Getting a new job can be a fun adventure. If you’ve considered getting your commercial driver’s license to open up your pool of available jobs, you’re in luck. Here are four jobs you can consider.
Heavy Vehicle and Mobile Equipment Service Technicians
If you like having a CDL but don’t want to spend all day driving on the road, there are other jobs out there for you to choose from. A great one is a heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service, technician. When there are highway projects underway, a maintenance technician is available to repair larger vehicles and perform maintenance on them. This includes everything from skid steers to concrete mixers and paint trucks. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians have a high school diploma or equivalent. Because vehicle and equipment technology is increasingly sophisticated and computerized, some employers prefer to hire service technicians who have completed a training program at a postsecondary institution. The median annual wage for heavy vehicle and mobile equipment service technicians was $50,320 in May 2018.
Garbage Truck Operator
If you’re looking for a CDL job that allows you to stay in your local area, then consider being a garbage truck operator. These individuals tend to maintain the same routes from week to week. If you’re not interested in working for a company, you may consider garbage truck sales to invest in a garbage truck of your own. As long as you have a CDL, you can establish any type of garbage pickup service that you would like. Garbage Truck Operators earn about $35,000/ year.
School Bus Driver
If you enjoy kids, then a job as a school bus driver may be right up your alley. This career field is easy to get into and only requires a clean background check. One nice thing about this industry is that you’ll get to work a limited number of hours each day and you’ll never have to worry about working overtime. According to the BLS, Bus drivers must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL). This can sometimes be earned during on-the-job training. Bus drivers must possess a clean driving record and often may be required to pass a background check. They also must meet physical, hearing and vision requirements. In addition, bus drivers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent. The median annual wage for bus drivers, school or special client was $32,420 in May 2018.
Construction Equipment Operator
If you enjoy the thought of driving around some heavy machinery, then consider being an engineering equipment operator. You’ll get to drive pump trucks, trash compactors, and other construction heavy machinery on a regular basis. Your job will be to prepare the terrain for all upcoming construction projects for your company or another one that you subcontract for. With the need for so many new construction projects, you’ll likely be able to find a job in almost any environment including bodies of water.
Many workers learn equipment operation on the job after earning a high school diploma or equivalent, and others learn through an apprenticeship or by attending vocational schools. The median annual wage for construction equipment operators was $46,990 in May 2018.
Hopefully, you’ve determined that getting your commercial driver’s license is an investment that you should go through with. It opens up more and more career possibilities for you to choose from. The best part is that you’ll get to enjoy the added income you’ll receive from having the CDL benefit on your application.
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Brooke Chaplan is a freelance writer and blogger. She lives and works out of her home in Los Lunas, New Mexico. She loves the outdoors and spends most of her time hiking, biking, and gardening. For more information, contact Brooke via Facebook at facebook.com/brooke.chaplan or Twitter @BrookeChaplan