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What does a cdl class a driver do?

Updated January 8, 2025
8 min read
What does a cdl class a driver do

A CDL Class A driver is a driver with a Class A commercial driver's license. A commercial driver's license is necessary to operate large, heavy, and placarded vehicles. There are several classifications of a commercial driver's license, and Class A is for a car towing a trailer with a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds (5 t). Drivers with this type of license are entitled to operate a commercial motor vehicle such as passenger buses, tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, and dump trucks. They have the choice to add endorsements to their CDL, which allows them to operate particular types of commercial motor vehicles.

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Cdl class a driver responsibilities

Here are examples of responsibilities from real cdl class a driver resumes:

  • Well verse in HAZMAT carriage and delivery precautions and protocols.
  • Maintain the company vehicle's emergency equip, inspections, and cleanliness.
  • Maintain a standard level of cleanliness for each truck and trailer after the trip are completed.
  • Plan OTR travel routes in accordance with traffic and bulk cargo transportation laws, regulations and guidelines.
  • Well verse in using GPS and maps to chart out time and cost efficient routes for delivery purposes.
  • Place empty carts and pallets in trailers so they will be available to facilitate placement and movement of goods.
  • Provide break down service of packing pallets and ensure packages have been pack accordingly to mitigate any shipping damage.
  • Operate equipment, such as computers, radios, phones, or global positioning systems (GPS) equipment.
  • Transport materials and heavy equipment OTR: crush cars, scrap metal, aluminum, copper, steel and wood.
  • Utilize quality assurance principles and incorporate OSHA standards to meet work requirements.
  • Communicate with brokers and clients by CB radio and phone to arrange for pick-ups and deliveries.
  • Deliver FedEx packages to establish residential and businesses accounts on an assign route in a timely and professional manner.

Cdl class a driver skills and personality traits

We calculated that 31% of CDL Class A Drivers are proficient in OTR, Customer Service, and Hazmat. They’re also known for soft skills such as Hearing ability, Physical health, and Hand-eye coordination.

We break down the percentage of CDL Class A Drivers that have these skills listed on their resume here:

  • OTR, 31%

    Transported materials and heavy equipment OTR: crush cars, scrap metal, aluminum, copper, steel and wood.

  • Customer Service, 20%

    Provided daily guidance to customer service representatives to ensure customer service is delivered in a timely, efficient and knowledgeable manner.

  • Hazmat, 5%

    Maintain day to day operations of a large oilfield company Safely load, secure and transport HazMat.

  • Customer Locations, 4%

    Deliver to customer locations and maintain customer relations.

  • Math, 3%

    Possess necessary math and problem-solving skills to perform and maintain accurate piece or other counts of freight and record information accurately.

  • DOT Regulations, 3%

    Operated Tractor Van Trailer- Delivered freight to appointed destinations- Maintained electronic log books per DOT regulations

"otr," "customer service," and "hazmat" are among the most common skills that cdl class a drivers use at work. You can find even more cdl class a driver responsibilities below, including:

Hearing ability. To carry out their duties, the most important skill for a cdl class a driver to have is hearing ability. Their role and responsibilities require that "truck drivers need good hearing." Cdl class a drivers often use hearing ability in their day-to-day job, as shown by this real resume: "provided clients with transportation to their medical appointments including therapy, dentistry, hearing and dialysis. "

Physical health. Many cdl class a driver duties rely on physical health. "federal regulations do not allow people to become truck drivers if they have a medical condition, such as high blood pressure or epilepsy, which may interfere with their ability to operate a truck," so a cdl class a driver will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways cdl class a driver responsibilities rely on physical health: "acquired hazmat training with the company skills used physical strength of loading and unloading cylinders at customer stops"

Hand-eye coordination. cdl class a drivers are also known for hand-eye coordination, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to cdl class a driver responsibilities, because "drivers of heavy trucks and tractor-trailers must be able to coordinate their legs, hands, and eyes simultaneously so that they will react appropriately to the situation around them and drive the vehicle safely." A cdl class a driver resume example shows how hand-eye coordination is used in the workplace: "time management and customer location coordination key to ensuring many different deliveries occurred on time. "

Visual ability. For certain cdl class a driver responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "visual ability." The day-to-day duties of a cdl class a driver rely on this skill, as "truck drivers must be able to pass vision tests." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what cdl class a drivers do: "maintained regular visual and mental exams to ensure concentration, alertness, and attention to detail while operating commercial vehicles. "

Most common cdl class a driver skills

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CDL Class A Driver Resume
CDL Class A Driver Resume
CDL Class A Driver Resume
CDL Class A Driver Resume
CDL Class A Driver Resume
CDL Class A Driver Resume
CDL Class A Driver Resume
CDL Class A Driver Resume
CDL Class A Driver Resume
CDL Class A Driver Resume
CDL Class A Driver Resume
CDL Class A Driver Resume
CDL Class A Driver Resume
CDL Class A Driver Resume
CDL Class A Driver Resume
CDL Class A Driver Resume

Compare different cdl class a drivers

Cdl class a driver vs. Truck driver-over-the-road

A truck driver-over-the-road (OTR) is an individual driver who specializes in hauling items such as heavy freight, machinery, or construction materials from a home terminal to delivery points. OTR truck drivers usually spend more time on the road due to the long distances they are required to reach. To avoid vehicular breakdowns and delays, OTR drivers are required to inspect their trucks and review shipping and transport documents. They are also responsible for unloading freights and collect charges from customers.

