Jobs With A CDL: Class A, Class B And Local Driving Jobs Explained
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A Class A CDL opens tractor-trailer work on local, regional and over-the-road routes. A Class B CDL covers heavy straight trucks such as dump, box and delivery trucks, plus buses with the right endorsement. Endorsements add tanker and hazmat freight. This guide explains each job type, how pay works and how to qualify.
What Jobs Can You Get With A CDL
A commercial driver's license lets you drive heavy trucks and large buses that a regular license does not cover. Your class sets which vehicles you may drive, and endorsements add tank vehicles, hazardous materials or passengers. Browse truck driver jobs near you when you are ready to apply.
Class A CDL Jobs
A Class A CDL covers combination vehicles with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, where the towed unit is rated above 10,000 pounds. In practice that means tractor-trailers, the vehicle behind most freight hauling jobs.
- Over-the-road, regional and local freight
- Tanker CDL jobs, which need the N (tank vehicle) endorsement
- Hazardous materials loads, which need the H endorsement
- Double or triple trailers, which need the T endorsement
Class B CDL Jobs
A Class B CDL covers single vehicles rated at 26,001 pounds or more that tow no more than 10,000 pounds. Typical work includes dump, box and refuse trucks, concrete mixers and buses, which need the P (passenger) endorsement and, for school buses, the S endorsement.
Non CDL Driving Jobs
Vehicles below the Class A and Class B limits that do not carry 16 or more people or placarded hazardous materials need no CDL, which covers many van and courier jobs. Warehouse work is another way into logistics; see warehouse jobs and our warehouse worker job description.
Class A Vs Class B CDL
The main difference between Class A and Class B is what you may tow. Class A covers a combination with a heavy trailer, while Class B covers a heavy single vehicle with at most a light trailer.
| Class | What it covers | Typical jobs |
|---|---|---|
| Class A | Combinations rated 26,001 pounds or more, towing a unit rated over 10,000 pounds | Tractor-trailer, tanker and flatbed freight |
| Class B | Single vehicles rated 26,001 pounds or more, towing 10,000 pounds or less | Dump, box and refuse trucks, buses |
| Class C | Other vehicles carrying 16 or more people or placarded hazardous materials | Passenger vans, small hazmat vehicles |
What Is A Class B CDL
A Class B CDL is the license for heavy straight vehicles, meaning one truck or bus rated at 26,001 pounds or more. You may tow a trailer only if it is rated at 10,000 pounds or less.
What Can You Drive With A Class B CDL
With a Class B license you can drive heavy single-unit trucks such as box, dump and delivery trucks. Add the P endorsement for passenger buses or the S endorsement for school buses, and note that FMCSA requires a Class B CDL for articulated motor coaches.
Local CDL Jobs That Are Home Daily
Local CDL jobs that are home daily keep your routes close to one terminal, so you start and end each shift in the same place. Check each posting for the start time, route area and whether you unload by hand.
No Live Listings To Show Here Right Now
Live job listings are not available right now. You can still run a search.
Local Vs OTR Truck Driving
Local driving trades long miles for a predictable home life, while over-the-road (OTR) work covers more ground and keeps you away longer. Pick the one that fits your family schedule.
| Type | Home time | Route pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Local | Home after every shift | Short routes from one terminal |
| Regional | Home on a schedule set by the carrier | A group of neighboring states |
| Over the road | Away for longer stretches | Long routes across the country |
Regional CDL Jobs
Regional CDL jobs run within a group of neighboring states and bring drivers home on a set schedule. Many are advertised as cdl jobs home weekly, but home time differs by carrier, so confirm it in the posting.
How Many Hours Do Local Truck Drivers Work
Under federal hours-of-service rules, a property-carrying driver may drive up to 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours off duty, within a 14-hour on-duty window. Local drivers using the short-haul exception must stay within 150 air-miles of their reporting location and be released within 14 hours.
How Much Do CDL Drivers Make
CDL driver pay depends on the license class, your endorsements, the freight and whether you are paid by the mile, the hour or the load. The figures below are advertised salaries from current job postings, shown with their source and date.
Advertised salary data for this job is not available right now. Figures appear here when the salary data provider has enough current postings.
See The Full Salary PageFor pay by state, see the truck driver salary page. Convert an hourly rate with the hourly to salary calculator.
Local Truck Driver Pay
Check whether a local posting pays by the hour, by the mile or by the stop. Local routes include loading and waiting time, and the pay method decides whether that time is paid.
| Role | Median Band | Average Advertised Salary | Source And Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truck driver | Not enough postings | — | Not available |
| Local truck driver | Not enough postings | — | Not available |
| Delivery driver | Not enough postings | — | Not available |
Live salary data is not available right now. Figures appear here when the salary data provider responds.
