Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Career Assessment
Hauling freight with a Class A CDL
Welcome
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers move freight over the road. They haul grain, fuel, sand, cattle, machines, groceries, and almost everything else North Dakota uses or sells.
This is one of the largest jobs in the state. You will explore what the work is really like and whether it fits you.
This takes about 15 minutes.
What is a Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver?
A heavy truck driver drives a tractor-trailer or other big truck, usually one that weighs more than 26,000 pounds. You plan your route, inspect the truck, load or check the load, drive safely, and keep legal records of your hours. Most of these jobs need a Class A commercial driver license (CDL).
The Reality: Two things decide whether you can do this job, and both come before training: a Class A CDL and a DOT medical certificate. The medical exam is strict. Some health conditions block the card, some allow it with extra paperwork, and some end it. Get the medical exam before you pay for school.
Your Responsibilities:
- Inspect the truck and trailer before and after every trip
- Drive safely in rain, snow, ice, and high wind
- Plan routes and check bridge and weight limits
- Secure, cover, and check loads
- Keep an electronic log of your driving hours
- Fuel, check tires, and do small repairs
- Handle paperwork for the freight you carry
- Follow federal safety rules and stay drug-and-alcohol free
You move the things people need, and you do it safely.
A Day in the Life
5:00 AM — Wake up in the sleeper or at home. Check your load and route.
5:30 AM — Walk around the truck. Check tires, lights, brakes, and straps.
6:00 AM — Start driving. The roads are dark and icy, so you slow down.
10:00 AM — Stop at a scale house. Your weight is legal.
11:30 AM — Deliver at a grain elevator. Wait your turn, then unload.
1:00 PM — Lunch and a break. Your log tracks every minute.
2:00 PM — Pick up a backhaul and head for Fargo.
6:00 PM — Park for the night. Log off. Rest for at least 10 hours.
Long hours, a lot of alone time, and real responsibility for a heavy machine.
Training in North Dakota
You must finish federally approved training before you can take the CDL road test. Since February 7, 2022, first-time Class A and Class B applicants must complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) from a school listed on the federal Training Provider Registry. Training is short compared to most careers — a few weeks, not years.
Training Pathways:
- College CDL course (2 to 4 weeks): Short, full-time, hands-on. You finish with a Class A CDL. Several ND colleges also give the state road test on site.
- Private CDL school: Same federal training rules. Some are on the North Dakota approved list and can test you too.
- Company-paid training: Some trucking companies pay for your school if you agree to drive for them for a set time. Read that contract closely — you may owe money back if you leave early.
Where to Train in North Dakota:
- Bismarck State College (Bismarck) — Commercial Driving (CDL), Class A. Three-week course (40 classroom hours plus 80 behind-the-wheel hours) or two-week course (40 plus 40). About $6,795, which includes materials, truck use, drug screen, driving record, and scheduling the ND road test. FMCSA-certified training provider — bismarckstate.edu
- Williston State College / TrainND Northwest (Williston) — Class A CDL, four weeks / 165 hours; Class B CDL, one week / 60 hours; Class B to Class A upgrade, one week / 60 hours; two-week 120-hour fast track. All meet FMCSA ELDT rules — willistonstate.edu
- North Dakota State College of Science / TrainND Southeast (Fargo) — CDL truck driving training, state-approved third-party tester — ndscs.edu
- United Tribes Technical College (Bismarck) — Commercial Vehicle Operations, state-approved third-party tester
- Turtle Mountain Community College (Belcourt) and Cankdeska Cikana Community College (Fort Totten) — commercial vehicle training, state-approved third-party testers
- Private schools on the state-approved list: 160 Driving Academy (Fargo), All States Driving Academy (Grand Forks), Commercial Education and Safety LLC (West Fargo). The full current list is at dot.nd.gov
Before You Start: You need a regular driver license, a clean enough driving record, a commercial learner permit (CLP), a DOT medical certificate, and a passed DOT drug screen before most schools will let you start. You must be 18 to drive inside North Dakota and 21 to cross state lines. You must hold the CLP at least 14 days before the road test. Being able to read English is a federal requirement.
Tip: Start with financial aid, scholarships, and any help an employer offers — that is where the money starts. After that, ask a career counselor or Job Service North Dakota whether WIOA or other programs can help with what is left over, like training, tools, work boots, or exam fees. What can be paid for depends on the program and on your own situation, so ask before you sign up rather than after. Registered apprenticeships let you earn a paycheck while you learn — see jobsnd.com/job-seeker/apprenticeships for ND programs.
Certification & Licensing
A Class A CDL plus a DOT medical card. Both are required, and the medical card is the one that stops people. The license is issued by the North Dakota Department of Transportation. The medical rules come from the federal government (FMCSA, 49 CFR 391.41). A licensed medical examiner from the national registry does the exam.
