If you landed on this page, you are probably familiar with the meaning of a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
But maybe your dilemma is what type of CDL to get because the type of license determines the type of jobs you can apply for.
We get your struggles, which is why we created a list of all the vacancies you can target, depending on the type of license you have or you are planning to get:
Jobs with CDL-A
The CDL-A license will let drivers operate a semi-trailer or trailer with two or more wheels, flatbeds, livestock carriers, and tank vehicles i.e., vehicles with a gross weight bigger than 26,000 pounds provided that the hauled vehicle is 10.000 pounds or above.
Under the CDL-A umbrella fall the following job occupations:
Commercial Truck Driver/Over the Road Driver.
Being a commercial truck driver is more a lifestyle than a job because it means being away from home for extended periods of time. But if you need the money/you have no children waiting for you at home or else, you can hop on board. It’s interstate driving all the way.
You will haul oversized goods, hazardous and potentially perishable chemicals, and materials (freight driving), refrigerated goods – mostly food or medicine (refrigerated driving), or you can transport liquids in tankers (tanker driving).
Commercial truck drivers actually earn very well. The annual income for commercial truck drivers is hitting the roof with $80K and above.
You may want to check out our OTR trucking jobs, and apply if interested.
Long-Haul Cargo Truck Driver.
Because long-hauls require driving for longer intervals of time and being away from home, there is always a high demand.
You will have to drive from one country to another.
Long-haul truck drivers will usually have a specific region they drive through.
The average salary for long-haul cargo truck drivers is $40k.
Short-Haul Cargo Driver.
If you prefer having a narrower driving window like 12 hours or less, that means being a short-haul driver is your cup of tea. Instead of driving outside of domestic borders, you can drive across your own country.
Short-haul drivers typically make $48K.
That is less than long-hauler drivers, but the advantage is being closer to home.
Transportation Supervisor.
Who doesn’t need supervisors, right? Every factory, every firm has one or several depending on the company size.
Thus, a logistics company will also need one.
Your duties as a logistics coordinator or supervisor will be to create schedules and organize the runs and deliveries.
Transportation supervisors make nearly $55K per year.
Truck Driver Instructor.
As you already know, instructors coach trainees and if you have a CDL license yourself, why not become a truck driver instructor (of the license you obtain, respectively) yourself?
You’ll have plenty of students to coach—it’s yet another profitable branch.
The average hourly rate for this placement is $22.
Terminal Manager.
As a terminal manager, you are responsible for the successful operation of trucking centers, where freight is loaded and unloaded.
As the terminal manager, you will have to supervise the cargo loading and unloading to prevent damage because damaged goods mean poor turnover and lots of customer complaints.
You can expect to make between $55K and $72K per year or $24 per hour.
Owner/Operator.
If you own your own truck or if you want to lease from a carrier, such as our lease to purchase program, you can choose your types of runs and you can follow YOUR pace and schedule.
Think of this as freelance trucking—seeking for projects you deem profitable or fitting of your daily routine, your needs, your health requirements… you name it.
Related reading: 8 Kickstarter Ways to Becoming an Owner Operator Truck Driver
You don’t have to be stuck in long runs if you don’t want to. You get to choose which gigs to do and which not to do, proprietary to the size of the vehicle you own.
If you are dedicated, you can expect to make up to $150k per year. That’s not sole profit of course – you will have to pay for fuel, truck repair and maintenance, tires change, food and beverage while being on the road, or other unplanned expenses.
Even if you deduct your annual expenditures, it is still going to pay off doing freelance trucking.
If you’re looking for a job as an Owner Operator, our company has the right deal for you.
Jobs with CDL-B
On the other hand, a CDL-B license lets drivers operate any vehicle heavier than 26,000 pounds and any vehicle towing another vehicle NOT in excess of 10,000 pounds.
Straight or box trucks, large passenger buses or segmented buses, tractor-trailers, and even dump trucks with small trailers are covered in this category.
With a CDL-B type of license you are eligible for the following jobs:
Cement/Concrete Trucks Driver.
