When I was working in the oilfield years ago, the oil price bottomed out and we were struggling. I liked to drive and do physical work, so when I saw a Pepsi delivery guy working one day, I couldn’t help but wonder, how do I become a local truck driver?
To become a local truck driver, you have to obtain your CDL or else go to work for a local company that will train you to become a driver. To obtain your CDL, you must attend a CDL school, a tech school, a community college or get your CDL on your own. Once you have your CDL, apply to local truck driving jobs.
Sounds simple right? It can be for the right person. I am currently a local truck driver and have been one for years, so let me explain to you everything you need to know…
Get A Job with A Local Company That Trains Drivers
This may sound too good to be true, but it really isn’t. The first delivery company I worked for had CDL drivers and then what they called helpers or lumpers. The helpers/lumpers rode in the passenger seat and either took all of the freight in after the driver scanned it or just helped the driver take all of the freight in.
If the helper/lumper wanted, they could their CDL learners permit and then start training to drive one of the trucks. If you have your CDL learners permit, you are allowed to drive one of the trucks as long as a CDL driver is in the passenger seat.
It’s not too good to be true because it really isn’t that easy. At a CDL school you will be focused on driving in controlled conditions all day. When you learn on the job it can be quite stressful. Sometimes, the experienced drivers are impatient, and it can be hard to get some drive time in.
Nevertheless, it is possible, so this is a viable option. Just start calling local trucking companies and ask them if they train drivers to get their CDL.
You might have to start at a company that trains drivers because they are desperate for more drivers. This usually is not a good sign. But, if the company is not a good one, just get your CDL and move on. All is fair in love and war.
Attend a CDL School
There are several CDL schools in every state that you can pay for. They cost anywhere between $1800 – $6500.
It can take anywhere for 3 weeks to over 6 months.
Most of these schools, train you to get your learners permit, train you how to drive a semi and then give you the driving test themselves.
This is by far the best way to get your CDL if you can afford it.
There are grants you can apply for like a federal pell grant, workforce investment act, state grants and VA education benefits. You can also get a loan.
It’s really not that bad to get a loan because a CDL will guarantee that you get a decent paying job, even if it is local. You shouldn’t have any trouble getting a job right out of CDL school so you can start paying on the loan right away.
Start with An Over the Road Company That Pays for Your CDL Training
Most of the big name over the road companies out there will pay for you to get your CDL. Usually they just require you to sign some sort of contract that requires you to work with the company for at least a year and pay the company back for the CDL training.
You can quit before the contract year is up, but this is not advisable. You will still have to pay the CDL school back, so it is better to tough it out for a year and then find a local job.
Some of the training is really great and is done at the company’s headquarters. I had to go to orientation for CR England one time because I was hired for a local driving job. The orientation was in Salt Lake City, Utah.
The first night there I stayed in the ‘dorm’ rooms because the person working didn’t know I was supposed to stay in a motel that the company paid for. It reminded of college with the rooms, game rooms and cafeteria.
I had to go take my driving test in these huge parking lots where CR England was training the rest of the students. They were mainly doing backing drills. When I left, I couldn’t help but wish that I had done something like this when I was younger.
Attend a Community College or Tech School
CDL schools are usually considered a better option but community college and tech schools are also a great way to get your CDL. It can be easier to get a federal pell grant or a loan through the financial aid department.
Some tech schools have CDL programs that are so short you will have to pay for it. I don’t recommend these extremely short programs but if you are strapped for cash then it is feasible. Let me explain what happened to me.
I did some research where I lived in Kansas and found a tech school with a one-week CDL program. I was getting ready to move to Wyoming and I needed a good career, so I decided to get my CDL. I wanted to go to a CDL school, but they were all too expensive and I would have to take too much time off of work.
I also wanted to go to a cdl school where I was moving to but the CDL schools were expensive everywhere. I happened to come across a tech school which is mainly training for technical trades like carpentry and welding but they had a CDL program.
Their program was for only a week! I would only have to pay around $680 dollars if I got my learners permit on my own! I would also be able to transfer my CDL to any state I moved to, just not a hazmat endorsement or a passenger endorsement, you usually have to retest in a new state to get these endorsements.
I went through the CDL tech program for four days. It was a lot to take in because I had never driven a semi before. They told me it was actually a CDL ‘program’ not a school and it was for people who already had experience behind the wheel.
I didn’t have any experience, but I have never studied so hard for anything in my life for four days. I stayed after class and went over my pre trip inspection over and over until I had it memorized. I even sat in a chair in my motel room and pretended like the chair was a semi and went through my pretrip process.
They even let us know the course we would be driving in the semi, so I would go drive the course before and after class until I had every turn memorized. Anyways, my point is that my CDL training was only for a few days, but it is still up to you how much effort you put into it.
I took my CDL driving test on the fifth day and passed with flying colors. These types of programs are licensed to give you your CDL drive test in house, so you don’t have to go to the DMV. They do set you up for success, but they are legitimate, so some people do fail the drive test.
This tech school gave you the option to pay for a retest as many times as you wanted. You could also go back and practice your driving for $50 per hour.
