13 Sorts of Truck Driver Jobs and The best way to Get Them

 

The saying “all the pieces will get moved on a truck” isn’t a lot of an exaggeration. Dry items, cattle, propane, ready-mix concrete, and absolutely anything else you may consider will get loaded onto a truck trailer at one level or one other.  

Over time, folks have discovered one of the simplest ways to haul these completely different sorts of freight, and there at the moment are specializations for every one. Every of those specializations have completely different CDL necessities and afford completely different house time for the driving force. Listed here are the 13 most important varieties of truck driver hauls together with the CDL wanted for every one. 

The three Sorts of CDL

 

Earlier than you get any kind of trucking job, you’ll first want a CDL. Listed here are the three courses of CDL and what you may drive with every.  

CDL A

That is your commonplace CDL that permits you to drive a semi-truck with a trailer in tow. Right here’s the official definition from the FMCSA of what CDL A holders can drive, 

“Any mixture of autos which has a gross mixture weight score or gross mixture weight of 11,794 kilograms or extra (26,001 kilos or extra) whichever is bigger, inclusive of a towed unit(s) with a gross automobile weight score or gross automobile weight of greater than 4,536 kilograms (10,000 kilos) whichever is bigger. “

Because of this anybody with a CDL A can drive a truck with a GVWR better than 26,000 kilos and a trailer weighing greater than 10,000 kilos. CDL A drivers can drive any CMV, together with class B and C autos, offered they’ve the suitable endorsements.  

CDL B

A Class B CDL is a restricted license as you aren’t allowed to drive giant tractors that tow 10,000 kilos or extra. This eliminates the power to drive your commonplace 53’ trailer. So, what are you able to drive with a CDL B? Consider dump vehicles, supply vehicles, and metropolis buses. Two large advantages to CDL B jobs are that the majority positions will likely be native, and the age requirement is eighteen because you received’t be shifting freight between state strains.  

CDL C

A Class C is essentially the most distinctive kind of CDL and for good purpose. Apart from having the ability to drive a shuttle bus or limo, there’s little or no somebody can do with a CDL C with out the mandatory endorsements. Even with these endorsements, most drivers contemplate it higher to simply go forward and get your CDL B or A as a substitute.   

The three Sorts of Runs

 

OTR, native, and regional are the three most important varieties of trucking runs you’ll encounter as a driver. Listed here are the variations between every one.  

OTR

OTR stands for “Over the Street”. OTR drivers go all throughout the nation and are often out for a couple of weeks at a time. This sort of trucking is for somebody who actually loves the trucker life and doesn’t thoughts being away from house for lengthy intervals of time. Due to the character of this work, OTR drivers, particularly the extra skilled ones, are inclined to make greater than regional or native drivers. 

Native

Because the identify suggests, native drivers keep near house and are often off on the weekends. A number of tradeoffs are that native drivers on common make lower than regional or OTR drivers, and the work could also be extra bodily demanding (suppose supply and remaining mile jobs). However for those who’re a driver with a household and are in search of regular pay and a set schedule, native jobs are laborious to beat.  

Regional

Regional trucking is the halfway level between OTR and native. Regional drivers will run routes throughout a specified area, often a couple of states masking 1,000 miles. Because of this regional drivers are house each few days. Identical to with native jobs, there’s additionally a stage of predictability with regional work, because you’ll seemingly have a set route you run.  

13 Sorts of Trucking Hauls

 

Auto Hauling  

Auto haulers are a number of the most recognizable vehicles on the street. As you can guess, auto haulers are liable for transporting new and remarketed autos from manufacturing crops, ports, railheads and auctions to retail dealerships and public sale websites. These jobs might be native, regional, or OTR and require a CDL A.  

Constructing Merchandise  

Constructing merchandise hauling is usually an area place the place drivers ship roofing and different constructing merchandise to buyer’s houses and job websites.  

This sort of work is for drivers who don’t thoughts splitting time between driving and doing guide labor like unloading and loading constructing merchandise and dealing within the warehouse. The excellent news is that these positions are often native and solely require a CDL B.

Live performance Trucking  

Live performance truckers haul stage and lighting tools, devices, and anything wanted for concert events and exhibits. Drivers will go on tour with bands or acts for a couple of months at a time to assist a complete tour or a leg of it.  

Live performance trucking jobs pay very nicely, and also you construct a stage of camaraderie with different drivers you’re on tour with, however they’re undoubtedly not for somebody who wants a variety of house time. 

