The Road to Success:

With the rise of ecommerce in recent years, the need for professional truck drivers who can keep the supply chain moving to meet that demand has grown. Trucks move more than 70% of the nation’s freight. That’s a considerable portion of the nation’s supply chain that relies on professional drivers.

As of 2022, there were 3.54 million professional truck drivers. Despite this, it’s predicted that by 2030, the industry will be short by 162k drivers.

With this in mind, now’s a great time to consider a career transition to professional truck driving if a life on the road interests you. For someone considering a career as a professional truck driver, there can be a lot of factors to consider, including:

1. Flexibility and independence
2. Competitive pay
3. Job security
4. No college degree is required
5. Opportunities to see new places
6. Being part of the bigger supply chain picture

How to Get Started as a Professional Truck Driver

Becoming a professional truck driver can be an exciting but daunting decision – where do you start?

To begin with, you need to be at least 18 years of age, though most companies require drivers to be at least 21, possess a valid driver’s license and maintain a clean driving record. Before applying for your first job, check their requirements; the required age may vary by carrier.

Additionally, you’ll need to obtain a Class A or B commercial driver’s license (CDL) from your local Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) or Department of Driver Services (DDS), depending on your state. A class A CDL is the most common professional truck driving license type. You must acquire a valid Class A or B permit to obtain your CDL. You’ll also need to pass a written test that measures your understanding of general vehicle info and open-road driving regulations, as well as a physical driving test.

• A Class A CDL allows drivers to operate the heaviest and most complex vehicles, including trailers weighing 10,000+ lbs. and a gross vehicle weight of 26,001+.
• Those with a Class A CDL can drive tractor-trailers (aka semis, big-rig or 18-wheelers), truck and trailer combinations (including double and triple trailers), tractor-trailer buses, tanker vehicles, flatbed vehicles and most Class B and Class C vehicles.
• A Class B CDL allows drivers to operate a bus or a 26-foot straight truck, including any vehicle towing a trailer that weighs less than 10,000 lbs. or a single vehicle weighing 26,001+ without a trailer.

Those with a Class B CDL can drive straight trucks, large buses, segmented buses, box trucks (including delivery and furniture trucks), dump trucks with small trailers and some Class C vehicles.

Finding a nearby driving school is the best way to accomplish these steps. They’ll help you prepare for the written test and provide access to the right equipment and hands-on training to help you prepare for the physical driving test. Look for a school that works with you to cover essential topics like vehicle operation, safety regulations, maneuvering exercises and how to hook/un-hook a trailer properly. Some of our recommended driving schools include:

• Georgia Driving Academy
• Katlaw Truck Driving
• Roadmaster Drivers School of Atlanta

Once you’ve obtained your CDL, gaining experience behind the wheel is crucial. Some companies will require you to have on-the-road experience. Out of the gate, look for roles that offer training or mentorship programs for new drivers until you get some hours under your belt. From there, more opportunities will become available.

Benefits of Being a Professional Truck Driver with Premier Transportation

At Premier, we treat our professional truck drivers like family. This means making sure our drivers find the balance between plenty of regular, consistent hours on the road and plenty of home time. Route opportunities include:

• Local: Local fleet drivers cover the same route with the same truck and are home daily. Drivers must have at least six months of Class A CDL experience and be 23 or older.
• Regional: Regional fleet drivers cover our regional network, earning competitive pay on consistent miles, stop pay and safety bonuses. For every 120 hours on the road, regional drivers earn 48 hours off. Drivers must have at least one year of Class A CDL experience and be 23 or older.
• Over-the-Road: Deliver and pick up freight across the continental U.S. OTR drivers earn 48 hours off every 120 hours on the road. Drivers must have at least two years of Class A CDL experience and be 23 or older.

Average pay for Premier drivers can be anywhere from $65k-$85k, though it can vary by route and experience. Additional benefits include sign-on bonuses, medical, dental, vision and 401k and access to our newest equipment, with an average fleet age of 3 years or younger.

To be a Premier Transportation driver, candidates must be at least 22 years of age with a minimum of 12 months of experience.

Already have your CDL license and interested in professional truck driver opportunities with Premier? Click here.