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

What is a commercial truck driver and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

A commercial truck driver operates large trucks to transport goods. They are responsible for loading and unloading cargo, inspecting vehicles, and ensuring safe and timely deliveries. Commercial truck drivers often encounter adverse weather conditions or heavy traffic. They must have excellent driving skills, knowledge of safety regulations, and the ability to maintain their vehicles. Commercial truck drivers work for shipping companies, manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. They keep supply chains moving and deliver essential goods.

ScoreCommercial Truck DriverUS Average

Salary

5.0

Avg. Salary $64,512

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.3

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.80%

Asian 3.65%

Black or African American 13.66%

Hispanic or Latino 19.96%

Unknown 4.68%

White 57.24%

Gender

female 8.99%

male 91.01%

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 commercial truck driver?

Pros

High demand for drivers
Good pay and benefits
Opportunity for advancement
Job stability
Flexible schedules

Cons

Physical strain and health risks
Monotonous work
Strict regulations and compliance requirements
Limited job opportunities in certain industries or locations
Potential for job insecurity due to automation and technology advancements

Key steps to become a commercial truck driver

Explore commercial truck driver education requirements

Most common commercial truck driver degrees

High School Diploma

35.3 %

Associate

21.4 %

Bachelor's

18.1 %

Start to develop specific commercial truck driver skills

Skills	Percentages
CDL	29.96%
Good Time Management	8.86%
Safety Issues	8.79%
Safety Equipment	7.57%
Federal Regulations	6.65%

Complete relevant commercial truck driver training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New commercial truck 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 commercial truck driver based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real commercial truck driver resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed commercial truck driver usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed commercial truck driver in most of states. 13 states require commercial truck 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 commercial truck driver duties and responsibilities

Operate a forklift following OSHA safety regulations and maintenance standards.
Work OTR for duration of lease.
Complete nationwide OTR training including all terrains and climates.
Train and mentore new CDL certify students from the company.

Prepare your commercial truck driver resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your commercial truck 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 commercial truck 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 commercial truck driver resume templates

Build a professional commercial truck 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 commercial truck driver resume.