Non-Long-Haul Jobs for Truck Drivers with a CDL

Do you want to earn a Commercial Driver's License (CDL), but don't want to work as a long-haul trucker? There are plenty of employment options that don't involve long hauls or cross-country treks. If you want a career in the driving industry, take a look at the non-long-haul alternatives.

Long-haul jobs take drivers away from home for days or weeks at a time. If you have family obligations or just don't want to leave your loved ones for long stretches of time, a bus driver job is an option to explore.

Why should you consider this long-haul alternative? Bus drivers:

• Stay home. Whether you drive a school or city bus, you'll get to come home at night, sleep in your own bed, and see your loved ones regularly.
• Have regular hours. If you want a nine to five job, this is the answer. While some bus drivers may have to work evenings or weekends, you can still find plenty of jobs that include daylight/weekday hours.
• Make a good salary. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), bus drivers make an average of $34,450 per year.

Along with these advantages, some bus drivers only work a partial-year schedule. If you work for a school district, you may only drive from the late-summer/early-fall through the beginning of summer.

Like bus drivers. Delivery drivers tend to have regular schedules that don't include long-distance hauls or stays. In this job you'll:

• Work a regular schedule. Some delivery drivers can work daylight/weekday hours. This means less time away from your family and loved ones.
• Drive locally. While some delivery drivers do travel for their job, you also have options that include local service.
• Get physical. Many delivery drivers have to unload the items they drive. This requires heavy lifting and plenty of physical activity. If you're an active adult who doesn't like to sit for long periods, this is a job option to explore.
• Work in a variety of places. You may have a revolving route of deliveries. This is ideal for drivers who want different experiences or want to explore their local area.

Delivery drivers make an average of $30,500 annually, according to the BLS. Even though this figure is slightly less than what bus drivers make, you'll still earn well above the federal minimum wage.

This specialized career option opens doors, gets you on the road, and comes with plenty of benefits. Like bus and delivery drivers, construction equipment operators also have daylight/weekday options and work locally.

Not only can you work a regular schedule, but you can also earn a decent wage. The BLS statistics put the annual construction equipment operator salary at just over $46,900 per year. That makes it a potentially better paying job than bus or delivery drivers. These drivers:

• Drive equipment. You may drive/operate a crane, flatbed, dump truck, or other similar vehicle or piece of machinery.
• Move equipment. Some of these drivers bring construction from one site to another. You may tow (or drive a flatbed) bulldozers, backhoes, or other similar vehicles.
• Repair equipment. Specialized construction equipment operators may also make repairs. This additional job requirement requires additional training.

Construction equipment operators are in demand. According to the BLS, the number of jobs in this field is projected to grow at a faster than average rate of 12 percent between 2016 and 2026. This includes the addition of more than 52,000 jobs.

Are you ready to start a career as a truck driver? Whether you want to work on a bus, delivery truck, construction site, or somewhere else, you'll need training and a CDL. Contact us at Commercial Trucking School for more information.