Getting Started

To become a commercial truck driver, you’ll need to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL) through your state’s Department of Motor Vehicles. Before you can pass the required exam, you need to enroll in a certified truck driving school, which takes on average 7 weeks to complete. Depending upon whether you want to obtain a Class A or Class B license, the cost can range from U.S. $3,000 to $7,000 in the United States. Generally, the more time you have to spend training to earn your chosen license, the more you will likely invest in tuition.

Click here for more information on how to pursue a career in trucking with no experience.

If you’re ready to pursue a career as a professional driver, the first step is earning your Class A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). Driving a commercial motor vehicle requires a higher level of skill than a typical non-commercial vehicle. To obtain your CDL, you must pass a CLD exam that includes rigorous skills and knowledge testing. You must acquire a commercial learner’s permit, which authorizes you to drive on public roads with a qualified CDL holder (a trainer). After an adequate number of hours in training, you then must take your CDL exam, which is comprised of three parts: vehicle inspection, backing skills, and road test. Once you pass the exam and obtain your CDL, you’re likely ready to become a professional driver!

You do not need to have a spotless driving record to become a truck driver. If minor infractions and misdemeanors have been handled and you’ve put them behind you, it should not affect your ability to obtain your CDL. Motor Carriers will have to review your MVR with insurance to ensure that insurance can cover you. 

It is also possible to acquire your CDL and attain employment as a truck driver with a felony on your record, depending on the felony committed and how long ago. If a commercial vehicle was involved in committing the felony, you would be prohibited from getting your CDL or have a waiting period. If the felony on your record was not related to using a commercial vehicle, you generally would not have an issue obtaining a CDL license and employment. The number of felonies on your record could also be a contributing factor. Additionally, many carriers hire convicted felons and will give you a chance to get back into the workforce.

You need to determine to attend a private or company-sponsored CDL Training School (Super-regional or mega-carriers usually own and operate their own truck driver training schools). While private CDL schools may charge thousands of dollars upfront, the fees of sponsored truck driving training schools can vary from low-cost to no-cost.

In the United States, you may qualify for federal student aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) program. Complete form to apply for financial aid. You also can apply for a scholarship through the Women In Trucking Foundation.

Beyond the financial aspects of choosing the right school for you, other questions you should be asking include: Is this school certified or state accredited with proper licensing to operate? What’s the trainer to student ratio? What’s the length of the program and at what times are classes held? What are the qualifications of the instructor (are they former drivers with driving experience or inexperienced CDL drivers)? Can the licensing test be repeated if you don’t pass it for the first time (if yes, how many times can it be repeated and is there a cost)?

There are several options from which to choose. You can become a professional driver for a for-hire carrier or asset-based third-party logistics company, or you can drive for a private fleet of a company (typically a manufacturer, retailer or wholesaler). Corporate culture, flexibility in hours and work requirements to accommodate family/life balance, competitive compensation and benefits, training and continued professional development, and career advancement opportunities are important to many women drivers. You may want to consider working for a company that consistently ranks on WIT’s Top Companies for Women to Work For in Transportation.

Here are some questions that can be helpful as you assess the companies you’d be interested in working for: What’s their corporate culture like? What’s their fleet size, average age of equipment, and maintenance/service schedule for equipment? How do they value safety and what’s their safety score? Do they emphasize training – and what’s their formal onboarding, new driver training process, and length of OTR training? What are their policies important issues such as harassment, same-gender training? For drivers, what’s their compensation and benefits, such as medical, maternity, retirement?

There are many factors that go into compensation. Some drivers are paid by the hour while others are commonly paid by the mile. Another key factor is whether they use a company truck or if they own and operate their own. The average salary for a driver is approximately $75,000 per year in the U.S., although depending upon load type, mileage, and experience there are opportunities to make six figures!

There are several different driver options from which to choose, based upon your career goals and interests. First you can choose between being a “solo driver” or a “team driver.” Oftentimes team drivers are comprised of married couples, partners or friends. Team drivers can log more miles because the truck never stops moving (your partner drives while you rest and vice versa), and they can split the compensation. Another option is to be a “dedicated driver,” which means you drive for a single company and typically spend more time at home (or work as a driver trainer once you’ve had a chance to gain experience). Another option is that you can be an “Owner Operator,” which means you own the truck you drive, which places all ownership responsibilities entirely on you (insurance, maintenance, etc.)

Of course, there are a multitude of driver jobs available (too many to mention here) and they can vary in nature. For example, drivers can be involved in hauling local and regional where you’re home daily; intra-state and over-the-road (OTR) that could require over-night stays; freight of different nature, such as hazmat (hazardous materials), bulk, intermodal, flatbed, and heavy haul (oversized), expedited, and less-than-truckload (LTL); and different industries such as construction, food and beverage, retail, animal transport, sanitation.

Professional drivers in the United States are limited to a total of 11 hours of drive time during each 14-hour period, and they’re required to have 10 or more consecutive hours off between each 14-hour period. The 14-hour window begins when any kind of work starts, even if it’s not actually driving. Known as “Hours of Service” these are rules set forth by U.S. government and are focused on keeping everyone on the road safe (and minimizing the dangers of driver fatigue). The work week for drivers is limited to 70 hours and then the driver must shut down for 34 hours.

Most professional drivers find the responsibilities of managing and driving a large commercial truck to be more than enough to keep them engaged behind the wheel. That, combined with regulated limitations on drive time, mean that most drivers have no trouble remaining alert while driving. Some drivers also invest in satellite radio, audiobooks or podcasts to listen to on the road to keep their minds engaged.

A majority of over-the-road (OTR) commercial truck cabs feature a twin-size bed that pulls down from the wall of the cab so drivers can sleep wherever they can park. Some cabs even have power generators, microwaves, mini refrigerators, and televisions to help drivers to be more comfortable.

There are many issues involving such complicated issues ranging from trailer interchange coverage on cargo to how to have DOT physical inspections on your truck. One of WIT’s members is the Motor Carrier Insurance Education Foundation, and WIT provides you access to “Ask Tommy,” a 24-hour response e-helpline that provides direct access to Tommy Ruke (Founder and Education Director of the Motor Carrier Insurance Education Foundation) and the organization’s knowledge base. Submit your inquiries pertaining to motor carrier coverage, underwriting, claims or regulatory matters and receive a response within 24- business hours. If you are a WIT member, make sure when you submit your question that you indicate so.

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