How To Become A Truck Driver Class A: What It Is and Career Path

Q: How long does it take to become a Truck Driver Class A?

It takes 5 years of professional experience to become a truck driver class a. That is the time it takes to learn specific truck driver class a skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education.

Q: How long does it take to become a Class A driver?

While the length of time to become a Class A truck driver varies from state to state; it averages about seven weeks. Typically training courses last seven to twelve weeks of full-time training. However, some can even be up to 18 to 24 weeks.

Q: How much do Class A truck drivers make?

Class A truck drivers make around $64,333 a year. There is a good deal of variability; however, a Class A truck driver's earnings vary, starting as low as $34,000 to as high as $100,000 a year.

Q: How much does it cost to get a Class A CDL?

It costs between $3,000 to $5,000 to get a Class A CDL license. Each state, however, has its own set of requirements and fees for obtaining a Class A CDL. General Fees include: Knowledge Test - costs between $5 and $20 and includes the issuance of a Commercial Learner's Permit Road Skills Test - costs $30 and $60 Standard CDL License - costs between $75 and $100 Endorsements - costs between $5 and $10 for each endorsement Other costs can include application fees, drug screenings, fingerprint and background checks for HAZMAT Endorsements (typically $100), and re-test fees.

Q: Is a Class A CDL worth getting?

Yes, a Class A CDL license is worth getting. It's a great time, more than ever before, to get into a Class A CDL truck driving career, with so many jobs available. Holding a Class A CDL license gives you great job security. There's also a good deal of flexibility in the type of trucking job you can take. Some truckers are away for weeks at a time, while other truck drivers are home every night and weekend.

Q: Is driving a Class A truck hard?

Yea, Class A truck driving is hard. While becoming a Class A driver is not difficult, working as a Class A driver can be. Many Class A drivers must work long hours, spend lots of time away from home, and remain seated for most of their workday.

Q: What is a Class A truck driver?

A Class A truck driver license allows you to operate equipment of all sizes and weights. You must have this if you are deciding to drive a semi-truck or a combination of truck and trailer. Class A also allows you to drive flatbeds, livestock, and tank vehicles.

Q: What is the difference between CDL Class A and B?

The difference between CDL Class A and B has to do with what size of the truck is covered on the CDL license type (A, B, C). A Class A license takes seven weeks to complete and includes 168 classroom hours.

What is a truck driver class a and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

5 min read

A truck driver Class A is a person who operates heavy trucks and trailers. They are responsible for transporting goods across long distances. To become a truck driver Class A, individuals must obtain a commercial driver's license and complete specialized training. They must also adhere to strict safety regulations and maintain accurate records of their trips. Truck driver Class A jobs can be physically demanding with long hours on the road.

ScoreTruck Driver Class AUS Average

Salary

4.9

Avg. Salary $63,270

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

7.3

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

5.1

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.79%

Asian 3.54%

Black or African American 13.24%

Hispanic or Latino 19.34%

Unknown 4.63%

White 58.46%

Gender

female 8.34%

male 91.66%

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

7.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

4.6

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

1.4

Work Life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Truck Driver Class A?

Pros

High demand for CDL drivers
Opportunities for travel
Good pay and benefits
Potential for flexible schedules
Job security

Cons

Risk of accidents and hazardous road conditions
Physical strain
High stress levels due to tight deadlines and delivery schedules
Difficulties maintaining a healthy lifestyle on the road, including poor diet and lack of exercise
Long hours and extended periods away from home and family

Key steps to become a truck driver class a

Explore truck driver class a education requirements

Most common truck driver class a degrees

High School Diploma

48.2 %

Certificate

14.8 %

Associate

13.3 %

Start to develop specific truck driver class a skills

Skills	Percentages
CDL	38.91%
PET	28.16%
OTR	8.23%
Hazmat	5.40%
Customer Service	4.91%

Complete relevant truck driver class a training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New truck drivers class a learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a truck driver class a based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real truck driver class a resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed truck driver class a usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed truck driver class a in most of states. 13 states require truck drivers class a to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License Url
Arkansas	Specific course required	State exam required	Commercial Driver (Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver)
California	-	State exam required	Commercial Driver License
Idaho	-	State exam required	Commercial Drivers
Massachusetts	-	State exam required	COMMERCIAL DRIVERS
Missouri	-	State exam required	Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer

Gain additional truck driver class a certifications

Truck driver class a certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific truck driver class a certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for truck drivers class a include Commercial Driver License (CDL) and OSHA Safety Certificate .

More About Certifications

Research truck driver class a duties and responsibilities

Manage and execute standard operations of a semi-tractor trailer for OTR drop and hook services.
Help maintain cleanliness of warehouse.
Have experience with paper logs and the QUALCOMM.
Assist with maintaining the overall cleanliness of the exterior grounds.

Prepare your truck driver class a resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your truck driver class a 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 truck driver class a resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Truck Driver Class A Resume templates

Build a professional Truck Driver Class A 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 Truck Driver Class A resume.

Apply for truck driver class a jobs

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

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

How do truck drivers class a rate their job?

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Truck Driver Class A reviews

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.

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.

A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2022

Pros

Experience 8 year GCC county almost work driving responsibility passenger drop location and food delivery timing driving delivery I am work hope

What is a truck driver class a and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being a Truck Driver Class A?

Truck Driver Class A career paths

Key steps to become a truck driver class a

Explore truck driver class a education requirements

Most common truck driver class a degrees

Start to develop specific truck driver class a skills

Complete relevant truck driver class a training and internships

Obtain the necessary licensing

Gain additional truck driver class a certifications

Research truck driver class a duties and responsibilities

Prepare your truck driver class a resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Truck Driver Class A Resume templates

Apply for truck driver class a jobs

How Did You Land Your First Truck Driver Class A Job

Average truck driver class a salary

How do truck drivers class a rate their job?

Truck Driver Class A reviews

Truck Driver Class A FAQs

How long does it take to become a Truck Driver Class A?

How long does it take to become a Class A driver?

How much do Class A truck drivers make?

How much does it cost to get a Class A CDL?

Is a Class A CDL worth getting?

Is driving a Class A truck hard?

What is a Class A truck driver?

What is the difference between CDL Class A and B?

Search for truck driver class a jobs

Truck Driver Class A jobs by state