We looked at the average cdl class a driver salary and compared it with the wages of a truck driver-over-the-road. Generally speaking, truck driver-over the roads are paid $16,955 higher than cdl class a drivers per year.Even though cdl class a drivers and truck driver-over the roads are distinct careers, a few of the skills required for both jobs are similar. For example, both careers require otr, customer service, and hazmat in the day-to-day roles and responsibilities.

While similarities exist, there are also some differences between cdl class a drivers and truck driver-over-the-road. For instance, cdl class a driver responsibilities require skills such as "math," "basic math," "pallets," and "materials handling." Whereas a truck driver-over-the-road is skilled in "cdl," "pet," "taking care," and "macro." This is part of what separates the two careers.

Truck driver-over the roads really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $67,303. Comparatively, cdl class a drivers tend to make the most money in the transportation industry with an average salary of $57,733.The education levels that truck driver-over the roads earn slightly differ from cdl class a drivers. In particular, truck driver-over the roads are 0.6% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a cdl class a driver. Additionally, they're 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Cdl class a driver vs. Haul truck driver

Haul Truck Drivers are skilled professional drivers. They are licensed to drive around heavy vehicles such as trucks. They usually travel long distances to deliver goods from one place to another. They should be able to meet delivery time expectations. As such, Haul Truck Drivers should have good time management skills. They should also have the presence of mind while driving and must obey all traffic rules. They should know the best routes to take for each particular trip. They must also ensure that their trucks are well-maintained. Haul truck Drivers should be strong enough to assist in loading up the truck or reloading the content.

A career as a haul truck driver brings a higher average salary when compared to the average annual salary of a cdl class a driver. In fact, haul truck drivers salary is $8,729 higher than the salary of cdl class a drivers per year.While the salary may differ for these jobs, they share a few skills needed to perform their duties. Based on resume data, both cdl class a drivers and haul truck drivers have skills such as "otr," "customer service," and "hazmat. "

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that cdl class a driver responsibilities requires skills like "math," "dot regulations," "basic math," and "pallets." But a haul truck driver might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "cdl," "dot," "asphalt," and "loaders."

Haul truck drivers earn a higher average salary than cdl class a drivers. But haul truck drivers earn the highest pay in the transportation industry, with an average salary of $57,930. Additionally, cdl class a drivers earn the highest salaries in the transportation with average pay of $57,733 annually.In general, haul truck drivers achieve similar levels of education than cdl class a drivers. They're 0.3% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Cdl class a driver vs. Fuel truck driver

A Fuel Truck Driver transports fuel and other petroleum products from one place to another, ensuring safety and timeliness. Their responsibilities include measuring and calculating fuel deliveries, maintaining records, handling documentation, liaising with clients, preparing progress reports, and overseeing the loading and unloading procedures, ensuring adherence to the company's safety standards and regulations. A Fuel Truck Driver must conduct regular vehicle maintenance checks and abide by the traffic laws and regulations to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.

On average scale, fuel truck drivers bring in higher salaries than cdl class a drivers. In fact, they earn a $4,564 higher salary per year.Using the responsibilities included on cdl class a drivers and fuel truck drivers resumes, we found that both professions have similar skill requirements, such as "hazmat," "customer locations," and "math.rdquo;

The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, cdl class a drivers are more likely to have skills like "otr," "customer service," "dot regulations," and "pallet jack." But a fuel truck driver is more likely to have skills like "cdl," "dot," "safety rules," and "tank trucks."

Most fuel truck drivers achieve a similar degree level compared to cdl class a drivers. For example, they're 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.

Cdl class a driver vs. Truck driver

The truck driver transports goods and materials by land from and to manufacturing factories or retail businesses and distribution centers with the use of heavy trucks or tractor-trailers. Truck drivers assist and supervise the safe unloading of cargos to the destination. They must always check their cargo if complete and secured with cables, rope, or other materials. They should keep their truck clean, neat, and inspect prior the trip and ensure to be in good working condition to operate safely. It is very important that they follow with all appropriate safety procedures and comply with federal and state regulations. They must also be knowledgable and comfortable in using maps or GPS to navigate the safest and most efficient routes.

Truck drivers typically earn higher pay than cdl class a drivers. On average, truck drivers earn a $8,123 higher salary per year.According to resumes from cdl class a drivers and truck drivers, some of the skills necessary to complete the responsibilities of each role are similar. These skills include "otr," "customer service," and "hazmat. "While some skills are required in each professionacirc;euro;trade;s responsibilities, there are some differences to note. "math," "dot regulations," "basic math," and "pallets" are skills that commonly show up on cdl class a driver resumes. On the other hand, truck drivers use skills like cdl, dot, pet, and pickup on their resumes.truck drivers enjoy the best pay in the retail industry, with an average salary of $58,554. For comparison, cdl class a drivers earn the highest salary in the transportation industry.In general, truck drivers hold similar degree levels compared to cdl class a drivers. Truck drivers are 0.0% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.

Types of cdl class a driver

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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