How Can You Use Your CDL?
How Can You Use Your CDL?
When most people think of a CDL, they picture long-haul trucks rolling down the interstate. However, a Commercial Driver’s License opens the door to far more than over-the-road trucking. Whether you want steady home time, great pay, flexibility, or a long-term career path beyond driving, a CDL gives you options. Let’s break down the many ways you can put your CDL to work.
CDL License Types & What They Unlock:
Class A CDL — The Most Versatile Option
A Class A CDL allows you to operate combination vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001+ lbs where the towed unit exceeds 10,000 lbs. With the right endorsements, this license gives you access to the widest range of jobs in the industry. You can haul: dry van trailers, refrigerated (reefer) trailers; flatbeds (steel, lumber, equipment); tankers (fuel, chemicals, food-grade liquids); livestock trailers; double & triple trailers.
Why Class A matters: With a Class A CDL, you’re also legally allowed to operate most Class B and Class C vehicles—giving you maximum flexibility and job security.
Class B CDL — Great Pay, More Home Time
A Class B CDL covers single vehicles with a GVWR of 26,001+ lbs, towing less than 10,000 lbs. Common Class B jobs include: school bus drivers; city, tour, and shuttle buses; straight trucks; dump trucks; concrete mixers; box trucks and refrigerated delivery trucks.
Many Class B drivers enjoy local routes, predictable schedules, and being home daily.
Class C CDL — Specialized Driving
A Class C CDL is required for: vehicles designed to carry 16+ passengers, including the driver; vehicles transporting placarded hazardous materials, and smaller commercial vehicles under 26,001 lbs GVWR. Class C CDL jobs include: passenger vans; small hazmat trucks; utility and service vehicles towing small trailers.
Career Paths You Can Take With a CDL
Driving Roles:
- OTR (Over-the-Road) Driver – Travel nationwide; higher earning potential, longer time away
- Dedicated Routes – Consistent lanes, predictable schedules, and can be owner-operated
- Local Delivery Driver – Grocery, paint, gas, beverage, or utility companies
- Garbage Truck Driver
- Tow Truck / Wrecker Operator
- Car Hauler
- Yard Mule / Spotter Driver
- Hydrovac Operator
- Intermodal / Railroad Driver
- Construction & Industrial Jobs – Heavy equipment operator, dump truck, concrete truck, crane and roofing supply, lumber and flatbed hauling drivers
Some positions require endorsements like Hazmat (H), Tanker (N), Doubles/Triples (T), or Passenger (P)—all of which increase earning potential.
Leadership or specialized roles to use your CDL without driving full-time:
- Dispatcher
- Terminal or fleet manager
- Safety supervisor
- Recruiter
- CDL instructor or trainer
- Diesel mechanic (many earn more with a CDL)
A CDL shows employers you understand regulations, equipment, and real-world logistics—skills that transfer beyond the driver’s seat. No matter where you want your career to go—on the road or beyond it—a CDL gives you the power to choose.
At CDL Direct, we help you turn your CDL into a real career. Our online Entry Level Driver Training (ELDT) prepares you to meet federal requirements, build real-world knowledge, and move quickly into the job market.