CDL stands for Commercial Driver's License. Drivers in possession of this certificate transport goods and stock in trucks of various sizes from distribution centers to any required delivery destination. The job is pretty straight forward in theory, but not lacking challenges in practice.
Drivers load the truck safely and deliver to the given destination, making sure the cargo is intact and the vehicle is functional. Any and all of these factors may pose potential obstacles to the completion of the task. They have to meet delivery deadlines, inform clients about delays, and document transactions. And they have to stop and rest on non-negotiable terms.
As a CDL driver, you have to know your vehicle and operate it safely, knowing what to do when it breaks down, and more importantly, knowing what to do to prevent mishaps. Experience on the job is always a value, as well as an organized mindset, stamina, compliance with road rules, and yes, the inevitable interpersonal skills. Although, if anyone should be able to get away with being a grouch, it is a truck driver.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being a cdl driver. For example, did you know that they make an average of $27.89 an hour? That's $58,020 a year!
Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 99,700 job opportunities across the U.S.
There are certain skills that many cdl drivers have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed hand-eye coordination, physical health and visual ability.
If you're interested in becoming a cdl driver, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 14.0% of cdl drivers have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 1.8% of cdl drivers have master's degrees. Even though some cdl drivers have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become a cdl driver. When we researched the most common majors for a cdl driver, we found that they most commonly earn high school diploma degrees or associate degree degrees. Other degrees that we often see on cdl driver resumes include bachelor's degree degrees or diploma degrees.
You may find that experience in other jobs will help you become a cdl driver. In fact, many cdl driver jobs require experience in a role such as driver. Meanwhile, many cdl drivers also have previous career experience in roles such as truck driver or cdl class a driver.