible for warehousing and transporting a variety of products across several regions. This job requires great responsibility as the truck driver is the retailer, shipper and carrier of all products. He must ensure that all products arrive safely in the best conditions.

To become a truck driver, you must have a license. You must also have a minimum of three years of experience, and have passed the qualification tests to obtain this diploma.

It is possible to obtain this diploma from the National Institute of Transport Certification. But don't forget that the couses are not your responsibility, they are paid by the government.

In order to earn a truck driver's license, you will need to pass physical and psychological tests. They determine if you are fit to drive a vehicle over 44 kg.

Why would I use a transport contract?

Regardless of the type of work you will be doing as a commercial trucker, a trucking contract is always recommended. You can choose to enter into a trucking contract due to the fact that it offers the following list of benefits:

• The duration of the commitment is agreed

• Truck driver and customer understand their responsibilities

• Both parties know when invoicing will occur

Ultimately, if you and/or the customer decide not to sign a trucking contract, you may not have any of the protections that come with having a trucking contract in place.

The tariffs of a transport contract

A transport contract also defines the rates that will be applied to the transport of goods. Several factors can influence the total price of your transport:

The distance and number of kilometers traveled to deliver the goods

The round trip mileage, that is to say the number of kilometers that must be traveled to pick up the goods and to return to the base.

Remember that if you want to transport the goods within a specific time, you have to arrive at the airport or sea terminal on time, or be able to deliver the goods on time to the customer.

To establish the price of your transport, it is necessary to take into account all these factors. Another important factor is the availability of trucks and drivers.

Important Terms

What information should I cover in a trucking contract?

You may want to prepare the following details for the trucking contract:

• Name and address of your client

• What work you will do once hired

• How much will it cost and when payment is due

• How long will the engagement last

As you would expect with an agreement like this, your truck driver contract will also include the typical language regarding the non-employer relationship between the carrier and the cargo owner, confidentiality, compensation and finally dispute resolution. When entering into your agreement, you can also choose the state jurisdiction to which it will be subject. With the document tool, you can add other custom edits, if needed.

What should be included in a truck driver contract?

Introduction : - Truck driving is a big business in this country with many large trucking companies and also much smaller companies. This is how we as a nation transport goods, cars, milk, eggs…almost everything in bulk. Therefore, it is imperative that your employees are qualified to take on such responsibility with the required safety and knowledge. 

This contract, while quite broad in nature (allowing you to change requirements within the company instead of changing all contracts), will help you find a responsible trucker with confidence that all aspects of the job are Covered.

Key points :

• As the business owner, you will need to know ALL laws, regulations and/or government guidelines for the trucking industry. You are responsible for training your driver/employee on the laws. The truck driver should have training in this regard; however, it is imperative that your company has an employee handbook or other method outlining the rules, regulations, guidelines, etc. specific to follow.

• Keep track of deadlines for when a medical exam is due for each truck driving employee. It is imperative that these are passed successfully in addition to not being done in a delinquent manner as this could lead to legal issues should an incident occur.

• As you know, the transport of dangerous and/or oversized materials has special rules to follow. Make sure your trucking employees are aware of this so you don't hold the company liable for hefty fines.

• Be specific if the type of work will be long or shorter distances, as this can be an important consideration for truckers as to what type of work they are open to, and if they can handle both options, this can make a difference. them a stronger candidate. if it offers more flexibility to your business.

Useful information: 

It is imperative that you seek the advice of an insurance professional with experience in the commercial vehicle industry, and possibly trucking, to ensure that you and your employees have adequate coverage and sufficient. Even a small incident could be very costly – in terms of material and lives. An incident involving hazardous materials could be twice as serious. Be well insured. 

You will also want to make sure that you have adequate workers compensation coverage as well. You might end up hiring full-time employees or independent contractors depending on the type of business you run and the availability of full-time truckers and independent contractors in your area. In some cases, they may have their own truck, or it may be something you provide in the trucking contract.

Truck maintenance should be of utmost importance. Again, due to the nature of the business, a small problem could turn into a life-changing circumstance.

Make sure any truck driver has the proper licenses, whether they are a full-time, part-time, or self-employed truck driver. CDL Class A, Class B, etc., depending on your business requirements.

Signatures: 

A secure method of getting an agreement signed is online. The online signatures of the parties are legally binding. It's a convenient way to speed up the process and take the stress out of you and the client.