What can you do with a CDL? 12 jobs ideas for CDL holders

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

If you’re new to truck driving or are considering getting into the transportation industry, you may be wondering, “What can you do with a CDL?”

Obtaining a CDL allows you to become a commercial driver, a title that covers a wide range of jobs and rewarding career paths. For example, companies like Schneider offer a large selection of truck driving jobs for CDL holders, ranging from local to long-haul routes to specialized freight and dedicated lanes, ensuring there’s a fit for every lifestyle, career goal and experience level.

In this blog, we’ll give you a better idea of what you can do with a CDL, including what kinds of jobs CDL holders can get.

What kind of driving jobs are available to Class A CDL holders?

The following are some examples of the sort of jobs you can get with a Class A CDL:

1. Dry van truck driver.

Dry van drivers use 53-foot dry van trailers to haul and deliver a huge variety of freight to stores, distribution centers and other locations.

At Schneider, van truckload is our largest division. This means opportunities are available across the U.S. in regional, OTR and part-time configurations, as well as solo and team options.

2. Dedicated truck driver.

Dedicated drivers transport freight for one customer. This means their paychecks, home time and routes are all very predictable. Dedicated driving is a great choice for drivers who really value a consistent lifestyle.

Dedicated drivers haul everything from dry van freight to reefer, tanker and even flatbed loads. On some accounts, drivers work with specialized equipment. At Schneider, our dedicated jobs include unique opportunities like hauling UTVs in custom trailers to delivering building materials straight to a customer’s house.

3. Tanker truck driver.

These drivers deliver dry and liquid bulk materials (i.e. water, milk, sand, grain, etc.) using large tanker trailers and are usually responsible for unloading their own tanker. This hands-on work makes tanker driving a unique opportunity that provides a change of pace from other driving jobs.

Some tanker jobs involve transporting hazardous materials, such as gasoline and alcohol. HazMat truck driving tend to bring home bigger paychecks because of the specialized nature of transporting these loads. At Schneider, 75% of our tanker loads are non-hazardous, but we provide industry-leading training so tanker drivers are prepared for every load they haul. Plus, Schneider will help cover the cost of HazMat endorsements.

4. Intermodal truck driver.

Intermodal truck drivers move intermodal containers to and from rail yards. These jobs are typically available in local and regional configurations, and, at Schneider, work with exclusively drop-and-hook freight.

Intermodal drivers work with specialized equipment (chassis) and travel to unique work environments (railyards). At Schneider, we own all our tractors, containers and chassis, so our intermodal drivers don’t have to worry about being set back by unreliable equipment.

5. Flatbed truck driver.

Flatbed drivers haul uniquely shaped or oversized freight and materials (i.e., lumber, generators, glass, etc.) using a flatbed or Conestoga trailer.

6. Livestock truck driver.

Livestock truck drivers move animals from one location to another using a large trailer. These drivers have the added responsibility of sanitizing the trailer after each load, making this a specialty position that usually comes with higher pay.

7. Car hauling truck driver.

These truck drivers transport smaller vehicles to and from different locations using a car hauling trailer. This job demands a high level of precision, especially during the loading and unloading process, since the drivers handle such expensive cargo.

What kind of driving jobs are available to Class B CDL holders?

The following are a few of the examples of the sort of jobs you can get with a Class B CDL:

1. Bus driver.

There is a wide selection of bus driving jobs to choose from. These jobs include school bus driver, city bus driver, tour bus driver, shuttle driver and more.

2. Delivery truck driver.

These drivers deliver a variety of products and packages to houses across the country using box trucks. Delivery truck drivers are often required to unload their own freight. This may include furniture, packages, equipment and more.

3. Moving truck driver.

The job of a moving truck driver can vary based on what company you work for. Some full-service movers help customers pack and unpack belongings before and after delivery, while other movers only load and unload their truck during deliveries.

4. Dump truck driver.

Dump trucks pick up, haul, remove and deliver materials (i.e. dirt, snow, salt, stone, etc.) to and from work sites.

5. Heavy-duty tow truck driver.

These drivers are responsible for picking up larger broken-down vehicles and transporting them to a service shop or safe parking location.

What is the highest paying CDL job?

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to say if there is one CDL job that pays the most because there are many factors that can affect the amount drivers earn. For example, driver pay can differ based on their location, the type of account they drive for and the number of miles they drive.

However, drivers can usually expect to earn more doing driving jobs that involve more hands-on work or require them to travel more miles. These driving jobs often include team driving positions and specialized tanker or intermodal driving jobs.

Additional factors that impact driver pay include:

Base pay.

This portion of pay is the foundation of a driver’s paycheck. In general, driving jobs with the highest base pay will also usually have the highest overall salary.

Experience.

Drivers with more experience are typically more efficient and skilled than drivers who are just starting out. As a result, experienced drivers will usually earn a higher salary than inexperienced drivers.

Accessorial pay.

This form of pay is most common on accounts that require hands-on work and require more stop-offs. For example, a tanker driver may earn more accessorial pay than a dry van driver who is not required to load or unload their own freight.

Performance pay.

The amount of performance pay a driver earns is entirely dependent on the company they work for as well as their safety record and efficiency. Each company has their own qualifications for performance pay, but they usually involve some measure of driver safety and efficiency. So, if you want to earn more performance pay, always put safety first and do your best to maintain a consistent miles per gallon (MPG).

Sign-on bonuses.

These can include annual, longevity and sign-on bonuses. Drivers can add upwards of $10,000 more than their overall pay just from sign-on bonuses alone. However, it’s important to note sign-on bonus amounts can differ greatly depending on the company and driving job.

Referral bonuses.

Some companies also offer the chance to earn extra through referral bonuses. At Schneider, you can earn up to $750 for each hired driver you refer.

Many companies not only offer a salary but also provide other forms of compensation through a benefits package. For example, truck driver benefits at Schneider include:

• 401(k) with company match.
• Medical, dental and vision insurance.
• Paid holidays and paid time off.
• Tuition reimbursement opportunities.
• Career growth opportunities.
• Military benefits.