diff --git a/client/allocrunner/taskrunner/logmon_hook.go b/client/allocrunner/taskrunner/logmon_hook.go
index f983ddaa4..06617f686 100644
--- a/client/allocrunner/taskrunner/logmon_hook.go
+++ b/client/allocrunner/taskrunner/logmon_hook.go
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client/allocrunner/interfaces"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client/logmon"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/helper/uuid"
-	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/shared"
+	pstructs "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/shared/structs"
 )
 
 // logmonHook launches logmon and manages task logging
@@ -76,13 +76,13 @@ func reattachConfigFromHookData(data map[string]string) (*plugin.ReattachConfig,
 		return nil, nil
 	}
 
-	var cfg *shared.ReattachConfig
+	var cfg *pstructs.ReattachConfig
 	err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(data["reattach_config"]), cfg)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	return shared.ReattachConfigToGoPlugin(cfg)
+	return pstructs.ReattachConfigToGoPlugin(cfg)
 }
 
 func (h *logmonHook) Prestart(ctx context.Context,
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ func (h *logmonHook) Prestart(ctx context.Context,
 		}
 	}
 
-	rCfg := shared.ReattachConfigFromGoPlugin(h.logmonPluginClient.ReattachConfig())
+	rCfg := pstructs.ReattachConfigFromGoPlugin(h.logmonPluginClient.ReattachConfig())
 	jsonCfg, err := json.Marshal(rCfg)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/client/state/08types.go b/client/state/08types.go
index c10a1a90b..8ca18a0ef 100644
--- a/client/state/08types.go
+++ b/client/state/08types.go
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client/allocrunner/taskrunner/state"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/nomad/structs"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/drivers"
-	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/shared"
+	pstructs "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/shared/structs"
 )
 
 // allocRunnerMutableState08 is state that had to be written on each save as it
@@ -52,8 +52,8 @@ type taskRunnerHandle08 struct {
 	} `json:"PluginConfig"`
 }
 
-func (t *taskRunnerHandle08) reattachConfig() *shared.ReattachConfig {
-	return &shared.ReattachConfig{
+func (t *taskRunnerHandle08) reattachConfig() *pstructs.ReattachConfig {
+	return &pstructs.ReattachConfig{
 		Network: t.PluginConfig.AddrNet,
 		Addr:    t.PluginConfig.AddrName,
 		Pid:     t.PluginConfig.Pid,
diff --git a/drivers/exec/driver.go b/drivers/exec/driver.go
index d9ac89ef2..e5ac3d706 100644
--- a/drivers/exec/driver.go
+++ b/drivers/exec/driver.go
@@ -260,13 +260,13 @@ func (d *Driver) RecoverTask(handle *drivers.TaskHandle) error {
 
 	// pre 0.9 upgrade path check
 	if handle.Version == 0 {
-		var reattach shared.ReattachConfig
+		var reattach pstructs.ReattachConfig
 		d.logger.Debug("parsing pre09 driver state", "state", string(handle.DriverState))
 		if err := json.Unmarshal(handle.DriverState, &reattach); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 
-		reattachConfig, err := shared.ReattachConfigToGoPlugin(&reattach)
+		reattachConfig, err := pstructs.ReattachConfigToGoPlugin(&reattach)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
diff --git a/drivers/exec/driver_test.go b/drivers/exec/driver_test.go
index 9e35ec966..b53b359fa 100644
--- a/drivers/exec/driver_test.go
+++ b/drivers/exec/driver_test.go
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/hashicorp/hcl2/hcl"
 	ctestutils "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client/testutil"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/helper/testlog"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/helper/testtask"
@@ -21,8 +20,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/nomad/structs"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/drivers"
 	dtestutil "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/drivers/testutils"
-	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/shared/hclspec"
-	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/shared/hclutils"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/testutil"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
@@ -103,11 +100,11 @@ func TestExecDriver_StartWait(t *testing.T) {
 		Resources: testResources,
 	}
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"command": "cat",
-		"args":    []string{"/proc/self/cgroup"},
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		Command: "cat",
+		Args:    []string{"/proc/self/cgroup"},
 	}
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, false)
 	defer cleanup()
@@ -135,11 +132,11 @@ func TestExecDriver_StartWaitStopKill(t *testing.T) {
 		Resources: testResources,
 	}
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"command": "/bin/bash",
-		"args":    []string{"-c", "echo hi; sleep 600"},
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		Command: "/bin/bash",
+		Args:    []string{"-c", "echo hi; sleep 600"},
 	}
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, false)
 	defer cleanup()
@@ -196,11 +193,11 @@ func TestExecDriver_StartWaitRecover(t *testing.T) {
 		Resources: testResources,
 	}
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"command": "/bin/sleep",
-		"args":    []string{"5"},
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		Command: "/bin/sleep",
+		Args:    []string{"5"},
 	}
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, false)
 	defer cleanup()
@@ -266,11 +263,11 @@ func TestExecDriver_Stats(t *testing.T) {
 		Resources: testResources,
 	}
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"command": "/bin/sleep",
-		"args":    []string{"5"},
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		Command: "/bin/sleep",
+		Args:    []string{"5"},
 	}
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, false)
 	defer cleanup()
@@ -311,14 +308,14 @@ func TestExecDriver_Start_Wait_AllocDir(t *testing.T) {
 
