Learn how to become a Class A CDL Truck Driver
For you to qualify for your Class A CDL license and readily available truck driver jobs, you will need to pass a few basic qualifications, which we will outline below.
How to Become a Truck Driver
Truck driving jobs are listed everywhere in recent months, and the money you can make as a professional truck driver has never been higher. Currently, there is a significant shortage of Class A CDL licensed truckers, which is causing trucking companies to offer to pay more money to attract drivers. If you are ready to reap the rewards of starting a new career that’s in demand right now, it’s time to learn how to sign up for a training program to become a professional truck driver. Just follow these steps to get started!
Do you qualify to become a truck driver?
To qualify for those readily available truck driving jobs, you first have to get CDL training to get the right license for this industry. But before you can even start a CDL training program, you will need to pass a few basic qualifications, which we will outline for you below.
Education
First, you must have at least a high school diploma or GED to enroll in many training schools. Once you have that, you can sign up for a truck driver training program and prepare to get your commercial driver’s license. Note that while you can get your CDL license at 18 years old and may be eligible for some commercial driving jobs, most trucking companies will only hire drivers 21 and older. This is because you must be 21 to drive a truck that contains hazardous materials or do any long-haul driving across state lines or hauling goods moving in interstate commerce. You’ll have to wait until you turn 21 to get certain endorsements added to your license that let you move up in your truck driving career.
Medical
Certain medical conditions may prevent you from becoming a truck driver due to various federal and state regulations regarding safety on the road. This is why you’ll need to pass a physical examination to get a medical certificate first. This will confirm that you are healthy enough to safely perform the demanding job of a Class A Truck Driver and keep our nation’s roads safe, whether you cross state lines or stay relatively local.
These health conditions are mandated by the federal government and checked for at the required Department of Transportation (DOT) physical. Note that you can’t just get the DOT physical examination from any doctor. A licensed medical examiner listed on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) National Registry must be the one to conduct it before you’re cleared to begin a CDL training program.
To start, you must fill out your health history. This includes information on any surgeries you’ve had, medications you are currently using, specific diagnoses, substance issues, and symptoms. From there, the medical examiner will test various aspects of your health. For example, he or she will test your pulse, blood pressure, vision in both eyes, and hearing.
You must also pass a urinalysis drug test before you get behind the wheel. This is used not only to find and identify any drugs in the system, but also to detect whether there’s blood, sugar, or protein in the urine. During the physical examination, your doctor will check your overall health and each body system, marking it as normal or abnormal. Depending on where you live, the doctor may send the physical form directly to the licensing agency in your state.
