If you’re looking for a career with solid pay, clear training, and long-term demand, truck driving checks those boxes. Truckers keep goods flowing across the nation, forming the backbone of the United States supply chain. Professional truck drivers operate vehicles like big rigs and box trucks to deliver goods across local, regional, or interstate routes.
Key takeaways:
- You can launch a truck driving career in just a few weeks, thanks to fast, skills-focused CDL programs that don’t require a college degree.
- Driver demand stays strong, with hundreds of thousands of openings each year and steady long-term job growth across regional, local, and long-haul routes.
- Truck driving offers solid earning potential, with median pay around $57,000 and opportunities to boost income through mileage pay, bonuses, and high-value or specialized freight.
- Your lifestyle and schedule are flexible by design: you can choose between long-haul travel, regional routes with weekly home time, or local driving that gets you home daily.
- CDL training costs and licensing requirements are real considerations, but employer-sponsored programs, endorsements, and experience can quickly increase your return on investment.
If you’re comfortable with time on the road and you want a career that doesn’t require a college degree, truck driving can be a great choice. Let’s walk through what you’ll do, what you’ll gain, and what you’ll need to consider for a truck driving career.
What does a truck driver do?
Truck drivers transport goods in large commercial vehicles like a tractor-trailer (a truck with a separate trailer). Drivers might transport livestock, fuel, products, or food.
The type of route you drive can determine your schedule, pay, and overall lifestyle. These are the three most common types of commercial truck drivers:
- Over-the-road (long-haul): These drivers cover thousands of miles, often traveling across several regions of the country. The pay is typically higher, and the scenery can be incredible, but it also means spending more time away from home.
- Regional: Regional routes cover a smaller territory—usually a few neighboring states. Drivers on these runs get home more often, sometimes weekly, while still earning solid pay.
- Local: Local drivers stick to one metro area or region, completing deliveries within a day. They’re usually home every night. Local jobs may pay a bit less than long-haul work.
Choosing the right route really comes down to what matters most to you: more home time, higher earnings, or the adventure of the open road.
Driving is the main duty for truck drivers, of course, but that’s not all they do. Typical duties for truck drivers include:
- Performing vehicle inspections. Before you hit the road, you’ll check tires, brakes, lights, coupling devices, trailer connections, and more to catch any safety or maintenance issues.
- Handling freight. Freight handling can include loading or securing cargo, ensuring weight is distributed correctly, and sometimes working with chain or strap systems to keep the load stable.
- Operating the vehicle safely. Safe operation includes merging, navigating tight spots, managing blind spots, and driving in a range of weather and traffic conditions.
- Completing paperwork. In addition to filling out any paperwork relating to deliveries, drivers must maintain driving logs. Federal rules require commercial drivers to track how many hours they drive, rest, and work.1 These rules exist to help drivers remain alert and safe.
Truck drivers need a variety of skills to be successful. Key skills include time management, good communication, mechanical knowledge or a willingness to learn basic vehicle systems, and the ability to focus for long stretches of driving.2
Why truck driving can be a good career
Is truck driving a good career? Here are some compelling reasons why it could be the right career choice for you.
1. The job outlook for trucking is strong. The U.S. needs drivers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to grow about 4% from 2024 to 2034, which is roughly the same pace as all occupations. While this rate isn’t explosive, there are so many truck driving jobs that each year there are about 237,600 openings.3
2. Truck drivers can earn a good wage. The median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $57,440 in May 2024.3 Many drivers also earn bonuses, mileage pay, or incentives for special loads, which can boost their total income. Long-haul drivers and special types of freight, like refrigerated goods, high-value products, or hazardous materials, often pay more.4
3. No degree is needed. You don’t need a bachelor’s degree for trucking jobs. Typically, drivers need a high school diploma or a GED and special behind-the-wheel training to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). If you can attend driver training full time, you could get your CDL in just a couple of months.5
4. You won’t work at a desk. Every day as a truck driver is different. Truck drivers can travel across states or across the nation and experience a variety of routes and environments. While some drivers work with a team, many work independently. Many drivers appreciate being out on the road, without constant supervision.
Why truck driving can be challenging
No job is perfect, and trucking has specific demands and trade-offs. Here are some of the key things to think through.
1. Time away from home can be difficult. If you choose to be a long-haul truck driver, you may be on the road for days or weeks at a time. That means less home time and potentially more strain on personal relationships or routines.
2. The job has physical demands. Sitting for long hours, loading and unloading cargo, and dealing with weather conditions and highway traffic can all take a toll. Fatigue is a real risk. Truck drivers have to plan ahead and prioritize healthy eating and exercise to stay in good health.
