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Trade · Truck driving

Truck driver (CDL)

School, a commercial driver's license and a few weeks with a mentor driver. The middle pay is about $58,640 a year.

Short training · CDL required · On the road

Almost everything you own came on a truck at some point. Heavy and tractor-trailer drivers move it, and there are about 2.2 million of them. Training is one of the quicker roads on this site, and the job comes with a real catch: long-haul driving can keep you away from home for days or weeks. Read the trade-offs before you pick it.

  • You need a commercial driver's license (CDL). First-time Class A or B applicants have to finish federal entry-level driver training.
  • BLS says truck-driving school programs at private schools and community colleges run 3 to 6 months. Ask each school for its real calendar.
  • Federal rules limit hours: up to 11 hours driving in a 14 hour window, with at least 10 hours off between shifts.

In short

To become a truck driver, you get a commercial driver's license (CDL). First-time Class A or Class B applicants must complete federal entry-level driver training, then pass a knowledge test and a driving test. After you're hired, you usually ride with a mentor driver for several weeks. The middle truck driver earns about $58,640 a year (BLS OEWS, May 2025). Fill out the form and we'll match you with CDL schools near you.

Sources checked October 8, 2026Pay and job facts from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (pay is the May 2025 median from the BLS OEWS program). Training rules from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

Quick facts

Typical pay
$58,640 a year, or $28.19 an hour (median, May 2025). Starting pay is lower.
How you learn
A truck driving school (private or community college), entry-level driver training, a CDL, then several weeks of on-the-job training with a mentor driver.
To start
Most companies want a high school diploma or equivalent.
License
A commercial driver's license (CDL). You pass a knowledge test and a driving test. Requirements vary by state.
Jobs and outlook
About 2.2 million jobs in 2024. BLS projects 4% growth through 2034, about average, with about 237,600 openings a year.
Who they work for
About 40% work in truck transportation, 12% in wholesale trade, 7% in manufacturing and 6% in construction. About 7% are self-employed owner-operators.

The life, honestly

BLS calls long-haul driving a lifestyle choice, because drivers can be away from home for days or weeks at a time and spend much of that time alone. Driving for hours is tiring, and some drivers also load and unload cargo. Trucking also has one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations, and one of the highest rates of workplace deaths. That's mostly from traffic accidents. A good company takes that seriously, so ask how they handle safety, and don't be shy about it.

Not every driving job is long-haul. Some drivers run local or regional routes and are home more often. If being home at night matters to you, ask about that before you pick a school or a company. Companies sometimes use two drivers, called a team, on long runs, with one sleeping in the cab while the other drives.

Is this for you?

It could be a fit if…

  • You like being alone, or at least on your own, for long stretches.
  • You're good with hand-eye coordination and staying alert.
  • You want to start working sooner than most trades allow.
  • You'd like the option to own a truck and run your own business someday. Owner-operators buy or lease trucks and do the business work too.

Think twice if…

  • Time away from family is a deal-breaker.
  • You can't pass the federal physical, which drivers repeat every two years, or the random drug and alcohol tests.
  • Your record is a problem. A CDL can be suspended for DUI or for a felony involving a motor vehicle, and some companies are stricter than the federal rules.

Want to see CDL schools near you?

Truck driving is picked for you. When schools call, ask each one for its calendar and total cost.

Find CDL schools

How to get your CDL

Step 1

Entry-level driver training

Since February 7, 2022, anyone getting a Class A or Class B CDL for the first time has to complete entry-level driver training (ELDT) first. The same goes for upgrading a Class B to a Class A and for getting a school bus, passenger or hazardous materials endorsement for the first time. A federal list, the FMCSA Training Provider Registry, keeps a record of who has completed it. Ask any school how it handles that.

Required for first-time CDLsAsk how it's recorded
Step 2

Pass the CDL tests

You take a knowledge test and a driving test. The details vary by state. Endorsements let you drive special loads. A hazardous materials endorsement needs an extra knowledge test and a background check.

Knowledge testDriving testState rules vary
Step 3

Get hired and ride along

After school and licensing, most new drivers get several weeks of on-the-job training with an experienced mentor driver in the passenger seat, learning the company's trucks and freight.

Several weeksWith a mentor

The hours rules

The federal government limits how long a long-haul driver can work. BLS summarizes the FMCSA rules: no more than 14 hours straight in a shift, with up to 11 of those driving, then at least 10 hours off duty. Drivers are limited to 60 hours in 7 days or 70 hours in 8 days, then must take 34 hours off. You record your hours in a logbook. Truck drivers often work nights, weekends and holidays.

Pay and cost

The middle pay for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers is $58,640 a year. New drivers earn less. Pay also depends on the kind of freight, how many miles you drive and the company. Ask any company how drivers are paid (by the mile, by the hour, by the load) and what a typical new driver makes in the first year.

BLS says private schools and community college programs run between 3 and 6 months. Cost varies a lot. Use College Navigator to compare community colleges and ask any school for the total cost in writing, including testing fees and the physical. Ask any company you talk to whether it helps with training costs. Here's how paying for it works.

Median pay is for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers nationally, May 2025, from the BLS OEWS survey. BLS publishes state and metro numbers. State and metro pay data from BLS.

Questions about trucking

How long does CDL school take?

BLS says programs at private truck-driving schools and community colleges last between 3 and 6 months. Individual schools set their own schedules, so ask each one for the dates and the number of hours.

Do I need to go to school to get a CDL?

For a first-time Class A or Class B CDL, you need federal entry-level driver training. A few exceptions in federal rules apply, and people who got their CDL before February 7, 2022 aren't required to do the training.

Is truck driving dangerous?

BLS says heavy and tractor-trailer drivers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses, and one of the highest rates of work-related deaths, mostly because of traffic accidents. Safe habits, rest and a company that takes safety seriously matter a lot.

Can I be home every night?

Some local and regional jobs make that possible. Long-haul usually doesn't. Ask about routes and schedules before you commit.

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