How To Become A Class A Driver: What It Is and Career Path

What is a class a driver and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A Class A driver is a person truck driver licensed to operate a tractor-trailer combination vehicle that weighs over 26,000 pounds. They transport goods and materials across long distances. Class A drivers must have excellent driving skills to ensure they operate their vehicles safely. They are responsible for loading and unloading cargo, regular vehicle maintenance, and adhering to strict schedules. Class A drivers typically work long hours and spend extended periods away from home.

ScoreClass A DriverUS Average

Salary

4.4

Avg. Salary $56,620

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

7.3

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.80%

Asian 3.67%

Black or African American 11.22%

Hispanic or Latino 22.72%

Unknown 4.69%

White 56.89%

Gender

female 5.21%

male 94.79%

Age - 49

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49

Stress Level

7.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

4.6

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

1.4

Work Life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Class A Driver?

Pros

Good salary and benefits
Job security
Independence on the job
Meeting new people
Sense of accomplishment

Cons

Long hours and time away from home
Physically demanding job
Risk of accidents and injuries
Irregular sleep patterns
Exposure to harsh weather conditions and environmental hazards

Key steps to become a class a driver

Explore class a driver education requirements

Most common class a driver degrees

High School Diploma

43.6 %

Associate

18.0 %

Certificate

12.8 %

Start to develop specific class a driver skills

Skills	Percentages
CDL	33.25%
Customer Service	12.31%
OTR	8.58%
Post-Trip Inspections	7.15%
Hazmat	5.31%

Complete relevant class a driver training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New class a drivers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a class a driver based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real class a driver resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed class a driver usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed class a driver in most of states. 13 states require class a drivers to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License Url
Arkansas	Specific course required	State exam required	Commercial Driver (Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver)
California	-	State exam required	Commercial Driver License
Idaho	-	State exam required	Commercial Drivers
Massachusetts	-	State exam required	COMMERCIAL DRIVERS
Missouri	-	State exam required	Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer

Research class a driver duties and responsibilities

Pick up and deliver LTL freight
Inspect tractor and trailers daily per CDL regulations.
Deliver pet products to veterinarian and pet supply stores.
Pick up and delivery as a truckload, OTR driver.

Prepare your class a driver resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your class a driver resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a class a driver resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Class A Driver Resume templates

Build a professional Class A Driver resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Class A Driver resume.