A commercial driver license (CDL) opens up many doors of opportunity for a career that promises good pay, great benefits and numerous bonuses.
The obvious career choice with a CDL is that of a semi-truck or tractor-trailer driver, however a CDL is required for many more jobs.
In this article, we will take a look at the most common jobs requiring a commercial driver license and break down the salaries, benefits, job outlooks and more.
For easy navigation, the careers are listed in alphabetical order.
Armored Truck Driver One of the more unique jobs requiring a commercial driver license is an armored truck driver.
A CDL is not the only requirement however.
Most employers prefer drivers that are certified to carry a firearm and have a background in police or security.
The salary for an armored truck driver varies on experience, but can range from $20,000 to $40,000 a year.
Larger salaries are typically seen in larger cities.
Job prospects are expected to rise on average, at about 14% in the next 10 years.
Armored truck drivers do not typically work long which leaves many openings.
Bus Driver To put it simply, bus drivers transport people.
This could mean driving children to school, general public around a city, across state lines for travel, or on sightseeing tours.
With these job prospects, you could work for the government, a small or large private business, or drive for your own company.
The work environment for a bus driver depends on which route you choose, but typically you will have to deal with passengers whether it is in a friendly or unruly manor.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, transit bus drivers earn on average $35,000 a year, and school/special client drivers earn about $30,000 a year.
The job prospects for bus drivers are expected to grow quite fast, about 13%, especially for bus drivers working for schools.
Requirements to become a school bus driver include a CDL with a passenger (P) or school bus (S) endorsement and moderate on-the-job training.
Delivery Truck Driver Delivery truck drivers pickup, transport and drop off packages typically within a small region or urban environment.
You will be required to load and unload heavy cargo which includes a lot of lifting, carrying and walking.
The average salary for delivery truck drivers is $30,000 a year, and includes great benefits when working for one of the larger companies such as UPS or FedEx.
Job outlook for delivery truck drivers is similar to that of the rest of the truck driving industry, with an estimated growth of 13%.
A class C CDL or hazardous material endorsement (H) is required for transporting hazardous materials.
Also, a good knowledge of the local streets and roads is highly recommended.
Dump Truck Driver For those looking to work in the construction industry, a dump truck driver may be an interesting career for you.
Dump truck drivers transport heavy loads of rock, sand, and various other minerals either within a job site, or possibly on public roads.
The average salary for dump truck drivers is $35,000 a year.
Emergency Vehicle Driver For individuals looking to work in the public safety sector, a CDL is required to drive either an ambulance or fire truck.
You can either drive an ambulance to transport ailing persons or patients, or transport fellow firemen to emergency situations.
Both require drivers to keep calm under pressure, stay alert, and not waste time.
The average salary for emergency vehicle drivers is $40,000 Tractor-Trailer Drivers Heavy truck drivers rule the highways.
The transportation of goods is in high demand for all types of businesses and government agencies.
If you are fascinated by a life of traveling through the entire country, this may be the job for you.
Long haul truckers have an average salary of about $40,000, the highest amongst commercial driving jobs.
Owner-operators however can make well over $100,000 a year with the right contract.
Long haul trucking is also one of the higher expected growing jobs in the nation with an estimated 21% growth rate in the next 10 years.
Much higher than the national average.
The requirements to becoming a heavy truck driver can vary greatly depending on where you work and what you haul.
A class A or B CDL license is necessary along with and combination of endorsements.
Waste Management Drivers It's a dirty job, but somebody has to do it.
Waste management drivers pickup and transport garbage in just about every city.
Jobs are expected only to increase as cities grow.
Waste management drivers, on average, earn about $35,000 a year.