
Discover a step-by-step guide to becoming a truck driver, covering practical paths to starting your career as a trucker.
Assess if trucking fits your life by weighing weeks away and home time of three to four days; new drivers typically start with over-the-road work to gain experience.
Discover how to choose the right trucking school and obtain a class A CDL, including permit basics, DOT medical exam, general knowledge, endorsements, and cost considerations.
Your CDL is a golden ticket to nationwide trucking opportunities, from over-the-road to local work, with home time and solo or team options, though local roles require one year experience.
Drive long freight loads, reach about 600 miles per day, monitor road signs, mile markers, and state laws; guard against theft with cameras and stop for safety in weather.
Learn how to use truck stops for fuel, showers, laundry, and rest, while navigating services and etiquette. Keep safety top of mind with door locks, parking strategies, and equipment checks.
Find safe overnight parking beyond truck stops by using rest areas or on-ramps where allowed. Look for wide roads, vacant property, or business lots with permission, and avoid blocking traffic.
Discover how CSA scores affect drivers and trucking companies, influencing job prospects and contracts, and learn how to maintain safety, compliance, and accountability through vehicle checks and lawful operation.
Be prepared by carrying essential tools, supplies, and items for long hauls, including a road atlas, food, medicine, toiletries, pee bottles, and an emergency toilet.
Protect your CDL by keeping a clean MVR and DAC reports, since a poor record affects hiring; practice through training, inspections, and driving to earn your Class A CDL.
Truck driving demands responsibility and personal sacrifice, but rewards include home ownership, owning a truck, and earning money on the open road. Experience opens diverse trucking positions nationwide.
Let’s talk about the money, most truck drivers can expect to earn $30,000-$40,000 in their 1st year. I know some drivers who work as Solo drivers and decide to give up their apartments so they can stay in the truck all year long and save money. They still take days off from time to time, and stay with friends, family or rent a hotel for a few days so they can take a break. Once you have 6 months experience you may be able to find a job that pays more money. I’ve seen motivated drivers earning in the $60,000 range in their 1st year. The money is there to earn if you look for it. Too many drivers get complacent and they stay with the same company in the same position making low wages for years and years. Sometimes all you need to do to increase your income is switch positions within the company. If the company you work for doesn’t offer anything that will take you to the next level then find another company that will. I know a Walmart driver who earns $100,000 year and he’s home every night and weekend.
Companies pay you in cents per mile (CPM) so the more mileage you drive the more you earn The bottom line is company drivers can make anywhere from $30,000 to around $100,000 per year. Stay away from company lease options, 99% of the time only the company does well with this type of position. They will make their lease program sound perfect, touting how you will be your own boss and make lots of money. Drivers often find themselves making just enough to cover the WEEKLY truck lease payment. If you want to truly be your own boss as a owner operator of your own truck then save up the money to buy a used truck cash or you may be able to find a 3rd party (not company sponsored) lease program. I have seen a couple of decent 3rd party lease programs, these will allow you to contract with any company you want. So if you’re not making enough money with one company then you can easily switch to another. Owner operators can make anywhere from $50,000 - $250,000 per year.
About the Expert
I have been driving a truck full time for over 4 years at the time of this publishing. I have been a company driver for 3 of those years and an owner/operator for a bit over one.
In the 4+ years that I’ve been driving I have spent one year driving most of the lower 48 states. I haven’t made it up to North Carolina, and a few other states in the northeast but all of the others I have. For the last two years I have been truck driving with my team from Los Angeles to the Kansas City area and back. We did that twice a week. After doing that for about a year I was able to get a driving position working nights and being home every day. I did that for almost year.
I left there because the company did a pathetic job of maintaining their equipment. I was afraid of getting stopped by law enforcement. So I left them and got my own truck to take care of. Now I am contracted with a carrier to move their freight and it works out a lot better.