You can drive trucks with concrete and cement as well as the corresponding machinery at construction sites.
Maneuvering concrete mixers should not be a tough task for you – you already have your CDL-B license.
Working as a cement and concrete truck driver, your annual income will be around $35K.
Fire and Rescue.
Do you feel superheroic?
Do you want to make a change in your job, do you want to fight for a cause?
To become a driver for a fire brigade or a rescue service you need to have either a CDL-A or CDL-B license.
The average hourly rate for fire and rescue drivers is $14.
Recruiter.
Trucking recruiters usually go to trucking schools to recruit new employees, or you may even find them at job fairs.
If you are tired of the actual driving and you have strong communication skills, this is a dandy alternative.
The hourly rate ranges from $18 to $40.
Courier.
For this type of job, you will be in charge of loading and unloading parcels, packages, and pallets, moving goods or returning them to warehouses, and deliver goods to recipients after you’ve driven to pick-up points to gather the necessary cargo.
The average hourly rate for this job placement is $36.
Mechanic.
So obvious and yet so possible! If you are passionate about trucks but prefer staying off the road, consider working in a mechanic’s workshop. Trucks need regular check-ups and maintenance, so this is a very profitable niche.
If you are a driver that has been on the road for quite some time now, you must understand the truck’s insides.
Lifestyle on the road will teach you more about trucks, their comprising parts, and how they are all interconnected than any book or course ever will. The keyword is experience.
The average salary for truck mechanics is $51K.Z
Jobs with CDL-C
A CDL-C license will allow drivers to operate any vehicle (small HazMat vehicles and passenger vehicles as well as other combinations not covered in CDL-A and CDL-B) designed either for the transportation of 16 or more passengers or used in the transportation of hazardous materials.
By obtaining the CDL-C license, you can do the following jobs:
Bus Driver/Minibus driver.
Captain Obvious, we know, but still. Bus drivers drive from city to city domestically, or they can transport travelers to tourist destinations for sightseeing.
You can also be a bus driver within your hometown if you are more for shorter shifts and routes, and if dealing with traffic lights and crowded streets is not getting on your nerves.
You can even organize your own tours i.e., transport people that commute back and forth for work if you have your own minibus.
Salaries for bus drives vary from $33K to $58K, depending on the company and the driver’s personal experience.
Delivery Driver.
Companies such as Amazon, FedEx, Hermes, UPS, and USPS depending on prompt delivery and distribution to move products to consumers.
As a delivery driver, your responsibility will be to transport food, furniture, clothing, or different types of cargo and equipment.
Delivery driver salaries range from $23.5K to $40.5K.
Relocation Driver.
You can drive for a relocation company or if you have your own hauling vehicle, you can offer your services to people who need furniture or equipment relocation. With a good marketing strategy including promoting your services on social media, you can attract a wide net of interested customers who will benefit from your services.
The word-of-mouth technique is another useful method provided that people are satisfied with the care you treated their property with. If they are, they can recommend you to other people.
Licensed drivers typically make around $15 per hour for such services.
Dispatcher.
A non-trucking job, yet still connected to the industry. As the dispatcher, you will be the point of reference to other drivers and you will be in constant communication with them – guiding them safely and finding the fastest routes at all times.
Spatial orientation is a huge plus here.
Each year, dispatchers make around $39k or about $19 an hour.
Don’t miss out: Truck Dispatcher Job Description
Final Words
The type of job will mostly depend on the size of the vehicle and the type of CDL license you have. But one thing is certain: you have options and you should exploit them. Whether you want a driving or non-driving-related job, there is a cup of tea for everyone who is passionate about the industry. With the corona-induced situation, more and more people are opting for less crowded transport and contactless/cashless shopping, which is where delivery plays a key role. If you have a CDL license, make use of it by turning it into a career or at least a well-oiled machine.
It’s a diverse market out there. Compare your skills with your availability and the equipment you have at your disposal (if you want to ride solo) to make the best out of your options.
