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

What is a tank truck driver and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A tank truck driver operates a specialized truck designed to transport liquid or gaseous materials. Their main responsibility is to safely transport cargo from one location to another, often over long distances. Tank truck drivers must have a commercial driverâ€™s license and undergo specialized training to handle hazardous materials. They also need to be skilled at maneuvering large vehicles in tight spaces, managing their cargo load, and performing routine maintenance on their trucks.

ScoreTank Truck DriverUS Average

Salary

4.6

Avg. Salary $59,007

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.3

Growth rate 4%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.9

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.78%

Asian 3.45%

Black or African American 12.70%

Hispanic or Latino 20.11%

Unknown 4.58%

White 58.38%

Gender

female 5.51%

male 94.49%

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 tank truck driver?

Pros

Job security and demand for drivers
Opportunities for overtime pay
Ability to travel and see different parts of the country
Access to benefits and retirement plans
Chance to work with advanced technology and equipment

Cons

Long hours and time away from home/family
Exposure to hazardous materials and dangerous situations
Strict regulations and safety requirements
Risk of accidents or breakdowns on the highway
Need for specialized training and certification

Key steps to become a tank truck driver

Explore tank truck driver education requirements

Most common tank truck driver degrees

High School Diploma

40.6 %

Associate

15.9 %

Certificate

14.6 %

Start to develop specific tank truck driver skills

Skills	Percentages
CDL	35.31%
Tractor Trailer	14.37%
OTR	12.52%
Hazmat	10.06%
Tanker Truck	7.07%

Complete relevant tank truck driver training and internships

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

Obtain the necessary licensing

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

Learn and adhere to OSHA and MSHA regulations.
Maintain logs and equipment according to dot regulations.
Transport hazardous materials (OTR) over the road.
Deliver liquid product to customers OTR, regionally and locally.

Prepare your tank truck driver resume

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

Build a professional tank 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 tank truck driver resume.