Find CDL Jobs and Training Near You

Looking for a great CDL job or training locally? Use these handy resources to get started today!

A Class A or Class B CDL is essential if you want to drive a semi or a delivery truck. The market for commercial drivers is growing. Truck driving is one of the most popular industries in America right now and has been since the 1980s.

Commercial driving is a mix of blue-collar and white-collar professions. It is a combination of truck driving, business management, and customer service. Unfortunately, many people have misconceptions about how much truck drivers earn, what the job entails, and how much training it takes to become certified. To better understand this field, you must understand the essentials and gain information, so when you apply for CDL training, you have an excellent foundation.

CDL Training Overview, Requirements, and Timing

A solid CDL driving school should offer you more than just the minimum required by the state. You should feel a connection with the instructors; they should treat you as customers they can count on and provide you with the service and support you need to succeed in the trucking industry.

A quality CDL training school gives you years of experience in one place with an average of about 180 hours of training time. Top-notch instructors who are passionate about your success teach you to drive. Typically, you’re trained inside class first, then behind the wheel.

A driver’s education course from a top-quality CDL driving school will help you learn all the basics of driving a big rig. The curriculum for CDL training will typically include driving skills like backing up, turning, changing lanes, backing up, and maneuvering. Also, professors and courses will cover safety, state and federal regulations, and the written and unwritten rules of the road. Finally, you will focus on map reading, GPS, logbooks, e-logbooks, scheduling, routes, and organizations.

You will become a better driver, a more confident person, and a great asset to any company with comprehensive training from a quality CDL driving school. There is no better way to learn than behind the wheel with a qualified CDL driving instructor.

To receive CDL training and certification, you must fulfill the following requirements:

• You must have a valid driver’s license.
• You must have a stellar and clean driving record.
• You must have a social security card.
• You must be 21 years of age or older.
• You must have a way to pay for the CDL training near you.

CDL Career Paths and Salaries

Driving a big rig can be a great way to make a living. You get paid to travel the country and see the sights while fueling your adventurous soul. Of course, you’re typically living out of your truck, so it might not be for everyone. However, driving a big rig can be an excellent career choice for those who aren’t afraid of a little hard work and time on the road.

The average salary for a truck driver is $68,240, ranging from $64,074 (entry-level) to $77,053 (experienced). The top cities for truck drivers related to salary are Chicago, Atlanta, and Houston. Some of the specific benefits a truck driver will receive include fuel discounts, employee stock ownership, 401(k) with matching, dental/vision/health insurance, disability insurance, toll reimbursement, PTO, and more. Finally, one of the best benefits for truck drivers with CDL includes a $15,000 sign-on bonus, a $4000 transition bonus, and on-the-job paid CDL training with no experience.

Drivers with the highest seniority are paid the highest percentage rate per mile or earn guaranteed compensation. While there is no guarantee of a set salary, most payrolls comprise of compensation based on ranking.

Types of CDL Truck Driving Jobs: local, semi-local, or regional.

Driving a commercial vehicle is a skilled profession. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics classifies professional drivers as people who have to have a special endorsement on their CDL or vocational license to drive one of three types of jobs.

Local

They offer daily commutes while you still get to work on the road multiple days each week. Local jobs tend to offer higher pay than their semi-local counterparts due to the opportunity for overtime. A local job only requires you to drive a specific route within a particular area in your town or city.

Semi-Local

Typically, a semi-local route requires an overnight once or twice a week. Semi-local can be just the right fit for someone who wants to be closer to home every day of the week but still gets to travel on a new route each week. These jobs typically pay slightly less than Local and Regional jobs and are sometimes on a contract basis.

Regional

Regional trucking refers to someone who drives trucks in a specific region of the country. These regions, or territories called, are determined by their distance from a central shipping terminal and can be anywhere from 50 to 1000 miles. Regional truck driving offers its fair share of advantages in addition to a regular paycheck. A regional route can be an excellent way for you to do more traveling outside of one’s hometown.

Types of CDL Jobs are experiencing a shortage

With shipment delays rising, trucking companies are struggling to find enough drivers. They need hard-working drivers who are ready to work now. This fantastic opportunity can lead you to a better job, increased earnings, and joining the area’s top employers.

The number of available jobs for long-haul truckers or drivers with a CDL license is growing, especially in the Southeast Texas region. Why? The U.S. Department of Labor reports more than 3.5 million trucking jobs, and the shortage is expected to grow more than 11 percent over the next decade.

Most companies are looking for Class A and Class B CDL truck drivers. This is because of the size and weight of their vehicles. In addition, the trucking companies have larger loads to transport from one place to another, so they need drivers with a CDL license.

CDL Training Programs

As a new driver, you must select a CDL training program that suits your learning style and the type of work you’re looking for. Knowing where to look for your CDL training is one of the more critical factors in this process. Unfortunately, numerous online businesses make claims about having the best offer for CDL training. But how do you know that they are telling the truth? You can find some companies that offer free information that will educate you on what to look for when searching for CDL training.

If you are looking for some training programs, here are some of the top schools: CR England (17day program), Pam Transport (4week program), and Swift.

If you are looking for the top employers, consider these companies: XPO Logistics, Estes Express Lines, UPS, FedEx Ground, and Paschall Truck Lines (PTL).