 	exp := []byte{'w', 'i', 'n'}
 	file := "output.txt"
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"command": "/bin/bash",
-		"args": []string{
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		Command: "/bin/bash",
+		Args: []string{
 			"-c",
 			fmt.Sprintf(`sleep 1; echo -n %s > /alloc/%s`, string(exp), file),
 		},
 	}
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 
 	handle, _, err := harness.StartTask(task)
 	require.NoError(err)
@@ -359,11 +356,11 @@ func TestExecDriver_User(t *testing.T) {
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, false)
 	defer cleanup()
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"command": "/bin/sleep",
-		"args":    []string{"100"},
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		Command: "/bin/sleep",
+		Args:    []string{"100"},
 	}
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 
 	handle, _, err := harness.StartTask(task)
 	require.Error(err)
@@ -392,11 +389,11 @@ func TestExecDriver_HandlerExec(t *testing.T) {
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, false)
 	defer cleanup()
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"command": "/bin/sleep",
-		"args":    []string{"9000"},
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		Command: "/bin/sleep",
+		Args:    []string{"9000"},
 	}
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 
 	handle, _, err := harness.StartTask(task)
 	require.NoError(err)
@@ -502,9 +499,9 @@ func TestExecDriver_DevicesAndMounts(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(ioutil.WriteFile(task.StdoutPath, []byte{}, 660))
 	require.NoError(ioutil.WriteFile(task.StderrPath, []byte{}, 660))
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"command": "/bin/bash",
-		"args": []string{"-c", `
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		Command: "/bin/bash",
+		Args: []string{"-c", `
 export LANG=en.UTF-8
 echo "mounted device /inserted-random: $(stat -c '%t:%T' /dev/inserted-random)"
 echo "reading from ro path: $(cat /tmp/task-path-ro/testfile)"
@@ -516,7 +513,7 @@ touch /tmp/task-path-ro/testfile-from-ro && echo from-exec >  /tmp/task-path-ro/
 exit 0
 `},
 	}
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, false)
 	defer cleanup()
@@ -549,15 +546,3 @@ touch: cannot touch '/tmp/task-path-ro/testfile-from-ro': Read-only file system`
 	require.NoError(err)
 	require.Equal("from-exec", strings.TrimSpace(string(fromRWContent)))
 }
-
-func encodeDriverHelper(require *require.Assertions, task *drivers.TaskConfig, taskConfig map[string]interface{}) {
-	evalCtx := &hcl.EvalContext{
-		Functions: hclutils.GetStdlibFuncs(),
-	}
-	spec, diag := hclspec.Convert(taskConfigSpec)
-	require.False(diag.HasErrors())
-	taskConfigCtyVal, diag := hclutils.ParseHclInterface(taskConfig, spec, evalCtx)
-	require.False(diag.HasErrors())
-	err := task.EncodeDriverConfig(taskConfigCtyVal)
-	require.Nil(err)
-}
diff --git a/drivers/exec/driver_unix_test.go b/drivers/exec/driver_unix_test.go
index 6de52e6cb..3d2844ba7 100644
--- a/drivers/exec/driver_unix_test.go
+++ b/drivers/exec/driver_unix_test.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func TestExecDriver_StartWaitStop(t *testing.T) {
 		"command": "/bin/sleep",
 		"args":    []string{"600"},
 	}
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&taskConfig))
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, false)
 	defer cleanup()
diff --git a/drivers/java/driver.go b/drivers/java/driver.go
index edc48a02b..3284a5e64 100644
--- a/drivers/java/driver.go
+++ b/drivers/java/driver.go
@@ -248,13 +248,13 @@ func (d *Driver) RecoverTask(handle *drivers.TaskHandle) error {
 
