Month: November 2019

Just because you hold a CDL doesn’t mean you have to be a trucker. You may be surprised to learn that a Commercial Driver’s License is pretty versatile. There are plenty of other careers you can pursue that aren’t within the traditional trucking realm. Here are just a few of the many non-trucking jobs out there for CDL holders.

Bus Driver

Being a bus driver is perhaps the most obvious alternative to truck driving. There are many different kinds of bus driving jobs. You could choose between driving a school bus, city bus, tour bus or intercity bus. Being a bus driver is a solid non-trucking job you can get with your CDL that will provide stability and flexibility for your life.

Highway Maintenence Technician

Highway maintenance technicians often need to operate large vehicles to complete repair projects. Dump trucks, skid loaders, concrete mixers, paint trucks–you name it! Highway maintenance technicians are often required to have a minimum of a Class B CDL since so many of these large vehicles are used.

Concrete Mixer Driver

Every concrete production company needs concrete mixer drivers to deliver concrete to job sites. To operate a concrete mixer, you must hold at least a Class B CDL. Being a concrete mixer driver is a great non-trucking job for CDL holders!

Construction & Excavating

The construction and excavating industries use a wide variety of heavy machinery: skid loaders, dump trucks, knuckle boom loaders, backhoes, track hoes, payloaders, flatbeds, bush hogs, cranes, steamrollers, bulldozers…just to name a few. All of these require an operator who holds a CDL.

Engineering Equipment Operator

Engineering equipment operators operate a variety of heavy machinery, such as pump trucks and trash compactors to help prepare terrain for upcoming construction projects.

Tractor Trailer Technician

While it’s not required (in most states), having a CDL is a huge plus for tractor-trailer technicians. Tractor-trailer technicians don’t haul loads with trucks, but they do work on them. Maintaining a fleet of trucks is a vital part of the trucking industry, and it certainly helps to be qualified to drive the vehicle you are working on.

Trash Removal

A job that requires you to hold a CDL that may not immediately come to mind is trash removal. You must have a CDL to operate a garbage truck! Operating a garbage truck is a stable non-trucking job you can get with your CDL.

There are many advantages to getting your CDL. It opens the doors to a wide variety of possible jobs that offer a surprising level of diversity, and there are many vehicles CDL holders can operate. So, if you were worried that getting your CDL would limit you to only being able to drive a semi-truck, think again! With so many possible jobs, there’s never been a better time to get your CDL. So, when you’re ready to start training for your great, new career, give us a call at 1-540-361-6661!

(Updated March 21, 2024)

Many veterans return to civilian life and wonder what their next step will be. How will they earn an income and continue supporting their families? To many veterans, this is a genuine and worrisome thought. However, many military veterans are discovering a new career in trucking is something they can become very passionate about.

Why the Trucking Industry:

After retiring from the military, many veterans will have experience driving heavy military machinery. This can translate beautifully onto the open road when they become a truck driver. All 50 states and Washington, DC, have passed the Military Skills Test Waiver. The Military Skills Test Waiver allows a soldier who has at least two (2) years of experience driving heavy military equipment and has done so within the last year (12 months) to be exempt from the road test portion of their CDL education. This makes transitioning into a new career even faster for veterans coming home and looking for a job transition. Veterans can also use their GI Bill® to help pay for some or all of their CDL training at CDS Tractor Trailer Training.

Using Your Military Skills:

Many of the skills you learned in the military transfer to the trucking industry. To be successful as a truck driver, you must be self-motivated and disciplined, follow regulations on rest and driving time, and be on schedule. You must also be reliable and punctual so your carrier knows you will deliver the load on time every time, or communicate if something prevents you from doing so.

A Career that will Support You:

After completing your service to our country, you can rely on the trucking industry for a secure job in an in-demand field. Entry-level trucking jobs often start at $40,000+ annually, and some management positions can reach $80,000+. You will also get paid vacation time, full health care benefits, and a retirement package. Many companies also offer additional monetary incentives for reaching certain industry goals or performance standards.

Now that you are done serving our country, we hope that you will consider a job in the trucking industry. A secure job that will give you peace of mind and the ability to support your family is what you deserve! Now is your time to travel the country you fought so hard to protect.

For more information about why you should consider a career in trucking as a veteran, contact CDS Tractor Trailer Training. CDS provides both Class A CDL training and Class B CDL Training in four convenient locations throughout Virginia.