So you’ve spent some time exploring the possibility of becoming a professional truck driver, researching what a truck driver salary is likely to be, the benefits and the lifestyle of truck driving, and now you’ve decided you are interested in obtaining one of the many truck driving jobs available. But these jobs are not given to just anyone, so now you want to know exactly how to become a truck driver.
Let’s explore this process in terms of a basic overview. It’s basically a 3-step process
1. You will need to obtain a learner’s permit for your commercial driver’s license (CDL). Go to your local DMV and pick up a commercial driver’s license study guide. Unless you want to drive a dump truck or a school bus (a Class B license), you would be best advised to test for the Class A CDL, because that permits you to operate any combination of vehicles (not just a single vehicle) weighing over 26,000 pounds, if the vehicle being towed is over 10,000 pounds. That makes you eligible for just about any of the CDL jobs out there. The Class B and Class C only permit you to operate single vehicles, and if you want to drive one of the big rigs, a tractor trailer over the road, you need the Class A because the cab and trailer are difference “vehicles.” It’s best to test for and pass the Class A regardless of what you intend to drive. A higher qualification is always better.
Once you complete the first step by passing your written test, you will be issued a learner’s permit and most states require you to keep it for at least 30 days before you are able to finish the final licensing by passing a road test at the DMW with a Class A vehicle. But you don’t need to do that on your own. That’s where step 2 comes in, the driving school.
2. Attend one of the man Truck Driving Schools available, preferably one that is pre-approved by the trucking company you plan to work for. If you have selected which of the trucking companies you want to work for, it’s wise to be in contact with the trucking company prior to selecting, paying for and attending a school, and making sure they will hire you if you graduate from the school you are looking at attending. The company can tell you which truck driving school you can attend and graduate from, where they will consider you well-trained and eligible to be hired by their company. Some of the trucking companies that hire and work with new drivers operate their own in-house CDL truck driving school, and these schools, typically costing $2000-3000, can be quite a bit cheaper than the typical $5000 cost of a private truck driving school. Don’t let these costs scare you; you can always finance the tuition, and most companies reimburse you the cost on a monthly basis, so the longer your work for the company that agrees to reimburse you, the more of your tuition is of no cost to you.
3. Hire date, orientation, and Driver Training with the truck driving company that hires you! The company that hires you upon the successful completion of truck driving school will give you a hire date, and you report to their offices the day before. You will then have several days of orientation, usually about 4, then you are sent out on the road with an experienced driver, your driver trainer. Over-the-road training with your trainer will vary in length depending on the company, and your driver trainer’s assessment of your fitness to operate a truck solo. You will share the cab with your trainer during this period, so privacy is limited, and it will last usually a minimum of 2 or 3 weeks, up to as many as 8 weeks. During over the road training, your driver salary will not be based on miles, as it will when you are on your own. Rather, the company will pay you a flat rate, which is typically $300-500 per week.
Once you’ve gone through this entire process, you’re ready to drive on your own or join with another driver to form a team driving partnership.
This is just a preliminary overview of the multi-step process of becoming a truck driver. Please feel free to read our other articles about the various aspects of truck driving jobs, especially the big rigs!