 	// pre 0.9 upgrade path check
 	if handle.Version == 0 {
-		var reattach shared.ReattachConfig
+		var reattach pstructs.ReattachConfig
 		d.logger.Debug("parsing pre09 driver state", "state", string(handle.DriverState))
 		if err := json.Unmarshal(handle.DriverState, &reattach); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 
-		reattachConfig, err := shared.ReattachConfigToGoPlugin(&reattach)
+		reattachConfig, err := pstructs.ReattachConfigToGoPlugin(&reattach)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
diff --git a/drivers/java/driver_test.go b/drivers/java/driver_test.go
index ce0ab2221..7833106a6 100644
--- a/drivers/java/driver_test.go
+++ b/drivers/java/driver_test.go
@@ -13,14 +13,11 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/hashicorp/hcl2/hcl"
 	ctestutil "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client/testutil"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/helper/testlog"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/helper/uuid"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/nomad/structs"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/drivers"
-	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/shared/hclspec"
-	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/shared/hclutils"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/testutil"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 )
@@ -66,11 +63,12 @@ func TestJavaDriver_Jar_Start_Wait(t *testing.T) {
 	d := NewDriver(testlog.HCLogger(t))
 	harness := dtestutil.NewDriverHarness(t, d)
 
-	task := basicTask(t, "demo-app", map[string]interface{}{
-		"jar_path":    "demoapp.jar",
-		"args":        []string{"1"},
-		"jvm_options": []string{"-Xmx64m", "-Xms32m"},
-	})
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		JarPath: "demoapp.jar",
+		Args:    []string{"1"},
+		JvmOpts: []string{"-Xmx64m", "-Xms32m"},
+	}
+	task := basicTask(t, "demo-app", tc)
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, true)
 	defer cleanup()
@@ -105,11 +103,12 @@ func TestJavaDriver_Jar_Stop_Wait(t *testing.T) {
 	d := NewDriver(testlog.HCLogger(t))
 	harness := dtestutil.NewDriverHarness(t, d)
 
-	task := basicTask(t, "demo-app", map[string]interface{}{
-		"jar_path":    "demoapp.jar",
-		"args":        []string{"600"},
-		"jvm_options": []string{"-Xmx64m", "-Xms32m"},
-	})
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		JarPath: "demoapp.jar",
+		Args:    []string{"600"},
+		JvmOpts: []string{"-Xmx64m", "-Xms32m"},
+	}
+	task := basicTask(t, "demo-app", tc)
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, true)
 	defer cleanup()
@@ -165,10 +164,11 @@ func TestJavaDriver_Class_Start_Wait(t *testing.T) {
 	d := NewDriver(testlog.HCLogger(t))
 	harness := dtestutil.NewDriverHarness(t, d)
 
-	task := basicTask(t, "demo-app", map[string]interface{}{
-		"class": "Hello",
-		"args":  []string{"1"},
-	})
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		Class: "Hello",
+		Args:  []string{"1"},
+	}
+	task := basicTask(t, "demo-app", tc)
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, true)
 	defer cleanup()
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ func TestJavaCmdArgs(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func basicTask(t *testing.T, name string, taskConfig map[string]interface{}) *drivers.TaskConfig {
+func basicTask(t *testing.T, name string, taskConfig *TaskConfig) *drivers.TaskConfig {
 	t.Helper()
 
 	task := &drivers.TaskConfig{
@@ -264,25 +264,10 @@ func basicTask(t *testing.T, name string, taskConfig map[string]interface{}) *dr
 		},
 	}
 
-	encodeDriverHelper(t, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(t, task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&taskConfig))
 	return task
 }
 
