What CDL Drivers Do and Who Hires Them

What the work looks like

CDL (commercial driver license) work is the trucking and passenger transportation industry. Drivers haul freight in semi-trucks, dump trucks, tankers, flatbeds, and box trucks, or carry passengers on buses and motorcoaches. The big split is between over-the-road (OTR) drivers who live out of the truck for weeks, regional drivers who are home most weekends, and local drivers who are home every night. Pay scales accordingly.

A typical OTR day begins with a pre-trip inspection, a stop at a shipper to load, then hours of driving governed by FMCSA hours-of-service rules: 11 hours of driving per day within a 14-hour window, 10 hours off between shifts, and a 30-minute break after 8 hours of driving. Local drivers run more stops in fewer miles.

Entry titles: CDL Class A driver (combination vehicles over 26,001 lb), CDL Class B driver (single heavy vehicles, buses, dump trucks), CDL Class C driver (hazmat or passenger under 26,001 lb), local delivery driver, route driver.

Starting pay for new Class A OTR drivers in the US is commonly 50 to 65 cents per mile with 2,000 to 2,800 miles per week, which works out to about $60,000 to $85,000 for the first year. Regional drivers average $65,000 to $95,000. Local drivers (LTL, foodservice, beverage, sanitation) earn $55,000 to $80,000 depending on route.

Employers hiring new CDLs: Schneider, Werner, Swift, CR England, Prime, Knight, Crete Carrier, TMC, XPO, ABF, Saia, Old Dominion (regional/LTL), Sysco, US Foods (food distribution), UPS Freight, and thousands of private fleets. Many carriers sponsor your CDL school in exchange for a one-year commitment.

Safety and tools

CDL physical (DOT medical card) is required every 2 years. Vision, blood pressure, and a few conditions (sleep apnea, insulin-dependent diabetes with stipulations) are checked. You must pass a drug and alcohol screen under FMCSA clearinghouse rules.

Tools and documents a new driver carries: CDL license with endorsements, DOT medical card, logbook (most fleets use ELDs, electronic logging devices, mandated since 2017), pre-trip inspection form, load tender/BOL, truck keys, a good pair of work gloves, a high-visibility vest for jobsite deliveries, a headlamp for pre-dawn pre-trips, and a quality pair of boots.

Your first exercise

List three carriers in your region that sponsor paid CDL training. Note their contract terms (length, pay during school, penalty if you leave early) and their first-year pay. Also look up your state DMV's CDL knowledge tests (General Knowledge, Air Brakes, Combination if Class A, plus endorsements) and download the CDL manual.

Where to go next

Build from here into Commercial Driving (CDL), Vehicle Pre-Trip Inspection, Defensive Driving, Route Planning & Navigation, Load Securing & Cargo Safety. Safety and foundational skills: Workplace Safety, Hazardous Materials Handling (for hazmat endorsement), Confined Space Entry (for any tank or specialty work).