CDL Truck Driver Screening Interview Template

What class of CDL do you hold (A, B, or C), and what endorsements are on your license (Hazmat, Tanker, Doubles/Triples, Passenger)? Is your license active and free of restrictions?

What this assesses: Confirms eligibility for specific loads and routes, since endorsements directly determine which freight the candidate can be submitted for.

How many years have you been driving commercially, and what types of routes have you run — OTR, regional, dedicated, or local? Which do you prefer going forward?

What this assesses: Establishes experience depth and route preferences, which drive placement match quality and reduce churn after the candidate starts.

Are there any accidents, moving violations, or DOT-recordable incidents in the last three to five years that would show up on your MVR? When was your most recent MVR pulled?

What this assesses: Surfaces driving record issues early, before submitting to a carrier whose insurance underwriting requirements will reject the candidate.

Is your DOT medical card current, and when does it expire? Have you ever failed or refused a DOT drug or alcohol test, or had a positive test in the FMCSA Clearinghouse?

What this assesses: Verifies the candidate is currently DOT-qualified and screens for Clearinghouse hits that would disqualify them at most carriers.

What equipment have you driven — manual versus automatic transmission, sleeper versus day cab, dry van, reefer, flatbed, tanker? Are there any equipment types you are not comfortable with?

What this assesses: Matches the candidate to carriers running compatible equipment, especially important for manual transmission and specialized trailers like flatbed or tanker.

Walk me through your experience with Hours of Service and ELDs. Which ELD systems have you used, and how do you plan trips to stay compliant?

What this assesses: Tests practical knowledge of HOS rules and ELD operation, which is now baseline for any modern CDL placement.

Tell me about a time something went wrong on a run — a breakdown, a weather delay, a difficult shipper or receiver. How did you handle it and how did you communicate with dispatch?

What this assesses: Reveals problem-solving, dispatch communication, and composure when things go sideways on the road.

What is your preferred home time, what pay range are you targeting, and how soon could you start orientation if a good fit comes through?

What this assesses: Captures the logistics that most often break driver placements — home time, pay, and orientation start date are the leading reasons offers fall through.