-func encodeDriverHelper(t *testing.T, task *drivers.TaskConfig, taskConfig map[string]interface{}) {
-	t.Helper()
-
-	evalCtx := &hcl.EvalContext{
-		Functions: hclutils.GetStdlibFuncs(),
-	}
-	spec, diag := hclspec.Convert(taskConfigSpec)
-	require.False(t, diag.HasErrors())
-	taskConfigCtyVal, diag := hclutils.ParseHclInterface(taskConfig, spec, evalCtx)
-	require.Empty(t, diag.Errs())
-	err := task.EncodeDriverConfig(taskConfigCtyVal)
-	require.Nil(t, err)
-
-}
-
 // copyFile moves an existing file to the destination
 func copyFile(src, dst string, t *testing.T) {
 	in, err := os.Open(src)
diff --git a/drivers/qemu/driver.go b/drivers/qemu/driver.go
index 70495b1d3..bc37a8961 100644
--- a/drivers/qemu/driver.go
+++ b/drivers/qemu/driver.go
@@ -246,13 +246,13 @@ func (d *Driver) RecoverTask(handle *drivers.TaskHandle) error {
 
 	// pre 0.9 upgrade path check
 	if handle.Version == 0 {
-		var reattach shared.ReattachConfig
+		var reattach pstructs.ReattachConfig
 		d.logger.Debug("parsing pre09 driver state", "state", string(handle.DriverState))
 		if err := json.Unmarshal(handle.DriverState, &reattach); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 
-		reattachConfig, err := shared.ReattachConfigToGoPlugin(&reattach)
+		reattachConfig, err := pstructs.ReattachConfigToGoPlugin(&reattach)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
diff --git a/drivers/qemu/driver_test.go b/drivers/qemu/driver_test.go
index eea8562b2..01df3ae57 100644
--- a/drivers/qemu/driver_test.go
+++ b/drivers/qemu/driver_test.go
@@ -9,15 +9,12 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/hashicorp/hcl2/hcl"
 	ctestutil "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client/testutil"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/helper/testlog"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/helper/uuid"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/nomad/structs"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/drivers"
 	dtestutil "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/drivers/testutils"
-	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/shared/hclspec"
-	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/shared/hclutils"
 	pstructs "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/shared/structs"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/testutil"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
@@ -57,17 +54,17 @@ func TestQemuDriver_Start_Wait_Stop(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"image_path":        "linux-0.2.img",
-		"accelerator":       "tcg",
-		"graceful_shutdown": false,
-		"port_map": []map[string]int{{
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		ImagePath:        "linux-0.2.img",
+		Accelerator:      "tcg",
+		GracefulShutdown: false,
+		PortMap: map[string]int{
 			"main": 22,
 			"web":  8080,
-		}},
-		"args": []string{"-nodefconfig", "-nodefaults"},
+		},
+		Args: []string{"-nodefconfig", "-nodefaults"},
 	}
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, true)
 	defer cleanup()
 
@@ -199,19 +196,6 @@ func TestQemuDriver_GetMonitorPathNewQemu(t *testing.T) {
 	require.Nil(err)
 }
 
-//encodeDriverhelper sets up the task config spec and encodes qemu specific driver configuration
-func encodeDriverHelper(require *require.Assertions, task *drivers.TaskConfig, taskConfig map[string]interface{}) {
-	evalCtx := &hcl.EvalContext{
-		Functions: hclutils.GetStdlibFuncs(),
-	}
-	spec, diag := hclspec.Convert(taskConfigSpec)
-	require.False(diag.HasErrors(), diag.Error())
-	taskConfigCtyVal, diag := hclutils.ParseHclInterface(taskConfig, spec, evalCtx)
-	require.False(diag.HasErrors(), diag.Error())
-	err := task.EncodeDriverConfig(taskConfigCtyVal)
-	require.Nil(err)
-}
-
 // copyFile moves an existing file to the destination
 func copyFile(src, dst string, t *testing.T) {
 	in, err := os.Open(src)
@@ -268,17 +252,17 @@ func TestQemuDriver_User(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"image_path":        "linux-0.2.img",
-		"accelerator":       "tcg",
-		"graceful_shutdown": false,
-		"port_map": map[string]int{
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		ImagePath:        "linux-0.2.img",
+		Accelerator:      "tcg",
+		GracefulShutdown: false,
+		PortMap: map[string]int{
 			"main": 22,
 			"web":  8080,
 		},
-		"args": []string{"-nodefconfig", "-nodefaults"},
+		Args: []string{"-nodefconfig", "-nodefaults"},
 	}
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, true)
 	defer cleanup()
 
