How To Get A CDL Class A Job With Little to No Experience

How To Get A CDL Class A Job With Little to No Experience

If you just got your CDL A and you’re stressing out about landing that first job — you’re not alone. A lot of new drivers think, “No one’s going to hire me without experience.” But that’s not true.

There are more entry-level opportunities in trucking now than ever before, especially with the labor shortage across the industry.

At Emerge Career, we’ve helped tons of students land jobs right after getting their CDL. Here’s exactly how to do it — from finding the right jobs to making yourself stand out.

The Good News: Trucking Needs You

The trucking industry is short of tens of thousands of drivers. According to the American Trucking Associations, the shortage could hit 80,000+ in the next few years. A lot of older drivers are retiring, and new drivers are needed to fill the gap — especially for local routes and regional runs.

That means companies are hiring entry-level drivers — and many will even train you.

Step 1: Know What Type of Entry-Level Job You Want

Before you start applying, think about what you want:

• OTR (Over-the-Road): Long-distance, gone for days/weeks at a time. Higher pay, but not for everyone.
  
  
• Regional: Home weekly, driving within your state or surrounding states.
  
  
• Local: Home every night, often delivery or route-based (e.g., Pepsi, Sysco, Amazon).
  
  

New drivers often think they have to start OTR — but that’s not always true. Many local and regional employers are open to recent grads if you show you’re reliable.

Step 2: Filter for the Right Jobs

When searching online, use specific keywords:

• “CDL A no experience required”
  
  
• “Will train the right candidate”
  
  
• “Entry level truck driver”
  
  
• “Paid CDL training” (if you still don’t have your license yet)
  
  

Where to look:

• Indeed and ZipRecruiter (use the right filters)
  
  
• TruckerPath (great filters for entry-level and no experience)
  
  
• CDLJobs.com – Choose “Student” or “Recent Grad”
  
  
• Driver Pulse App (Tenstreet) – Add “0–3 months experience” in your profile
  
  
• Facebook groups: Tons of leads and active recruiters posting daily
  
  

Step 3: Apply to the Right Companies

These companies are known for hiring new CDL A drivers and providing paid training or mentoring programs:

🛻 Western Express

• Hires recent CDL grads
  
  
• Known for getting drivers started fast
  
  
• Some accounts are home weekly or daily
  
  

🥤 PepsiCo

• Local delivery (CDL A required)
  
  
• Routes vary, but many start you with helper roles
  
  
• Stable hours, strong benefits
  
  

🚚 C.R. England

• Big training fleet
  
  
• Pairs you with a mentor first 1–2 months
  
  
• Gets you experience quickly
  
  

🚛 TMC, Prime Inc., Roehl, Knight Transportation, U.S. Xpress

• All offer structured training for new CDL A holders
  
  
• Some require team driving or time OTR to start, then allow home-based jobs later
  
  

Pro tip: Apply to multiple companies at once — don’t wait around for one to get back to you.

Step 4: Make Yourself Stand Out (Even With No Experience)

Here’s what makes a difference:

✅ Clean MVR – A spotless or minor-violation driving record shows you’re safe and reliable
✅ Consistent work history – Even non-driving jobs show your ability to stick to a schedule
✅ CDL endorsements – Add hazmat, tanker, or doubles/triples to increase job options
✅ Professionalism – Be polite, responsive, and organized. If you ghost a recruiter? They’ll ghost you back.

Step 5: Don’t Panic if You Get Rejected

Some jobs will say “entry-level” and then still ask for 6 months of experience. That’s frustrating, but don’t let it discourage you. Keep applying.

Most students we work with apply to 10–15 jobs before landing the right fit.

Also — use your time to build experience:

• Consider local delivery jobs with box trucks to build time behind the wheel
  
  
• Take temp or seasonal driving gigs (holidays, warehouse routes)
  
  
• Volunteer to ride along with someone in your network
  
  

Every mile counts.

If You’re an Emerge Career Student — Let Us Help You Get Hired

We know which companies hire new grads right now. Your coach can:

• Match you with our hiring partners
  
  
• Get you in front of recruiters fast
  
  
• Review your resume and application
  
  
• Help you practice interview questions
  
  

You don’t have to guess — we’ve already done the work to find out what companies are hiring near you.

Final Thoughts: Your First CDL Job Won’t Be Perfect — But It’ll Get You on the Road

Think of your first job as your launchpad. It gets you experience, confidence, and most importantly — a paycheck.

Once you’ve got 3–6 months of safe driving under your belt, your options open up even more. Better pay. Better schedules. Better routes.

So keep applying. Follow up. Stay ready. And don’t be afraid to ask for help — because you’re not in this alone.

Let’s get you hired.

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