From food delivery to CDL tractor-trailer driving, truck-driving jobs are available for different kinds of drivers and cargo in every state. The median pay for truck drivers in 2016 was $13.65 per hour—equaling $23,390 per year. Training needed for these jobs is often minimal, and typical entry-level education, such as a high school diploma or equivalent, is required, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
If you’re looking for truck driving jobs, you may be in luck. Employment for delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers is expected to grow. Overall, employment growth is expected to increase 4 percent from 2016 to 2026.
Job Description
The main responsibility involved in truck driving jobs is operating the vehicle to deliver goods to a specified destination on time. Although loading and unloading cargo isn’t always a requirement, it’s frequently a major responsibility for truck drivers. For the majority of truck driving jobs, a driver will also need to maintain ongoing communication with a route dispatcher.
Keeping a logbook of driving activities is a must for long-haul truck drivers. A logbook ensures compliance with federal regulations that govern the rest and work periods for truck drivers. Job duties also include keeping a record of vehicle inspections and checking to make sure the truck is equipped with necessary safety equipment.
Daily delivery driver responsibilities include conducting inspections of a vehicle before departing with goods for delivery, packing and loading products on to trucks according to company requirements or specifications, and delivering orders to customers on assigned routes. Delivery driver jobs also involve unloading goods per client preferences or constraints and obtaining delivery confirmations from each customer.
Required Certifications and Licenses
For any driving jobs, you’ll need a valid driver’s license. Most driving jobs will also require a good driving record with no traffic violations as well as a high school degree.
Delivery driver jobs sometimes also require the ability to operate forklifts and tractors in a variety of weather and traffic conditions as well. Excellent organizational and time management skills are often sought out for delivery driver jobs as well.
For CDL jobs, a high school diploma or equivalent is required along with a CDL (commercial driver’s license). Commercial driver’s licenses are required for commercial truck drivers operating vehicles over 26,001 pounds of gross vehicle weight, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. For those vehicles transporting hazardous materials or oversized cargo, the truck driver must hold special endorsements along with a CDL in their home state.
Real Life Examples
As the trucking and shipping industries continue to grow, there are going to be more and more opportunities for qualified drivers. For instance:
Wind River Environmental, a plumbing and septic servicing company is hiring drivers for CDL tractor trailer driver jobs in Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.
If you’re looking for a driving job in the northeast but don’t yet have a CDL license, you can apply for Delivery driver jobs in Boston with food service and catering companies like PR Management. These jobs allow you to earn an hourly wage, plus tips, but usually don’t require a CDL license.
Getting Hired
In order to get hired for truck driving jobs, you’ll need to present and maintain a clean driving record. As noted above, you’ll also need a valid drivers license. In order to receive a driver’s license, drivers must comply with state and federal regulations.
For CDL jobs, you’ll need to wait until the age of 18 to qualify for a state-issued CDL. For long-haul, interstate routes, you must be 21. During the process of applying and receiving a CDL, drivers must also pass a medical examination and driving examination.