@@ -324,17 +308,17 @@ func TestQemuDriver_Stats(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"image_path":        "linux-0.2.img",
-		"accelerator":       "tcg",
-		"graceful_shutdown": false,
-		"port_map": []map[string]int{{
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		ImagePath:        "linux-0.2.img",
+		Accelerator:      "tcg",
+		GracefulShutdown: false,
+		PortMap: map[string]int{
 			"main": 22,
 			"web":  8080,
-		}},
-		"args": []string{"-nodefconfig", "-nodefaults"},
+		},
+		Args: []string{"-nodefconfig", "-nodefaults"},
 	}
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, true)
 	defer cleanup()
 
diff --git a/drivers/rawexec/driver.go b/drivers/rawexec/driver.go
index 50a1772da..dc0273701 100644
--- a/drivers/rawexec/driver.go
+++ b/drivers/rawexec/driver.go
@@ -252,13 +252,13 @@ func (d *Driver) RecoverTask(handle *drivers.TaskHandle) error {
 
 	// pre 0.9 upgrade path check
 	if handle.Version == 0 {
-		var reattach shared.ReattachConfig
+		var reattach pstructs.ReattachConfig
 		d.logger.Debug("parsing pre09 driver state", "state", string(handle.DriverState))
 		if err := json.Unmarshal(handle.DriverState, &reattach); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 
-		reattachConfig, err := shared.ReattachConfigToGoPlugin(&reattach)
+		reattachConfig, err := pstructs.ReattachConfigToGoPlugin(&reattach)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
diff --git a/drivers/rawexec/driver_test.go b/drivers/rawexec/driver_test.go
index 31c25e085..bc8083f93 100644
--- a/drivers/rawexec/driver_test.go
+++ b/drivers/rawexec/driver_test.go
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/hashicorp/hcl2/hcl"
 	ctestutil "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client/testutil"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/helper/testlog"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/helper/testtask"
@@ -21,8 +20,6 @@ import (
 	basePlug "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/base"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/drivers"
 	dtestutil "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/drivers/testutils"
-	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/shared/hclspec"
-	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/shared/hclutils"
 	pstructs "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/shared/structs"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/testutil"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
@@ -143,11 +140,13 @@ func TestRawExecDriver_StartWait(t *testing.T) {
 		Name: "test",
 	}
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{}
-	taskConfig["command"] = "go"
-	taskConfig["args"] = []string{"version"}
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		Command: testtask.Path(),
+		Args:    []string{"sleep", "10ms"},
+	}
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
+	testtask.SetTaskConfigEnv(task)
 
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, false)
 	defer cleanup()
 
@@ -156,7 +155,14 @@ func TestRawExecDriver_StartWait(t *testing.T) {
 
 	ch, err := harness.WaitTask(context.Background(), handle.Config.ID)
 	require.NoError(err)
-	result := <-ch
+
+	var result *drivers.ExitResult
+	select {
+	case result = <-ch:
+	case <-time.After(5 * time.Second):
+		t.Fatal("timed out")
+	}
+
 	require.Zero(result.ExitCode)
 	require.Zero(result.Signal)
 	require.False(result.OOMKilled)
@@ -183,11 +189,11 @@ func TestRawExecDriver_StartWaitRecoverWaitStop(t *testing.T) {
 		ID:   uuid.Generate(),
 		Name: "sleep",
 	}
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{}
-	taskConfig["command"] = testtask.Path()
-	taskConfig["args"] = []string{"sleep", "100s"}
-
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		Command: testtask.Path(),
+		Args:    []string{"sleep", "100s"},
+	}
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 
 	testtask.SetTaskConfigEnv(task)
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, false)
@@ -267,10 +273,11 @@ func TestRawExecDriver_Start_Wait_AllocDir(t *testing.T) {
 	file := "output.txt"
 	outPath := fmt.Sprintf(`%s/%s`, task.TaskDir().SharedAllocDir, file)
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{}
-	taskConfig["command"] = testtask.Path()
-	taskConfig["args"] = []string{"sleep", "1s", "write", string(exp), outPath}
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		Command: testtask.Path(),
+		Args:    []string{"sleep", "1s", "write", string(exp), outPath},
+	}
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 	testtask.SetTaskConfigEnv(task)
 
 	_, _, err := harness.StartTask(task)
@@ -318,10 +325,11 @@ func TestRawExecDriver_Start_Kill_Wait_Cgroup(t *testing.T) {
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, false)
 	defer cleanup()
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{}
-	taskConfig["command"] = testtask.Path()
-	taskConfig["args"] = []string{"fork/exec", pidFile, "pgrp", "0", "sleep", "20s"}
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		Command: testtask.Path(),
+		Args:    []string{"fork/exec", pidFile, "pgrp", "0", "sleep", "20s"},
+	}
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 	testtask.SetTaskConfigEnv(task)
 