High Paying CDL Jobs
Jobs that need extra endorsements, such as tank vehicles, hazardous materials or double and triple trailers, are open only to drivers who passed those tests. Compare their advertised pay with general freight before you spend time and money on an endorsement.
How To Get A CDL
You pass a medical exam, earn a commercial learner's permit (CLP), complete Entry-Level Driver Training and pass a skills test. Your state licensing agency gives the tests and may add its own requirements.
- Pass a DOT medical exam with a medical examiner listed on FMCSA's National Registry.
- Pass the general knowledge test, plus any endorsement knowledge tests, to get your CLP.
- Practice on public roads only with a qualified CDL holder seated beside you, as the permit requires.
- Complete Entry-Level Driver Training with a provider listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry.
- Wait at least 14 days after the CLP is issued, then take the skills test in a vehicle of the class you want.
How Long Does It Take To Get A CDL
The federal minimum is short: you must hold your learner's permit for at least 14 days before the skills test, and a CLP is valid for no more than one year. The rest depends on how long your training program runs and how soon your state can schedule the test.
How Much Does It Cost To Get A CDL
The cost covers state permit, test and license fees, the medical exam and training. Prices differ by state and school, so ask each training provider for a full written price.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Get A CDL
Federal rules let states issue a CLP or CDL at 18 for driving within one state. To drive a commercial vehicle across state lines, you must be at least 21, so check your state's rules if you are younger.
CDL Jobs With No Experience
Yes, some employers hire drivers who have just earned a CDL, and their postings say recent graduate or no experience required. If you already have some road time, searches for cdl jobs with 3 months experience open more options.
CDL Jobs That Pay For Training
Some carriers offer paid training for cdl jobs: they cover Entry-Level Driver Training in return for driving for them for a set period. Check that the provider is on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry, and read what you owe if you leave early.
Entry Level CDL Jobs
Entry level CDL jobs are often local, regional or dedicated routes where a new driver can build a record. Search truck driver jobs near you, and read our guide to entry level jobs with no experience for help with a first application.
How To Become A Truck Driver
To become a truck driver, choose the license class that fits the work you want, earn the CDL, then apply to employers that hire new drivers. Before you drive for an employer, you must also pass a pre-employment drug test and a check of FMCSA's Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.
How Long Does It Take To Become A Truck Driver
It takes as long as your training program, your tests and your job search together. Federal rules set only the 14-day permit hold, so a full-time training program gets you to the skills test sooner than a part-time one.
What Do You Need To Become A Truck Driver
- The minimum age: 18 for in-state driving or 21 for interstate driving
- A DOT medical certificate from a certified medical examiner
- A commercial learner's permit and Entry-Level Driver Training from a registered provider
- A passed CDL skills test in the class you need
- A negative pre-employment drug test before an employer lets you drive
Is CDL A Good Career
A CDL can be a good career if you like working on your own, can handle long shifts and want a credential you can earn without a college degree. Weigh home time and the pay in postings near you, and see how to find a job for help comparing offers.
Frequently Asked Questions About CDL Jobs
Licensing answers come from FMCSA rules. Pay answers point to live job postings.
How Much Do CDL Drivers Make A Week
Weekly pay depends on your miles or hours, the freight and the pay method. See current advertised pay on the truck driver salary page.
Do CDL Drivers Make Good Money
It depends on the class, endorsements and route. Compare driving pay with other work on the salaries by job title page.
Is It Hard To Become A Truck Driver
It takes a medical exam, knowledge tests, Entry-Level Driver Training and a skills test. The skills test takes the most practice.
Can You Get A Job With A CDL Permit
A permit lets you drive only with a qualified CDL holder beside you, so jobs with a cdl permit are mostly carrier training positions.
Which CDL Class Pays The Most
Pay depends more on the job than the class, though Class A covers the widest range of freight. Compare jobs on the truck driver salary page.
Do CDL Jobs Drug Test
Yes. FMCSA rules require a negative pre-employment drug test before you drive, random testing during the year, and a query of the Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse before you are hired and every year after.
Do CDL Jobs Hire Felons
Federal rules do not bar every person with a felony, but specific offenses, such as using a vehicle to commit a felony, disqualify a driver. Each employer sets its own background check policy.
Can You Become A Truck Driver At 18
Yes, within one state, since states may issue a CDL at 18 for intrastate driving. Interstate driving requires age 21.
Are CDL Jobs In Demand
Check what employers post right now: open truck driver jobs with your city or ZIP code.
Will Trucking Jobs Be Replaced By AI
No one can say for sure. Today's driving jobs still require a licensed driver, and many include loading and inspections.