If you want to drive heavy and large vehicles for commercial purposes, then you will need a Commercial Driver’s License. This career has a lot of benefits including strong salary opportunities, good health benefits and job security, so it is easy to see why so many people pursue it. There are over three million CDL drivers currently employed in the country, and the numbers will only grow in the years to come.
What is a Commercial Driver’s License?
CDL licenses come in different categories, Class A, Class B and Class C. It is better for you to know which category you want to pursue before you begin the qualifications process, but there are a number of jobs that cross over depending on what you achieve, which are all great opportunities. When you pass this qualification, you will be able to drive vehicles like trucks, buses, and tractor-trailers, and this makes you extremely employable. What kind of roles will you be able to access as a fully qualified CDL driver? There are a few.
Long-Haul Truck Driver
There are plenty of class a driver jobs Kansas City to pick from, and one of them is a long-haul truck operator. You may know them as OTR drivers, but did you know that they receive high salaries because of the ins and outs of the role too? Their routes often take them around multiple states or even countries over the course of one job, and sometimes they stay on the road for weeks until they have fulfilled an order. It is a way of life, and there is a real sense of community playing a part in the wider appeal. You could instead decide to pursue a short-haul truck driver role, which would mean shorter shifts and less time spent in the truck. The salary won’t be as great, but it is still a reliable profession.
Driving a Bus
Whether it is a school bus, vacation coach, or regular passenger vehicle, anyone in charge of these vehicles must possess a valid CDL license. Not only are these large vehicles, but they are also positions of high responsibility because you are directly in charge of passenger safety.
What Does the Law Say?
If a vehicle weighs over 26,000 lbs, you need a CDL license and that is the absolute law with no room for negotiation. These vehicles are immense in both size and length, and they are therefore a greater danger out on the road to both other cars and pedestrians too. To drive one, you must do all of the training and get to know how to be a truly responsible driver. There will be specially imposed speed restrictions, strict policies on drinking and drug use while on shift, and maintenance logs to complete too. You will have to make sure you are sticking to the arranged schedule and never switching on the engine and continuing a journey where you are either too tired or feeling unwell.
Class A
Class A covers any vehicle over 26,000 lbs up to the absolute maximum of 80,000 lbs. With this, you will be able to operate Class B and Class C vehicles too if you wish, but there are specific types that only Class A license holders can drive. These include:
- Tankers
- Livestock carriers
- Flatbeds
Class B
Class B is slightly different in that the weight of 26,0000 is consistent, but the trailer being towed regardless of the category must be less than 10,000 lbs. With a Class B qualification, you can drive city buses, dump trucks, and some types of trucks too.
`Class C
This is for people who wish to drive a vehicle that takes passengers. The number you are restricted to is 16 for this type of license, and if you want to drive anything bigger you must pursue a higher level of qualification in order to stay within the law.
What You Need to Get Your CDL
There are typical restrictions on the candidates applying for a CDL qualification. Firstly, you must be over the age of 21 in the majority of states and this has to be evidenced. Most places expect you to have a clean bill of health and not be suffering from certain conditions that would impede your ability to make safe driving decisions or operate the vehicle. You will have to learn a lot, pass a written exam, get to know DOT inspection expectations, and commit to being a responsible driver.
CDL drivers have a great career opportunity. There are top salaries for Class A drivers in particular, and they travel all over the world if they wish. Find out what you need to do, and get the process started.