The American Trucking Association (ATA) estimated that the industry needs a record 80,000 drivers, which could double by 2030 as more carriers retire, according to a recent report provided to Efe by the organisation. 

This crisis in the US trucking industry has led some companies to offer salaries of 100,000 dollars a year, along with bonuses of between 10,000 and 20,000 dollars just for signing the contract and facilities for processing US residency.

If you are unemployed or you are attracted by these succulent figures, this may be the right time to find out how to become a truck driver in the United States. That is why in this article we tell you what is needed and the steps to achieve it.

Requirements to become a truck driver in the United States
Commercial Driver's License (CDL)
First of all, you must have a valid non-commercial driving licence (NCDL) in order to apply for a CDL. In the United States, a CDL is generally classified as either a Class A or Class B license. The differences between these licences are due to the weight of the vehicle. Thus, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) defines 3 different classes of CDL:

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Class A: Any combination vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26 thousand pounds or more, with the towed vehicle weighing more than 10 thousand pounds.
Class B: Any single vehicle with a GVWR of more than 26,000 pounds or combined vehicle as a trailer weighing less than 10,000 pounds.
Class C: Any single or combination vehicle that does not fall into Class A or B, but is designed to transport hazardous materials or 16 or more passengers, including the driver.
However, drivers operating emergency response vehicles or snow and ice removal vehicles and most military drivers do not require a commercial license.

Age requirement
To drive within the same state, the applicant must be over 18 years of age. If the applicant chooses to engage in interstate commerce, i.e., driving from one state to another, or to carry hazardous materials or hazardous waste cargo, the minimum age is 21.

While most states set a minimum age of 18 for intrastate driving, this may be subject to variation depending on the state. Therefore, it is always advisable to be sure of your state's own regulations for becoming a truck driver.

Language Requirement
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) require all truck drivers in the United States to be able to read and speak English sufficiently.

Truck drivers must possess an intermediate level of English that enables them to converse with the general public, understand road and traffic signs, respond to official enquiries, and make entries in reports and logs.

Residency Requirement
To be a truck driver in the United States, you do not need to be a US citizen, but you do need to be a legal permanent resident. In fact, you will be required to have a valid and current Green Card when obtaining a commercial driver's licence. If you have acquired US citizenship, you must present the document proving it.

Some states require one year of permanent residency and/or a driving licence to apply for a commercial driving licence. However, other states do not require a minimum length of residence in the US.

Educational Requirement
The FMCSA does not set any minimum education requirements to obtain a CDL. However, keep in mind that most companies require that a truck driver in the United States have at least a high school diploma.

Driving or legal record
All companies have a particular policy regarding driving infractions, serious accidents or crimes. In most cases they set a specific amount of time that must have elapsed since the violation or crime in order to apply for the job offer.

The worse the fine or accident, the more difficult it will be for you to be accepted for the job. Even major offences such as reckless driving or DUI can be grounds for disqualification for some companies.

Physical examination and medical certificate
Those interested in driving a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 10,000 pounds or more in interstate commerce must undergo a physical examination and obtain the appropriate medical certificate.

Vision, hearing, blood pressure and a urinalysis (as a test for drugs or alcohol in the system) are examined. The physical examination must be performed by a DOT-approved and FMCSA-registered medical examiner. You can search for National Registry certified medical examiners at this link.

We recommend that you read:

American residency: how to obtain a permanent residency or "Green Card".
How to obtain a work permit in the USA: requirements, benefits, types and steps.
Steps to become a truck driver in the United States
There are two main ways to become a truck driver: attend a school and go through the whole process with them or apply on your own. We will refer to both options.

1. Attending truck driving school
As mentioned above, in most cases, in order to become a truck driver in the United States you need to obtain a commercial driving licence (CDL). You can attend a trucking school to get the necessary training. Schools with good programs will give you classroom lessons and hours of on-the-road practice. They also offer CDL training for driving HAZMATs (licenses to drive vehicles that legally transport hazardous materials).

There are basically two types of truck driving schools:

Paid CDL training school: These are schools that are owned and operated by trucking companies. They bear the costs of the training in exchange for the applicant signing a contract agreeing to work for the company for a specified period of time after the training period.  
Private CDL training schools: These are schools that are independent of trucking companies. In this case, applicants must pay for their own training, but once the training period is over, they can work with any company they wish.
2. Become a self-employed truck driver in the USA
You can also obtain a CDL on your own, i.e. without having attended a training school. However, this route has the disadvantage that, perhaps, it will be difficult to find work in some companies, since, for insurance and policy reasons, most of them usually require proof of 160 hours of training in accredited schools. But it's not impossible, so if you decide to do it on your own, here are the steps:

Submit the CDL application at a licensing office in your state.
The first thing you need to do is file your CDL application at a Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office near you and pay the appropriate fees.

Submit a medical examination
A DOT medical card is required. As mentioned above, you must have a physical examination by a Certified Medical Examiner.

Obtain Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP)
The CDL test is divided into two parts: a written knowledge test and a practical road test.

The commercial learner's permit is the written test that is part of the CDL test and is what allows you to take the road test alongside a qualified CDL holder. This test contains questions on general knowledge, air brakes and combination vehicles. On the official DMV website you can download the CDL Handbook which contains what you need to know for each test.

After passing this test, you will receive your Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP), you must wait a minimum of 14 days to schedule your driving test.

Passing the driving and road skills test
Please note that on the day of the driving test you must bring your own vehicle. It is important that you pass the pre-inspection before you take the test. If you wish, you can hire an agency or school that provides training for the driving test.  

When you have successfully passed both tests, you can get your commercial driving licence. Some states issue the CDL on the same day, while others will mail it to you.

Final words
We hope this article has been helpful if you are thinking about becoming a truck driver in the United States. The trucking profession pays well, especially in recent times when the shortage of truck drivers has led to higher wages as an incentive.