 	_, _, err := harness.StartTask(task)
@@ -406,10 +414,11 @@ func TestRawExecDriver_Exec(t *testing.T) {
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, false)
 	defer cleanup()
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{}
-	taskConfig["command"] = testtask.Path()
-	taskConfig["args"] = []string{"sleep", "9000s"}
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		Command: testtask.Path(),
+		Args:    []string{"sleep", "9000s"},
+	}
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 	testtask.SetTaskConfigEnv(task)
 
 	_, _, err := harness.StartTask(task)
@@ -443,15 +452,3 @@ func TestRawExecDriver_Exec(t *testing.T) {
 
 	require.NoError(harness.DestroyTask(task.ID, true))
 }
-
-func encodeDriverHelper(require *require.Assertions, task *drivers.TaskConfig, taskConfig map[string]interface{}) {
-	evalCtx := &hcl.EvalContext{
-		Functions: hclutils.GetStdlibFuncs(),
-	}
-	spec, diag := hclspec.Convert(taskConfigSpec)
-	require.False(diag.HasErrors())
-	taskConfigCtyVal, diag := hclutils.ParseHclInterface(taskConfig, spec, evalCtx)
-	require.False(diag.HasErrors())
-	err := task.EncodeDriverConfig(taskConfigCtyVal)
-	require.Nil(err)
-}
diff --git a/drivers/rawexec/driver_unix_test.go b/drivers/rawexec/driver_unix_test.go
index 568f16ebe..07491574f 100644
--- a/drivers/rawexec/driver_unix_test.go
+++ b/drivers/rawexec/driver_unix_test.go
@@ -43,11 +43,11 @@ func TestRawExecDriver_User(t *testing.T) {
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, false)
 	defer cleanup()
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{}
-	taskConfig["command"] = testtask.Path()
-	taskConfig["args"] = []string{"sleep", "45s"}
-
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		Command: testtask.Path(),
+		Args:    []string{"sleep", "45s"},
+	}
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 	testtask.SetTaskConfigEnv(task)
 
 	_, _, err := harness.StartTask(task)
@@ -74,11 +74,11 @@ func TestRawExecDriver_Signal(t *testing.T) {
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, true)
 	defer cleanup()
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{}
-	taskConfig["command"] = "/bin/bash"
-	taskConfig["args"] = []string{"test.sh"}
-
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		Command: "/bin/bash",
+		Args:    []string{"test.sh"},
+	}
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 	testtask.SetTaskConfigEnv(task)
 
 	testFile := filepath.Join(task.TaskDir().Dir, "test.sh")
@@ -94,7 +94,6 @@ done
 	`)
 	require.NoError(ioutil.WriteFile(testFile, testData, 0777))
 
-	testtask.SetTaskConfigEnv(task)
 	_, _, err := harness.StartTask(task)
 	require.NoError(err)
 
@@ -155,7 +154,7 @@ func TestRawExecDriver_StartWaitStop(t *testing.T) {
 	taskConfig["command"] = testtask.Path()
 	taskConfig["args"] = []string{"sleep", "100s"}
 
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&taskConfig))
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, false)
 	defer cleanup()
diff --git a/drivers/rkt/driver.go b/drivers/rkt/driver.go
index 56767fa43..2217ba628 100644
--- a/drivers/rkt/driver.go
+++ b/drivers/rkt/driver.go
@@ -359,13 +359,13 @@ func (d *Driver) RecoverTask(handle *drivers.TaskHandle) error {
 
 	// pre 0.9 upgrade path check
 	if handle.Version == 0 {
-		var reattach shared.ReattachConfig
+		var reattach pstructs.ReattachConfig
 		d.logger.Debug("parsing pre09 driver state", "state", string(handle.DriverState))
 		if err := json.Unmarshal(handle.DriverState, &reattach); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
 
