At a glance
- Day one
- Paperwork, safety, tools, truck
- Week one
- Ride-alongs, systems, first calls
- Day 90
- Skills check and decision
- Sign-off
- Written, by the owner or lead
Prices and rules change. Verify every item with the vendor or agency before you rely on it.
Short answer: Onboard every new hire the same way: day one for paperwork, safety and tools; week one for ride-alongs, your phone and job systems, and supervised calls; and a 90-day plan with a skills check and a written decision. A checklist makes it the same for everyone, whoever is around.
Updated October 12, 2026. Requirements and fees change; confirm with the agency named on this page.
When onboarding depends on who happens to be around, every hire gets a different first week and some leave in it. A checklist fixes that.
Day one
- Employment paperwork and tax forms.
- Safety rules and how to report an injury or near miss.
- Tools, uniform, truck and phone.
- Who they report to and how to reach them.
Week one
- Ride-alongs with the owner or a lead.
- Your job software, photos and closeout.
- Your truck stock and restock routine.
- First supervised calls.
First 90 days
Set skills to check at 30, 60 and 90 days and make a written decision at day 90. See the new technician 30-60-90 day plan and the interview scorecard.
Washington employers
See hiring your first employee in Washington for the state requirements.
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Common questions
What should a contractor onboarding checklist include?
Day-one paperwork, safety, tools and truck; week-one ride-alongs, systems and supervised calls; and a 90-day skills check and decision.
How long should onboarding take for a service tech?
Plan for 90 days with checkpoints at 30, 60 and 90 and a written decision at the end.
Why use an onboarding checklist?
So every hire gets the same start regardless of who is around, which reduces early turnover and missed steps.