What is a driver and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
introduction image

A driver is a person who operates a vehicle to transport goods or people from one location to another. They work to ensure the safety of themselves, their passengers, and others on the road. Drivers may work for companies or as independent contractors, and can specialize in various areas such as trucking, public transit, or ride-sharing services. Drivers must possess good communication and customer service skills to interact with passengers and clients.

ScoreDriverUS Average
Salary
2.7

Avg. Salary $34,771

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
8.2

Growth Rate 11%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.0
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.78%

Asian 3.48%

Black or African American 12.74%

Hispanic or Latino 19.93%

Unknown 4.59%

White 58.48%

Gender

female 17.04%

male 82.96%

Age - 49
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49
Stress Level
8.2

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
4.8

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
7.9

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Driver?

Pros

  • Opportunity to meet new people

  • Potential for high earnings with tips and bonuses

  • No need for advanced education or degree

  • Physical activity while on the job

  • Access to a variety of vehicles

Cons

  • Irregular and unpredictable income

  • High levels of stress and pressure to meet quotas or deadlines

  • Limited benefits or job security as an independent contractor

  • Potential for legal issues related to traffic violations or accidents

  • Limited opportunities for career advancement or professional development

Driver career paths

Key steps to become a driver

  1. Explore driver education requirements

    Most common driver degrees

    High School Diploma

    42.9 %

    Bachelor's

    17.5 %

    Associate

    17.1 %
  2. Start to develop specific driver skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Math13.82%
    Basic Math13.64%
    CDL10.37%
    Safety Rules9.84%
    Cleanliness9.77%
  3. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed driver usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed driver in most of states. 13 states require drivers to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.
    State
    ascdesc
    Education
    ascdesc
    Exam
    ascdesc
    License Url
    ascdesc
    ArkansasSpecific course requiredState exam requiredCommercial Driver (Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver)
    California-State exam requiredCommercial Driver License
    Idaho-State exam requiredCommercial Drivers
    Massachusetts-State exam requiredCOMMERCIAL DRIVERS
    Missouri-State exam requiredTruck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer
  4. Research driver duties and responsibilities

    • Haul asphalt, gravel, dirt, etc.
    • Maintain accurate logs and comply with all FMCSA regulations.
    • Deliver sand, rock, and asphalt across eastern NC.
    • Provide safe and timely transportation for students, utilizing CDL license and attendant endorsements.
  5. Prepare your driver resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your driver resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a driver resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Driver Resume templates

    Build a professional Driver resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Driver resume.
    Driver Resume
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  6. Apply for driver jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a driver job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Driver Job

Zippi

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Average driver salary

The average Driver salary in the United States is $34,771 per year or $17 per hour. Driver salaries range between $22,000 and $53,000 per year.

Average Driver Salary
$34,771 Yearly
$16.72 hourly

What Am I Worth?

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How do drivers rate their job?

4.33/5

Based On 3 Ratings

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Driver reviews

profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Pros

Flexible hours, you can kind of control your income, even travel to high demand areas (while traveling) to make bigger money. It’s just nice to be able to go almost anywhere and have an opportunity to make money.

Cons

The pay, benefits, and low tips.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2022
Pros

Seeing different areas and being left alone. Meeting new people along the way.

Cons

Rough roads people that are texting while I'm driving down the road. At least 5 out of 10 drivers are texting.


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2022
Pros

Driving to new places, amazing houses, good workout


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Driver jobs by state

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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