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FAQ

What career options do I have as a truck driver?
Wisconsin truck drivers have many options. They can work as an intrastate or an interstate truck driver in one of many industries. They can work for a Wisconsin trucking company, or they can become an owner operator.

Is becoming an owner operator easy?
Starting up your own business is hardly ever easy. An owner operator must purchase or lease a vehicle, worry about appropriate taxes, fees, permits, and insurance. There can be a payoff. If you are successful, you can make more on your own than you would with a trucking company, or at least have more flexibility regarding work hours.

Do truck drivers always work by themselves, or are there team driving opportunities?
 For the most part, when you drive a tractor trailer, you drive solo. There are some companies that offer team positions. You can inquire with local truck driving companies to find out whether or not they have team positions available.

If I am just starting my career as a truck driver, can I find an over the road job?
In most cases, over the road, or OTR, trucking companies want drivers that have at least one year of experience.

What Wisconsin industries use the trucking industry?
Many industries rely on Wisconsin truck drivers to transport their products. The paper industry, the timber industry, the dairy industry, and hundreds of other industries use trucks to transport items across the state of Wisconsin.

Can you still have a job in the trucking industry if you have been convicted of drunk driving?
You cannot have a job as a truck driver for three years after a DUI conviction.

Is there a specific age you have to be before you can find a job in the trucking industry?
Yes. You must be at least 21 before you can have an interstate truck driving job. You can be as young as 18 to drive some commercial vehicles.

Are there different types of CDLs?
Yes. There are three different CDL classes: A, B, and C. 

Is it true I have to pass a criminal background check to get my HazMat endorsement?
At this time the only endorsement that requires a criminal background check is the HazMat endorsement.

How much do most Wisconsin truck drivers make?
Most companies calculate pay based on the number of miles a driver drives. A new Wisconsin truck driver averages just under $35,000 per year.