3. You must meet regulatory and licensing requirements. In order to obtain your Commercial Driver’s License, you’ll need to pass a medical exam and have a good driving record. To continue commercial driving, you must maintain a good driving record and follow Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations. If you violate FMCSA regulations, you can be fined or cited and your CDL can be suspended or revoked.6
4. CDL training costs money upfront. You don’t have to go to college to get your Commercial Driver’s License, but you do have to attend a CDL training program. These programs cost $3,000 to $10,000, depending on the length of the program and the location. Some employer-sponsored programs will pay for training if you agree to work for them for six months or more. If you leave the job early, you might owe money. Like any job, the initial starting pay can be modest. You can earn more money as you gain experience, earn endorsements, or work on higher-paying routes.
Each of these challenges is manageable. Still, it’s important to understand the potential downsides to truck driving before you decide on a career.
How to get started: training and timeline
If you decide you want a career in trucking, here’s how to begin:
- First, you’ll need a state driver’s license and a good driving record. You’ll need to be at least 18 years old, or 21 years old if you want to drive commercially across state lines. You’ll also need a medical certificate from a certified medical provider to ensure you can safely operate a commercial vehicle.
- Then you’ll enroll in a commercial driver training program. Many full-time truck driving schools last about 4 to 8 weeks and include classroom and behind-the-wheel instruction. Other programs are offered part-time during evenings or weekends. When comparing, ask: what’s included in the tuition (including truck time, test fees, and lodging), what kind of trucks do they train in, and do they provide job placement assistance?
- You’ll take a written knowledge test and obtain a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP). Then you’ll be eligible to complete behind-the-wheel commercial driver training. Last, you’ll take your CDL test, which includes a skills test.
Here’s a sample timeline for the entire process:
- Week 1–2: Enroll in a commercial driver training program, attend classroom sessions, study for knowledge test
- Week 3: Pass knowledge test, get CLP
- Weeks 4–6: Behind-the-wheel training, hands-on practice
- Week 7: Take CDL skills test
- Week 8 and beyond: Begin job search or company-sponsored orientation
Licensing and endorsements
A CDL Class A license is the highest level of commercial driver’s license you can get. It allows you to drive combination vehicles, like tractors that pull a trailer. Class B licenses allow you to drive single vehicles, like dump trucks and buses. Class C licenses cover passenger vans and small hazardous materials trucks. You’ll choose the class based on the kind of work you want to do.
Endorsements are extra certifications added to your CDL. Examples include tanker (liquid loads), hazardous materials (hazmat), and doubles and triples. Endorsements can enable you to drive specialized vehicles or haul special loads. In order to earn endorsements, you’ll need to pass additional tests.7
Return on investment (ROI)
While the commercial driver training required for earning your CDL can cost several thousand dollars, drivers are in demand, and new truck drivers can often get a job as soon as they have their CDL. Those who choose employer-sponsored training are essentially guaranteed a job upon graduation.
The lowest-paid 10% of drivers earn under $38,640, and the top 10% earn over $78,800. Compared to the cost of a four-year degree, investing in earning a CDL is an investment that can quickly lead to a stable career with median pay of $57,440. Pay can vary in different states and regions. Experience, endorsements, long-haul driving, specialized loads, mileage, and bonuses can all help increase your trucking salary.3
Frequently asked questions
Is truck driving a good career for someone with no experience? Yes. Most training programs accept beginners, and you don’t need prior commercial driving experience to start.
How many weeks is CDL training? Full-time programs often last 4 to 8 weeks. Part-time programs usually take longer.
Can I be home every night if I choose local driving? Yes. Local routes typically allow you to return home nightly, though the pay may be lower than long-haul jobs.
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Are there career advancement options beyond driving? Absolutely. Experienced drivers can move into fleet management or safety supervising, or become owner-operators who run their own trucking business.
What if I want to drive internationally or cross-border? That’s possible, depending on your employer, route, and licensing requirements. Some U.S. carriers haul into Canada or Mexico.8
Take the next step to becoming a truck driver
Truck driving can be a great career choice. You’ll want to weigh home time expectations, physical demands, and licensing requirements. If becoming a truck driver is for you, the path is clear: training, licensing, then driving.
If you’re ready to explore further, compare CDL training schools. Check their program length, costs, pass rates, and job placement assistance. Driving a truck could be your next move. Explore CDL training programs near you and apply for your permit test today.
Sources:
1https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/sites/fmcsa.dot.gov/files/docs/Drivers%20Guide%20to%20HOS%202015_508.pdf
4https://www.geotab.com/blog/truck-driver-salary/
6https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/safety/good-business/what-happens-if-i-dont-comply-regulations
7https://www.dat.com/resources/differences-between-cdl-vs-non-cdl-licenses8https://www.drivemyway.com/blog/navigating-cross-border-operations-as-a-cdl-driver/
