Q: Is driving a Class A truck hard?

Yea, Class A truck driving is hard. While becoming a Class A driver is not difficult, working as a Class A driver can be. Many Class A drivers must work long hours, spend lots of time away from home, and remain seated for most of their workday.

Question 1

How long does it take to become a Truck Driver Class A?

Accepted Answer

It takes 5 years of professional experience to become a truck driver class a. That is the time it takes to learn specific truck driver class a skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

Question 2

How long does it take to become a Class A driver?

Accepted Answer

While the length of time to become a Class A truck driver varies from state to state; it averages about seven weeks. Typically training courses last seven to twelve weeks of full-time training. However, some can even be up to 18 to 24 weeks.

Question 3

How much does it cost to get a Class A CDL?

Accepted Answer

It costs between $3,000 to $5,000 to get a Class A CDL license. Each state, however, has its own set of requirements and fees for obtaining a Class A CDL.

General Fees include:

Knowledge Test - costs between $5 and $20 and includes the issuance of a Commercial Learner's Permit
Road Skills Test - costs $30 and $60
Standard CDL License - costs between $75 and $100
Endorsements - costs between $5 and $10 for each endorsement
Other costs can include application fees, drug screenings, fingerprint and background checks for HAZMAT Endorsements (typically $100), and re-test fees.

Question 4

Is driving a Class A truck hard?

Accepted Answer

Yea, Class A truck driving is hard. While becoming a Class A driver is not difficult, working as a Class A driver can be. Many Class A drivers must work long hours, spend lots of time away from home, and remain seated for most of their workday.

Question 5

What is a Class A truck driver?

Accepted Answer

A Class A truck driver license allows you to operate equipment of all sizes and weights. You must have this if you are deciding to drive a semi-truck or a combination of truck and trailer. Class A also allows you to drive flatbeds, livestock, and tank vehicles.

Question 6

What is the difference between CDL Class A and B?

Accepted Answer

The difference between CDL Class A and B has to do with what size of the truck is covered on the CDL license type (A, B, C).

A Class A license takes seven weeks to complete and includes 168 classroom hours.

Question 7

What is a good starting salary for a Truck Driver Class A?

Accepted Answer

A good starting salary for a truck driver class a is $43,000 in the United States. That puts you in the 10th percentile of annual income for a truck driver class a in the U.S., which is about what you would expect if you were new to the field. The average salary for truck drivers class a is $64,081, but that normally requires some level of experience to achieve. Furthermore, a good starting salary for a truck driver class a can vary by state.

Question 8

How much do Amazon Class A truck drivers make?

Accepted Answer

An Amazon Class A truck driver makes between $70,000 to $90,000 a year. There are several factors that impact earning potential for an Amazon Class A truck driver, including the type of truck (freight vs. van) and the distance traveled (regional vs. cross-country).

Question 9

How much does a Class A CDL driver make?

Accepted Answer

A Class A CDL driver makes between $48,000 to $100,000 a year. The very high variability in earning potential reflects factors such as location, truck type, and distance traveled (regional vs. national).

Question 10

Can a truck driver class a make 100k?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can make $100,000 per year as a truck driver class a. The chances of earning over $100k for a truck driver class a are actually pretty good because the highest-paid truck driver class a positions typically pay at least $93,000 per year. The average annual salary is $64,081 for truck driver class a jobs. For example, truck drivers class a in North Dakota whose salaries are in the 90th percentile earn an average salary of $108,000.

Question 11

How much do Class A truck drivers make?

Accepted Answer

Class A truck drivers make around $64,333 a year. There is a good deal of variability; however, a Class A truck driver's earnings vary, starting as low as $34,000 to as high as $100,000 a year.

Question 12

Is a Class A CDL worth getting?

Accepted Answer

Yes, a Class A CDL license is worth getting. It's a great time, more than ever before, to get into a Class A CDL truck driving career, with so many jobs available.

Holding a Class A CDL license gives you great job security. There's also a good deal of flexibility in the type of trucking job you can take. Some truckers are away for weeks at a time, while other truck drivers are home every night and weekend.

Question 13

What percentage of Truck Drivers Class A are female?

Accepted Answer

9.7% of truck drivers class a are female in the United States. This is -0.2 percentage points lower than last year. Additionally, the percentage of female truck drivers class a has increased by 2.6 percentage points since 2010. That means there are a total of 132,835 female truck drivers class a in the U.S. and 1,236,601 male truck drivers class a in the United States. Note that Zippia's estimate accounts only for the 1,369,436 people with the specific job title of truck driver class a and doesn't include grouping similar job titles, or people with potentially similar credentialing.

Question 14

How should a truck driver write a resume?

Accepted Answer

A truck driver should write a resume that focuses on their training, skills, and accomplishments as a safe and reliable driver. The key to writing a resume as a truck driver is to focus it around a few core skills and provide real-world examples of specific responsibilities and achievements.

Question 15

Where do you put CDL on a resume?

Accepted Answer

You put a CDL on a resume in several places - such as in the profile summary, the education & certification section, and the skills section. Having a commercial driver's license (CDL) is definitely a big perk and something the hiring manager will definitely want to clearly see in a resume of a potential truck driver candidate.

Frequently asked questions about truck drivers class a

Questions about becoming a truck driver class a