What Does a Truck Driver Do?

First, you’ll need to earn a high school diploma or equivalent. (Most companies require it.)

Next, you’ll attend a professional truck driving school or training provided by a transportation company or community college. New federal rules require that entry-level drivers complete a program that includes theory and supervised, behind-the-wheel training. Programs must be approved and listed on the Training Provider Registry of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCS).

Programs will include transportation technology, rules of the road, essential truck mechanics, inspections, rigging, shifting and specific driving skills such as driving at night or during extreme weather. 

To pay for your training, you may have several options. Some training companies don’t ask for payment up front but instead require a work commitment and deduct small amounts out of each paycheck. If you have military experience, you can get help paying for training through the GI Bill. Students can also get help finding financial aid for community college. 

The next step is earning your Class A commercial driver’s license (CDL). You will need to have a valid regular driver’s license to start that process and get a commercial learner’s permit while you train. After you finish training, you’ll take an exam and a driving test. 

Drivers who haul certain freight such as hazardous materials will also need to earn a special license endorsement code.

Finally, it’s time to get hired. Many drivers work for transportation companies or commercial fleets. Others work independently as owner-operators.

Truck driving may lead you to a related career such as being a diesel mechanic or working in logistics.

You must be at least 18 years old in most states to earn your CDL. You must be at least 21 to be an interstate truck driver. (Younger drivers who have their CDL can drive within a state.)

You’ll also have to meet the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) physical fitness requirements and take the physical exam every two years. 

Not surprisingly, you’ll need to have and to maintain a clean driving record. Many employers conduct background checks and will ask you to pass a drug and alcohol screening. 

Training programs typically take from six weeks to 12 months, but they vary by provider. For example, some company-sponsored programs last six weeks while some community college programs may last as long as a year. 

New drivers should expect to get between one and three months of on-the-job training.

This short turn-around time is one of the reasons for the allure of truck driving. It’s one of the fastest-routes to a skilled trade job.

Truckers should expect to work odd hours, including nights and weekends. A truck driver’s hours are regulated by federal rules, which require regular rest periods. The hours can be demanding and frequently involve overtime.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts steady growth in demand. It projects about 259,900 openings for tractor-trailer truck drivers each year between 2021 and 2031.

Successful truckers typically share these traits. They: 

• Enjoy driving
• Don’t mind being away from home
• Can sit for long periods of time
• Have good hearing and vision
• Like being alone
• Have good hand-eye coordination and quick reaction times
• Are safety conscious