What You Must Get:
- Commercial learner permit (CLP) — pass the written tests, then hold it at least 14 days
- Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT) — theory plus behind-the-wheel, from a provider on the federal Training Provider Registry (fmcsa.dot.gov/registration/commercial-drivers-license/entry-level-driver-training-eldt)
- Class A CDL — for tractor-trailers and other combination vehicles. Class B covers big single vehicles like dump trucks
- DOT medical certificate — usually good for up to 2 years, sometimes less
- Endorsements you may add: T (doubles/triples), N (tank), H (hazardous materials, which needs a federal background check)
- Vision: at least 20/40 in each eye with or without glasses, at least 70 degrees of side vision in each eye, and you must be able to tell traffic signal colors apart (49 CFR 391.41)
- Hearing: you must hear a forced whisper at 5 feet in your better ear, or pass a hearing test, with or without hearing aids (49 CFR 391.41)
- Blood pressure: high blood pressure that is not controlled shortens or blocks the card. Controlled blood pressure usually still certifies
- Diabetes treated with insulin: not an automatic no anymore. Your treating doctor fills out form MCSA-5870 and you give it to the medical examiner within 45 days (fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/medical/insulin-treated-diabetes-mellitus-assessment-form-mcsa-5870)
- Epilepsy or seizures: a diagnosis of epilepsy, or any condition likely to cause loss of consciousness, is disqualifying under 49 CFR 391.41. There is a federal exemption program, but it is narrow and slow
- Vision in only one eye, or weak vision in one eye: there is now a path. Under the alternative vision standard (49 CFR 391.44, effective March 22, 2022), you can qualify if your better eye meets 20/40 and 70 degrees. Most first-time drivers on this path must pass a road test given by their employer
- Missing a hand, arm, foot, or leg: you can still qualify through a Skill Performance Evaluation certificate (49 CFR 391.49)
- Some medications can block or delay the card, especially ones that make you sleepy or that treat seizures. Bring your full medication list and your doctor's notes to the exam
The Exams: Written knowledge tests, then a three-part road test: pre-trip inspection, backing skills, and on-road driving. You must finish ELDT before you take the road test.
Cost: School is the big cost — roughly $4,000 to $7,000 in North Dakota for a Class A course. State license and test fees are much smaller. The DOT physical usually costs under $150. Prices change, so call and ask.
Keeping It Current: The CDL renews on the state schedule. The DOT medical certificate must be renewed on time or your CDL is downgraded. Employers also test you for drugs and alcohol and check the federal Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse.
Salary & Job Outlook
North Dakota Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Pay (May 2025):
- Starting out (bottom 10–25%): $23.07–$25.15/hour ($47,990–$52,310/year)
- Middle (median — half earn more, half earn less): $29.29/hour ($60,910/year)
- Experienced (top 25–10%): $32.27–$40.06/hour ($67,110–$83,330/year)
What that means: North Dakota pays above the national middle for truck drivers. Oil field, tank, and specialized hauling pay the most. Many drivers are paid by the mile or by the load, not by the hour, so your paycheck rises and falls with the miles you get.
Jobs in North Dakota: About 11,750 people do this work in ND today. By 2034, that should be about 12,560 (about 7% growth). Expect about 1300 job openings every year in ND from growth and people retiring or changing jobs. Across the U.S., the change is about 4% growth — about average.
Outlook: Very strong. About 1,300 openings a year in North Dakota, one of the largest numbers of any job in the state. Most openings come from drivers retiring or moving to other work.
Who Hires in ND: Trucking and freight companies, grain and farm co-ops, oil field service and sand and water hauling companies in the west, fuel and propane haulers, construction firms, food and retail distributors, and owner-operators.
Work Setting: Inside a truck cab, in every kind of North Dakota weather. Some jobs are local and get you home nightly. Regional and over-the-road jobs mean nights and weeks away. Winter driving on ice, snow, and blowing wind is a real part of this job.
Physical Demands: Moderate to high. You sit for long stretches, then climb, crank landing gear, throw chains and straps, and sometimes handle freight. Long sitting is hard on the back. Sleep and eating habits get tough on the road.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, North Dakota, May 2025 (SOC 53-3032); North Dakota and U.S. long-term employment projections 2024–2034, via O*NET OnLine. Numbers are rounded.
Where This Leads
Path 1: Local or Regional Driver — Home most nights.
Path 2: Over-the-Road Driver — Longer trips, higher miles.
Path 3: Specialized Hauling — Tanker, oversize, or oil field work that pays more.
Path 4: Owner-Operator — Own your truck and run your own business.
Path 5: Driver Trainer or Safety Officer — Teach new drivers and handle compliance.
Path 6: Dispatcher or Fleet Manager — Move off the road into an office role.
The Real Talk
What's Great:
- Short training — weeks, not years
- Huge number of openings in ND
- Good pay without a degree
- You work independently
- Local jobs exist if you want to be home
- Skills that transfer to any state
What's Hard:
- The DOT medical card blocks some people
- Long hours and time away from home
- Winter driving is genuinely dangerous
- Sitting all day is hard on your body
- Pay by the mile means uneven paychecks
- Strict rules on logs, drugs, and alcohol
Be Honest: Can you pass a DOT physical? Can you stay alert and calm alone for many hours? Are you OK with winter roads and time away from home?