-		reattachConfig, err := shared.ReattachConfigToGoPlugin(&reattach)
+		reattachConfig, err := pstructs.ReattachConfigToGoPlugin(&reattach)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
diff --git a/drivers/rkt/driver_test.go b/drivers/rkt/driver_test.go
index 37ba6e9a3..aa26a93ba 100644
--- a/drivers/rkt/driver_test.go
+++ b/drivers/rkt/driver_test.go
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
-	"github.com/hashicorp/hcl2/hcl"
 	ctestutil "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/client/testutil"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/helper/testlog"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/helper/testtask"
@@ -22,8 +21,6 @@ import (
 	basePlug "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/base"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/drivers"
 	dtestutil "github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/drivers/testutils"
-	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/shared/hclspec"
-	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/plugins/shared/hclutils"
 	"github.com/hashicorp/nomad/testutil"
 	"github.com/stretchr/testify/require"
 	"golang.org/x/sys/unix"
@@ -109,16 +106,15 @@ func TestRktDriver_Start_Wait_Stop_DNS(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"trust_prefix":       "coreos.com/etcd",
-		"image":              "coreos.com/etcd:v2.0.4",
-		"command":            "/etcd",
-		"dns_servers":        []string{"8.8.8.8", "8.8.4.4"},
-		"dns_search_domains": []string{"example.com", "example.org", "example.net"},
-		"net":                []string{"host"},
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		TrustPrefix:      "coreos.com/etcd",
+		ImageName:        "coreos.com/etcd:v2.0.4",
+		Command:          "/etcd",
+		DNSServers:       []string{"8.8.8.8", "8.8.4.4"},
+		DNSSearchDomains: []string{"example.com", "example.org", "example.net"},
+		Net:              []string{"host"},
 	}
-
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 	testtask.SetTaskConfigEnv(task)
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, true)
 	defer cleanup()
@@ -193,16 +189,15 @@ func TestRktDriver_Start_Wait_Stop(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"trust_prefix": "coreos.com/etcd",
-		"image":        "coreos.com/etcd:v2.0.4",
-		"command":      "/etcd",
-		"args":         []string{"--version"},
-		"net":          []string{"none"},
-		"debug":        true,
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		TrustPrefix: "coreos.com/etcd",
+		ImageName:   "coreos.com/etcd:v2.0.4",
+		Command:     "/etcd",
+		Args:        []string{"--version"},
+		Net:         []string{"none"},
+		Debug:       true,
 	}
-
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, true)
 	defer cleanup()
 
@@ -252,15 +247,14 @@ func TestRktDriver_Start_Wait_Skip_Trust(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"image":   "coreos.com/etcd:v2.0.4",
-		"command": "/etcd",
-		"args":    []string{"--version"},
-		"net":     []string{"none"},
-		"debug":   true,
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		ImageName: "coreos.com/etcd:v2.0.4",
+		Command:   "/etcd",
+		Args:      []string{"--version"},
+		Net:       []string{"none"},
+		Debug:     true,
 	}
-
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 	testtask.SetTaskConfigEnv(task)
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, true)
@@ -311,16 +305,15 @@ func TestRktDriver_InvalidTrustPrefix(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"trust_prefix": "example.com/invalid",
-		"image":        "coreos.com/etcd:v2.0.4",
-		"command":      "/etcd",
-		"args":         []string{"--version"},
-		"net":          []string{"none"},
-		"debug":        true,
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		TrustPrefix: "example.com/invalid",
+		ImageName:   "coreos.com/etcd:v2.0.4",
+		Command:     "/etcd",
+		Args:        []string{"--version"},
+		Net:         []string{"none"},
+		Debug:       true,
 	}
-
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 	testtask.SetTaskConfigEnv(task)
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, true)
@@ -366,12 +359,11 @@ func TestRktDriver_StartWaitRecoverWaitStop(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"image":   "coreos.com/etcd:v2.0.4",
-		"command": "/etcd",
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		ImageName: "coreos.com/etcd:v2.0.4",
+		Command:   "/etcd",
 	}
-
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, true)
 	defer cleanup()
@@ -477,18 +469,18 @@ func TestRktDriver_Start_Wait_Volume(t *testing.T) {
 	defer os.RemoveAll(tmpvol)
 	hostpath := filepath.Join(tmpvol, file)
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"image":   "docker://redis:3.2-alpine",
-		"command": "/bin/sh",
-		"args": []string{
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		ImageName: "docker://redis:3.2-alpine",
+		Command:   "/bin/sh",
+		Args: []string{
 			"-c",
 			fmt.Sprintf("echo -n %s > /foo/%s", string(exp), file),
 		},
-		"net":     []string{"none"},
-		"volumes": []string{fmt.Sprintf("%s:/foo", tmpvol)},
+		Net:     []string{"none"},
+		Volumes: []string{fmt.Sprintf("%s:/foo", tmpvol)},
 	}
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
 	testtask.SetTaskConfigEnv(task)
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, true)
@@ -566,17 +558,16 @@ func TestRktDriver_Start_Wait_TaskMounts(t *testing.T) {
 	file := "output.txt"
 	hostpath := filepath.Join(tmpvol, file)
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"image":   "docker://redis:3.2-alpine",
-		"command": "/bin/sh",
-		"args": []string{
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		ImageName: "docker://redis:3.2-alpine",
+		Command:   "/bin/sh",
+		Args: []string{
 			"-c",
 			fmt.Sprintf("echo -n %s > /foo/%s", string(exp), file),
 		},
-		"net": []string{"none"},
+		Net: []string{"none"},
 	}
-
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 	testtask.SetTaskConfigEnv(task)
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, true)
@@ -638,15 +629,14 @@ func TestRktDriver_PortMapping(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"image": "docker://redis:3.2-alpine",
-		"port_map": map[string]string{
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		ImageName: "docker://redis:3.2-alpine",
+		PortMap: map[string]string{
 			"main": "6379-tcp",
 		},
-		"debug": "true",
+		Debug: true,
 	}
-
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, true)
 	defer cleanup()
@@ -690,15 +680,15 @@ func TestRktDriver_UserGroup(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"image":   "docker://redis:3.2-alpine",
-		"group":   "nogroup",
-		"command": "sleep",
-		"args":    []string{"9000"},
-		"net":     []string{"none"},
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		ImageName: "docker://redis:3.2-alpine",
+		Group:     "nogroup",
+		Command:   "sleep",
+		Args:      []string{"9000"},
+		Net:       []string{"none"},
 	}
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
 	testtask.SetTaskConfigEnv(task)
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, true)
@@ -756,13 +746,12 @@ func TestRktDriver_Exec(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"trust_prefix": "coreos.com/etcd",
-		"image":        "coreos.com/etcd:v2.0.4",
-		"net":          []string{"none"},
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		TrustPrefix: "coreos.com/etcd",
+		ImageName:   "coreos.com/etcd:v2.0.4",
+		Net:         []string{"none"},
 	}
-
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 	testtask.SetTaskConfigEnv(task)
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, true)
@@ -838,14 +827,13 @@ func TestRktDriver_Stats(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 	}
 
