Explore
Long haul & regional
Truck Driver
The country at sixty-five miles an hour.
Typical pay
$50k-$100k
How you get in
CDL school, 3-8 weeks
Outlook
Steady; local and regional growing
Drivers move freight over the road. Long haul means weeks out; regional and local get you home more often for slightly less pay.
A day in the life
- 4:30aPre-trip inspection, log on
- 5:00aDrive the first four hours
- 9:30aBreak, fuel, shower at the truck stop
- 10:30aSecond driving block
- 3:00pLive unload at a warehouse, wait two hours
- 6:00pFind parking, cook in the cab
How to get in
Company-sponsored CDL school
Duration
3-8 weeks
Cost
$0 up front, repaid through a 12-18 month contract
Credential
Class A CDL
- Get hired by a carrier that runs its own school
- Complete classroom, range and road training
- Run with a trainer for several weeks over the road
- Go solo — leaving early means owing the tuition back
Private CDL school
Duration
3-8 weeks
Cost
$3,000-$8,000
Credential
Class A CDL
- Pay for an independent school and get your permit
- Complete training and pass the CDL road test
- Apply freely — no contract ties you to one carrier
- Expect most carriers to still require a few weeks with a trainer
Community college program
Duration
4-10 weeks
Cost
$1,500-$5,000, often grant-eligible
Credential
Class A CDL
- Enroll in a community college CDL program
- Check for workforce grants that cover most of the cost
- Pass the road test
- Apply to regional carriers that get you home more often
What people love
- · Fast entry, 3-8 weeks of training
- · Strong pay without a degree
- · Independence on the road
What wears people down
- · Time away from home
- · Sedentary and hard on health
- · Unpaid detention time