If you cant afford the CDL school or you can’t find a local or over the road company to pay for your training then a community college or trade school is the best option over trying to get your CDL on your own…
Getting Your CDL On Your Own
This may sound crazy, but it is possible. You will have to get your CDL learners permit on your own. Here is how:
You need to be at least 21 if you are going to be driving out of state. However, if you are 18 – 21 you can still get a CDL, you just can’t drive out of state. There are still plenty of local jobs available.
Go to the DMV, apply for a CDL, and pay the fee. I would just call them ahead of time and ask them what you need because you will have to show them your ID and social security card, but they may want proof of residency for your address, like electric bills.
You will have to get a DOT medical examination. You should be able to get one for about $75 if it is not covered by health insurance. Once you get this exam you will have to provide the medical certificate until your DOT card arrives.
Once all of this is squared away you can go in for your knowledge test. Before you take it you will have to pass a vision test. Before you go in for this you will want to get the CDL handbook for your state and go home and study. There are several practice tests online to help you that are free.
Once you have your learners permit, you will have to find someone with a truck that will let you learn how to drive. You can ask friends and family if they know of anyone. You may also be able to talk a local trucking company into hiring you easier if you already have your learners’ permit.
Once you feel comfortable, you will have to go to your local DMV and take the driving test through them. This is where the major pitfall can be when it comes to getting your CDL on your own. They can be very strict.
At any CDL school, community college or tech school, one of the instructors usually gives you your driving test. Since they are the ones who give the test, they usually guarantee that you have enough training to pass the first time.
I’ve known people that started with a local company, trained hard, but have either taken three times to pass the DMV driving test or have just given up and went on to another career.
However, if you go this route, just don’t give up. The DMV will let you know where you failed and what you need to work on so take the test no matter how many times it takes. You never fail until you quit trying.
Your learners permit lasts for 6 months so that is plenty of time.
When you get your learners permit and start driving, you will have to decide what class of CDL you are going to get? You can get a class A that will allow you to drive anything with the proper endorsements.
You can get a class B that restricts you mainly to a box or straight truck with no trailer. You can still get a hazmat endorsement to make extra money
You can just get a class C CDL which is mainly for any type of passenger bus or vehicle that can hold 16 people or more.
Apply for Local CDL Jobs
Once you have your CDL, now it is time for the fun part of the whole process. Applying for jobs! You might not get your most desired job right away, but it is important to at least get some experience under your belt for your future applications. I’ve seen some people start with a local company that trains them and end up staying their entire career with that company.
I bounced around quite a bit during my first year but have been with US Foods for quite a while now. I really enjoy the driver appreciation, organization and vehicle maintenance compared to the other companies I was with. I also only work four days per week with weekends off, while earning a full-time income, so I can spend more time with my family.
Indeed.com was my favorite job site when I started applying for jobs but there are many others. Ziprecruiter.com, glassdoor.com and even Facebook marketplace are great sources for local jobs. Just type in local CDL jobs and then your location into google and plenty of job sites will pop up.
You might be able to find some local classifieds also or even your local newspaper even though more people search online nowadays. There are plenty of local driving jobs out there.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Does A Local Truck Driver Make A Year?
Local truck drivers don’t make as much as over the road drivers, but we still make a decent living. You can make anywhere from only $16 per hour to $25 per hour just to start. This basically amounts to anywhere from $3,000 per month to around $4,600 or more per month depending on how much overtime, you get. That’s $36,000 – $48,000 per year or more depending on what class of CDL you have and how much overtime you work.
If you get a class A CDL with a hazmat endorsement, you can make even more money starting out. Some companies will train you to haul hazmat fluids like crude oil, where you can potentially make up to $100,000 just starting out.
Check out our article on how much local truck drivers make per year…
Is Local Truck Driving a Good Career?
Local truck driving is a good career, and it can be a great career. I’m able to make a full-time income and I only work 4 days per week while my wife is a stay at home mom. When we were both working, we were making a lot of extra money for our lifestyle.
I like the variety of local truck driving jobs also. Over the road jobs are mainly just driving. However, with local truck driving jobs, you can find a job where you mainly just drive, or you can find a job like mine. I work in food service delivery, where I drive from stop to stop and have to get out and unload everything with a dolly cart. It is a good physical workout that keeps me in shape.
I enjoy it because I don’t like to just sit in the truck all day.
Check out our article here about, is local truck driving a good career…
Conclusion
I hope you have everything you need from this article to become a local truck driver. It has been a great career for me after my oilfield job became obsolete.
If you go down this path, just don’t give up until you have your CDL. Some people will take longer than others. Depending on how much training you receive before you get your CDL, just be honest with the trucking companies when you start.
If you get your CDL on your own or through a very short CDL program like I did, just let them know you would like to get some more experience on the road or with winter driving before they turn you loose in a big city like Denver on your own.
Experience goes a long ways and can keep you out of trouble. If it is a good company, I’m sure they will understand. After your start, don’t forget your training. Do the proper pre trip inspection before you take off in the morning,
This came back to haunt me when I started driving and I have seen other drivers have problems from not doing a proper pre trip before they take off.
There are several state road apps you can get on your phone to use during the winter that show you road conditions or if certain roads are even open. Always check the weather during the week so you know what you are getting into ahead of time.
Don’t be afraid to communicate with your managers about weather or other problems that arise on the job, that is what managers are for.
Local CDL driving is a good paying stable career so take care of yourself and enjoy!