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

What is a transportation driver and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A transportation driver operates vehicles intended to transport people or goods from one location to another. These professionals must have a valid driver's license, knowledge of traffic laws and safety, and strong navigation skills. Transportation drivers may work for public transit systems, trucking companies, ride-hailing services, and private individuals. Their duties include loading and unloading cargo and maintaining vehicle cleanliness and safety. They must also keep detailed driving records and adhere to strict schedules.

ScoreTransportation DriverUS Average

Salary

3.4

Avg. Salary $43,236

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 3.61%

Black or African American 12.83%

Hispanic or Latino 18.96%

Unknown 4.66%

White 59.15%

Gender

female 27.21%

male 72.79%

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 transportation driver?

Pros

Possibility of earning tips
No need for a college degree
Job security due to demand for drivers
Ability to listen to music or audiobooks while driving
Potential for overtime pay

Cons

Risk of accidents and injuries on the job
Exposure to weather extremes and pollution
Difficulty establishing work-life balance
Cost of maintaining a personal vehicle for work purposes
Lack of benefits such as health insurance or retirement plans

Key steps to become a transportation driver

Explore transportation driver education requirements

Most common transportation driver degrees

High School Diploma

38.1 %

Associate

20.5 %

Bachelor's

18.1 %

Start to develop specific transportation driver skills

Skills	Percentages
CDL	21.23%
DOT	14.86%
Tractor Trailer	9.66%
Hazmat	4.94%
Post-Trip Inspections	4.44%

Complete relevant transportation driver training and internships

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

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed transportation driver usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed transportation driver in most of states. 18 states require transportation drivers to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License url
Kentucky	Specific course required	State exam required	School Bus Driver
Maryland	Specific course required	State exam required	BUS DRIVER, SCHOOL
Alaska	Specific course required	State exam required	Bus Driver, School
Idaho	-	State exam required	Commercial Drivers
Illinois	Specific course required	State exam required	COMMERCIAL DRIVER (TRUCK AND BUS OPERATOR)

Gain additional transportation driver certifications

Transportation driver certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific transportation driver certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for transportation drivers include Commercial Driver License (CDL) and Medical Assistant.

More About Certifications

Research transportation driver duties and responsibilities

Utilize CDL to transport elderly patients to doctor appointments, dining and recreation activities.
Maintain safe CDL driving record.
Haul chemicals OTR to customers assist in load and unload as needed
Certify in CPR, chauffeur license, perform administrative support functions.

Prepare your transportation driver resume

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

Build a professional transportation 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 transportation driver resume.