Dry Van  

Dry Van trucking is what you consider if you hear “semi-truck”. Dry van truckers haul a 53’ trailer full of pallets or free cargo. “Dry Van” also can imply a straight truck or PUP trailers, although that’s not what we often consider with Dry Van. These jobs are often OTR or Regional and require a CDL A. 

Closing Mile  

Closing mile is any time that all-important final step of the logistics chain is accomplished, when the product goes from the warehouse to the client’s entrance door. Closing mile drivers can drive something from a straight truck right down to a sprinter van. Because of this to drive for some carriers, you received’t even want a CDL, and at most will want a CDL B.   

The most important advantages to remaining mile driving are the house time and constant shifts, since these positions are usually native. The draw back is that remaining mile driving is fast-paced, with quite a bit being anticipated of those drivers. 

Flatbed  

Flatbed drivers are a number of the most in-demand drivers within the trucking business right this moment. Why? Flatbed driving is a extremely expert place that not each trucker can do. Many instances, these drivers carry outsized masses and must know easy methods to safe them correctly and easy methods to drive very rigorously to keep away from mishaps or accidents.  

Due to this, flatbed jobs are inclined to pay higher than most CDL jobs. These positions are usually reserved for CDL A drivers however might be native, regional, or OTR.  

Hazmat  

Hazmat drivers haul any kind of hazardous supplies from one place to a different. A hazardous materials is something that might hurt an individual, animal, or the atmosphere when it mixes with different issues like air, fireplace, water, or different chemical substances.  

Due to this, these drivers must have a particular endorsement earlier than they’ll begin hauling hazmat. Like flatbed driving, hazmat jobs are in-demand proper now, so it’s a good time to get your endorsement. These jobs might be native, regional, or OTR and usually require a CDL A.  

Livestock  

Livestock hauling is outlined as hauling any freight that’s alive. Whereas we often consider cows, pigs, and chickens, livestock hauling encompasses all the pieces from horses to bees.  

With livestock hauling positions, there’s extra to it than simply the driving. Drivers should fully sanitize trailers after each load, or they might infect the livestock of their subsequent load. All this additional work does repay although. Livestock hauling is taken into account a specialty place, so drivers are nicely compensated for his or her work. Livestock hauling might be native, regional, or OTR and usually requires a CDL A.  

Prepared Combine  

Prepared combine drivers work with concrete and spend most of their days exterior. The primary job of a prepared combine driver is to ship concrete or cement to a job web site. Most often, drivers will likely be liable for loading and unloading, so this can be a labor-intensive job, however don’t let that scare you away. 

Prepared combine jobs usually pay nicely. That is notably true contemplating that many positions are native and solely ask for a CDL B license. One downside is that this line of labor is very seasonal and depending on climate. 

Reefer  

Refrigerated (or reefer) drivers haul a specialised trailer that retains cargo at a sure temperature, like frozen meals, produce, and drugs. Reefer jobs might be CDL B, however usually require a CDL A. They may also be native, regional, or OTR.  

Tanker  

Tanker drivers haul gasses or liquids. These positions are seen as extra harmful and expert than your common CDL place, so the pay displays that. When you’re driving a tanker, there’s a very good likelihood you’ll be hauling hazmat, so it’s a good suggestion to get your obligatory endorsements earlier than trying into this type of work.  

Tanker drivers are wanted for all types of runs, so so long as you’ve gotten your CDL A and the mandatory endorsements and expertise, you’ll be capable of discover native, regional, and OTR work as a tanker driver.

Staff Driving  

Staff driving is when two drivers share a cab and driving duties. Some particular varieties of hauling require workforce drivers, often when cargo is time delicate or very helpful. However workforce drivers are extra frequent with proprietor operators. Many instances, a husband-and-wife workforce will likely be companions on the street, every taking a share of the driving.  

The most important benefit of workforce driving is that you simply’re in a position to cowl far more floor than you’d as a solo driver, since workforce drivers can swap off between driving and sleeping. Simply be sure you get alongside along with your co-pilot, in any other case workforce driving might be extra of a headache than it’s value. Most workforce driving positions will likely be for CDL A drivers operating OTR or regional.  

Waste Administration  

Waste Administration truck driver jobs is usually a nice match for brand new and skilled drivers alike. They’re additionally good for drivers who like to remain on the transfer all through the day. One factor to bear in mind is that these jobs require a variety of bodily labor. Waste administration jobs are usually native and solely require a CDL B. 

All for any of those positions? Drive My Means has lots of of open CDL positions with business main carriers in lots of of those classes. Make a free, safe profile under and discover your subsequent CDL job.