Truck Driving Jobs in Florida | CDL Jobs in FL - All Trucking (2024)

As the southeasternmost state in the U.S., Florida is surrounded by 14 seaports and a thriving import and export industry. Easy access to Atlantic shipping lanes and a year-round warm climate may make Florida a perfect state to embark on a truck driving career.

Thanks to a growing population and major cities like Jacksonville and Miami, truck driving jobs in Florida tend to be plentiful. Before you start job hunting in the Sunshine State, learn about pay, job growth, and what you need to become a Florida truck driver.

How Much Do Truck Drivers Make in FL?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the annual mean salary for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Florida was $43,140 in 2020, and the median hourly wage was $19.54. This is slightly lower than the national median hourly wage of $22.66 for trucking jobs in the U.S.

Many factors affect your total wages, including industry. For example, being a truck driver in the following fields may pay $60,000 per year or more:

• Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution
• Motion picture and video
• Spectator sports
• Other pipeline transportation
• Couriers and express delivery services

Your location in certain metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas can also change your pay rate by thousands of dollars per year, based on these average earnings:

• Miami – Fort Lauderdale – West Palm Beach: $40,830
• Orlando – Kissimmee – Sanford: $46,370
• Jacksonville: $45,100
• Panama City: $47,390
• South Florida Nonmetropolitan Area: $42,600

In addition, your years of experience in trucking can affect your pay. In Florida, truck drivers in the 25th percentile made $33,020, while those in the 75th percentile made $51,560. While entry-level jobs may pay closer to the 25th percentile, you’ll likely have the opportunity to make more as you gain experience.

Truck Driving Job Growth in FL

Florida is one of the top three states with the highest employment level of truck drivers, with 86,790 employees.

According to BLS figures, employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers will likely grow by 2% from 2019 to 2029 across the U.S., but this only includes the estimated addition of 30,600 jobs. Employee turnover and unfulfilled roles will also add to available truck driving jobs in Florida.

Trucking Companies Hiring in Florida

Schneider

• Jobs: Regional, Team Truck, OTR, Tanker, Intermodal, and Dedicated Drivers

Swift Transportation

• Jobs: Dedicated Driver, Refrigerated Driver, Regional Driver

C.R. England

• Jobs: Regional Driver, Dedicated Driver

Paschall Truck Lines, Inc. (PTL)

• Jobs: OTR Driver, OTR Team Driver, Southeast Regional Driver

Knight Transportation

• Jobs: OTR, OTR Refrigerated, Southeast Regional, Southeast Regional Refrigerated, and Team Truck Drivers

Koch Trucking

• Jobs: Dedicated Driver, Regional Driver

Melton Truck Lines

• Jobs: OTR Driver, Flatbed Driver

How to Get a Truck Driving Job in Florida

Before you begin looking for trucking jobs in Florida, take the following steps to meet the requirements of a truck driving career.

Step 1: Decide What Class of Commercial Driver’s License You Need

Trucking jobs require you to have a commercial driver’s license (CDL). You can choose from three classes of CDLs, so consider the details of each before you decide which to pursue.

• CDL Class A: This is a universal type of CDL, as it allows you to drive most large vehicles, including those with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of 26,0001 pounds or more. It also allows you to tow a vehicle that weighs more than 10,000 pounds. Many truck driving jobs in Florida require a CDL A, especially if you drive a tractor-trailer, flatbed truck, large dump truck, livestock carrier, or tanker.
• CDL Class B: This commercial license lets you drive smaller trucks that weigh less than 26,000 pounds. These usually include straight trucks, box/delivery trucks, school or city buses, and small dump trucks.
• CDL Class C: This license lets you drive small vehicles that can transport more than 15 people, as long as the GVWR is less than 26,001 pounds. You can also drive a vehicle transporting certain types and amounts of hazardous materials.

Step 2: Attend a Reputable CDL Training Program in Florida

No matter what type of CDL you plan to get, you need the right CDL training from a reputable school or program.

As you research Florida CDL schools, keep in mind that starting in February 2022, new applicants must attend a program on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Training Provider Registry that meets the minimum entry-level driver training requirements.

Step 3: Pass Your CDL Knowledge and Skills Exam

CDL tests in Florida require you to take the following exams to get your license:

• General knowledge test
• Combination vehicles test (for Class A)
• Air brakes test
• Basic vehicle control
• Pre-trip vehicle inspection
• On-road test

You also need to take a test for any CDL endorsem*nt you want to add. Endorsem*nts allow you to drive certain trucks or transport different types ofproperty.

Step 4: Apply to Your First Florida Trucking Jobs

Once you have your CDL, you can begin searching for truck driver jobs in Florida. You can better prepare for this process by familiarizing yourself with some of the most popular carriers in the country.

Truck Driver Resources in Florida

As you start looking for trucking jobs in Florida, use these resources for more information:

Florida Department of Transportation provides Commercial Vehicle Operations customers in Florida with information on news, travel updates, and truck parking availability.

Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles explains the requirements for obtaining a CDL and how to decide which CDL Class you need.

Florida Trucking Association has been protecting and promoting Florida’s trucking and transportation industry interests for more than 90 years.

Florida Truckers Facebook Group provides a space for Florida truck drivers and owner-operators to network and socialize.

Truck Driving Jobs Near Me

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