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

What is a flatbed truck driver and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A flatbed truck driver operates a specialized truck designed to carry heavy and oversized loads. These loads are typically too large or irregularly shaped to fit in a conventional trailer. The driver is responsible for securing the cargo safely and transporting it to its destination. They must have a thorough understanding of safety regulations, equipment operation, and proper load securement techniques. Flatbed truck drivers work in a variety of industries, including construction, manufacturing, and transportation.

ScoreFlatbed Truck DriverUS Average

Salary

4.8

Avg. Salary $61,065

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.3

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.0

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.80%

Asian 3.61%

Black or African American 13.99%

Hispanic or Latino 16.78%

Unknown 4.67%

White 60.16%

Gender

female 4.84%

male 95.16%

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 flatbed truck driver?

Pros

Higher pay compared to other truck driving jobs
Regular schedule with predictable time off
Potential for bonuses based on performance
Possibility for flexible scheduling
Chance to work independently and travel to different locations

Cons

Physically demanding job with heavy lifting and strapping down loads
Exposure to harsh weather conditions and difficult terrain
Longer work hours with extended periods away from home
Possibility of having to work weekends and holidays
Limited access to resources such as restrooms and food options

Key steps to become a flatbed truck driver

Explore flatbed truck driver education requirements

Most common flatbed truck driver degrees

High School Diploma

40.9 %

Certificate

18.6 %

Associate

17.0 %

Start to develop specific flatbed truck driver skills

Skills	Percentages
CDL	44.19%
Flatbed	36.71%
OTR	15.34%
Commodities	0.89%
Building Materials	0.60%

Complete relevant flatbed truck driver training and internships

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

Obtain the necessary licensing

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

Manage and expedite the secure transportation and accountability of logistic materials and HAZMAT chemicals to commercial, state and government facilities.
Make sure that all proper PPE is used.
Deliver OTR flatb cargo as assigned by driver manager.
Job safety observe at all times with proper PPE.

Prepare your flatbed truck driver resume

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

Build a professional flatbed 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 flatbed truck driver resume.