-	taskConfig := map[string]interface{}{
-		"trust_prefix": "coreos.com/etcd",
-		"image":        "coreos.com/etcd:v2.0.4",
-		"command":      "/etcd",
-		"net":          []string{"none"},
+	tc := &TaskConfig{
+		TrustPrefix: "coreos.com/etcd",
+		ImageName:   "coreos.com/etcd:v2.0.4",
+		Command:     "/etcd",
+		Net:         []string{"none"},
 	}
-
-	encodeDriverHelper(require, task, taskConfig)
+	require.NoError(task.EncodeConcreteDriverConfig(&tc))
 	testtask.SetTaskConfigEnv(task)
 
 	cleanup := harness.MkAllocDir(task, true)
@@ -878,18 +866,3 @@ func TestRktDriver_Stats(t *testing.T) {
 	require.NoError(harness.DestroyTask(task.ID, true))
 
 }
-
-func encodeDriverHelper(require *require.Assertions, task *drivers.TaskConfig, taskConfig map[string]interface{}) {
-	evalCtx := &hcl.EvalContext{
-		Functions: hclutils.GetStdlibFuncs(),
-	}
-	spec, diag := hclspec.Convert(taskConfigSpec)
-	require.False(diag.HasErrors())
-	taskConfigCtyVal, diag := hclutils.ParseHclInterface(taskConfig, spec, evalCtx)
-	if diag.HasErrors() {
-		fmt.Println("conversion error", diag.Error())
-	}
-	require.False(diag.HasErrors())
-	err := task.EncodeDriverConfig(taskConfigCtyVal)
-	require.Nil(err)
-}
diff --git a/plugins/shared/loader/filter_unix.go b/pluginutils/loader/filter_unix.go
similarity index 100%
rename from plugins/shared/loader/filter_unix.go
rename to pluginutils/loader/filter_unix.go
diff --git a/plugins/shared/loader/filter_windows.go b/pluginutils/loader/filter_windows.go
similarity index 100%
rename from plugins/shared/loader/filter_windows.go
rename to pluginutils/loader/filter_windows.go