The steps to get hired as a truck driver
- Get what you need to start: a postsecondary certificate or award (truck driving school). If you qualify, WIOA can pay for job training: WIOA truck driver training. Free truck driver training lists programs that cost nothing.
- Pass the test. Practice free: CDL practice test, CDL pre-trip inspection checklist, CDL requirements by state.
- Write a resume for the job: the truck driver resume has a full sample and the skills employers look for.
- Practice the interview: CDL driver interview questions.
- Apply to openings near you: truck driver jobs near me.
| Truck driver (CDL) | |
|---|---|
| Median pay | $58,640 a year (median for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, May 2025) |
| Education to start | A postsecondary certificate or award (truck driving school) |
| Training on the job | Short-term on-the-job training |
| Job outlook | 4 percent growth from 2025 to 2035, about 214,500 openings each year |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, page last updated August 27, 2026.
What it takes to become a truck driver
Truck driving school, at a private school or a community college, lasts 3 to 6 months.
You need a commercial driver's license (CDL). Getting one generally takes a knowledge test and a driving test. Each state's rules are on our CDL requirements by state page.
CDL drivers must keep a clean driving record, pass a physical every two years, and take random drug and alcohol tests. New hires usually train for several weeks with a mentor driver.
Apply to jobs near you
Pick the job and your ZIP code to see openings near you. Capstone Careers writes your resume for each one from what you give it and fills in the application.
The guides and tools for this job are together on the truck driver page.