Is it easy to become a truck driver?

To drive a Commercial Motor Vehicle (CMV) and be hired by a professional company, you must meet certain requirements. Check out your state's Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website to become familiar with commercial driving rules and regulations.

• Be at least 21 years old.

• The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires all professional truck drivers who drive across state lines to be at least 21 years old. You can obtain a CDL at the age of 18, but you will be limited to driving intrastate, and most trucking companies only hire CDL holders who are 21 years old and older.

• Good vision and ability to pass a vision test

• Have a clean driving record and solid work history.

• Pass a drug test

Step 2: Attend a CDL program

To earn a CDL, you will have to attend a truck driving school or a community college. Trucking school programs typically last about three weeks, while a program at a community college usually lasts about six weeks. The length of time is based on the type of CDL license and the type of truck you would like to drive.

• Class A license (7- weeks to complete, 168 classroom hours) covers the heaviest of trucks (e.g., flatbed, dry vans, a semi, big rig, or 18-wheeler, truck trailer combinations - double and triple trailers, tractor-trailer buses)

• Class B license (4 to 8 weeks to complete, 70 to 120 classroom hours) covers trucks at moderate to heavy in weight (e.g., straight trucks, buses, garbage trucks, dump trucks, delivery trucks, cement mixers)

• Class C license (3 weeks to complete) covers smaller vehicles (e.g., delivery trucks, warehouse trucks, large passenger vans for 16 or more passengers)

Step 3: Get a truck driving job

Once you have your CDL, you will have access to a huge variety of truck driving jobs. Prior to starting employment at most companies, you will be required to pass a drug and alcohol screen in addition to sharing your work history and passing a background check.