What Is a Truck Driver Subcontractor Agreement?
A Truck Driver Subcontractor Agreement lets a contractor hire a professional truck operator to transport goods between locations. Truck drivers must undergo extensive training and licensing to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
A contractor who does not specialize in shipping may choose to outsource shipping to a licensed truck driver rather than undergo the certification and licensing processes.
Using a subcontractor agreement for truck drivers, the contractor can ensure prompt product movement consistent with industry standards. The contractor’s client pays for the full scope of services while the contractor manages the subcontract and pays the subcontractor for its portion of the work.
Your Agreement Should Include:
- Contract date
- Name and address of the contractor
- Name and address of the trucking subcontractor
- Detailed scope of services
- Compensation, reimbursement, and invoicing terms
- Term of service
- Contract termination details
- Insurance, licensing, and certification details
- Signatures of both parties.
When to Use
Many businesses subcontract truck drivers to ship goods between manufacturers, warehouses, distribution centers, and retail establishments. Sometimes, a construction contractor will sign a subcontractor agreement to haul construction equipment and materials between sites for a specific project.
If your project requires specialty trucking services, such as moving flammable liquids, hazardous materials, or heavy equipment, you might want to subcontract a truck driver for these purposes.
Hiring Truck Driver Subcontractors
When hiring a truck driver subcontractor for your project, ensuring they have the right equipment, experience, licensing, and certifications is essential.
Types
Truck drivers may handle different types of equipment, depending on their licensing and experience. Types of truck drivers you may subcontract with include:
- Tanker
- Flatbed
- Refrigerated
- Local and regional
- Interstate and long-distance
- Dry van enclosed
- Freight
Common Services
There are as many truck driving services as objects to be moved. To ensure an optimal truck driver subcontractor agreement, include a detailed scope of services that the driver will provide. Services may include:
- Business-to-business shipping
- Oversized, specialized, or heavy loads
- Climate-controlled shipping
- Loading and unloading
- Load tracking and proof of delivery
- Shipment coordination and logistics
- Expedited delivery
You can tailor your agreement to address your project’s needs.
Licensing
Truck drivers who operate large commercial trucks must obtain and maintain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) consistent with federal and state regulations.
Certifications
While a CDL may be sufficient for operating standard commercial semi-trucks, many specialized haulers must obtain additional certifications or endorsements. Examples of certifications you may need in a trucking subcontractor include:
- Tank endorsement to transport liquids and gases
- Double and triple trailer endorsements
- Hazardous materials (HAZMAT) certification
Check your state and local laws to determine whether your trucking subcontractor needs additional certifications to meet your needs.
Truck Driver Subcontractor Agreement Sample
Download a free truck driver subcontractor agreement template in Word or PDF below:
