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

What is a garbage truck driver and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

The garbage truck driver is responsible for collecting trash from residential and commercial areas. They inspect and maintain trucks and equipment to ensure safe and reliable use. They deposit trash at landfills or recycling centers. A garbage truck driver operates a front-end loader truck with mechanical arms for loading and unloading trash. However, there are times the driver needs to carry trash into the truck by hand. They may also have to report sanitation problems so that they can be addressed.

The primary qualifications are a valid driver's license and a minimum of a high school diploma. A garbage truck driver must know their way around their route of duty. They must also be safety compliant and possess customer service skills. The salary of a garbage truck driver is determined by their years of experience. An experienced garbage truck driver can earn up to $22 per hour.

ScoreGarbage Truck DriverUS Average

Salary

3.0

Avg. Salary $38,257

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.3

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.85%

Asian 4.05%

Black or African American 11.76%

Hispanic or Latino 17.73%

Unknown 4.70%

White 60.91%

Gender

female 7.11%

male 92.89%

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

Key steps to become a garbage truck driver

Explore garbage truck driver education requirements

Most common garbage truck driver degrees

High School Diploma

59.8 %

Associate

12.3 %

Certificate

11.4 %

Start to develop specific garbage truck driver skills

Skills	Percentages
CDL	47.36%
Customer Service	31.09%
Post-Trip Inspections	5.19%
Routine Maintenance	4.22%
DOT	2.61%

Complete relevant garbage truck driver training and internships

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

Research garbage 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.
Operate automate or semi-automate hoisting devices that raise refuse bins and dump contents into openings in truck bodies.
Operate and run routes for garbage pickup.
Haul garbage and drive all CDL trucks they have.

Prepare your garbage truck driver resume

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

Build a professional garbage 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 garbage truck driver resume.