Overview
For those who love to drive and love seeing other parts of the country, this profession is for you.
Trucking offers a widely accessible career path to the middle class without the requirements of a costly, four-year college degree. The median for-hire truckload driver pay reached $76,420 in 2023, a 10% jump from 2021. Truck technicians are also highly compensated for their skills and are highly sought after.
There is robust demand for safe, qualified drivers. Apprenticeships can open the door to these good jobs by combining paid, on-the-job training and instruction to prepare new drivers for these high-skill careers.
There are many apprenticeship programs available throughout the U.S. trucking industry. This page explores some of the resources available to:
- Prospective drivers and technicians looking to begin their careers in trucking;
- Motor carriers seeking to establish an apprenticeship program; and
- Exiting military servicemembers wanting to transition into trucking.
Prospective Drivers and Technicians
Driver apprenticeships are an opportunity to receive on the job training with career progression at no out-of-pocket cost. By becoming an apprentice, you can obtain paid, relevant industry experience while acquiring the skills and credentials that trucking companies value. Some apprenticeships require prior receipt of your commercial driver’s license (CDL), but others include that opportunity as part of the training.
The registered apprenticeship program, overseen by the US Department of Labor, is considered by many to be the gold standard of workforce development programs, and ATA has been approved as a program sponsor for registered apprenticeships by US DOL.
The following motor carriers have recently registered apprenticeship programs through the American Trucking Associations. Additional details will be forthcoming, but interested apprentices are encouraged to visit their web pages to learn more about the companies and contact information for their apprenticeship programs:
A number of ATA-member carriers and affiliates have independent registered apprenticeship programs:
- All My Sons Moving & Storage of Hilton Head
- C.R. England
- CRST
- Digby Southwest
- Dot Transportation
- J.B. Hunt
- Knight Transportation Company
- McLane Company
- Modern Piano Moving
- New Hampshire Motor Transport Association
- Ozark Motor Lines
- Parke Cox Trucking
- Penske
- Ralph Moyle
- Truckload Carriers Association
- U.S. Xpress
- USF Reddaway
- Werner Enterprises
- Wilson Logistics
You can also find more apprenticeship openings near you for trucking or other occupations at apprenticeship.gov.
Motor Carriers
Apprenticeship programs are an excellent way for companies to attract and retain the next generation of trucking talent.
These registered programs come with a number of potential benefits for carriers above and beyond the talent acquisition and retention aspect, including tax credits in many states (State Tax Credits and Tuition Support | Apprenticeship.gov) and potential training subsidies and/or support for apprentices (GI Bill Benefit housing allowance for veterans, child care for parents while training). Additional details on federal benefits for motor carriers are available here on apprenticeship.gov. State apprenticeship agencies (see below) may have additional benefits for carriers registering at the state level.
Below are options available to motor carriers interested in registered apprenticeship programs.
ATA-Administered Programs
In March of 2022, the American Trucking Associations was formally recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor as an apprenticeship program sponsor for heavy truck drivers. This gives ATA-member companies the option to offer apprenticeships to job applicants while ATA and its partner FASTPORT—a USDOL intermediary specializing in transportation and logistics—administer the program. Participation is subject to certain minimum program requirements set by USDOL and/or USDOT (such as entry-level driver training and wage progression over time).
To learn more about creating an apprenticeship program for your company through ATA, contact apprenticeships@trucking.org.
Applications and related documents can be found here. (Click on DOWNLOAD ALL. You will be prompted for your ATA Member username and password. If you have an issue accessing the documents or need an account created, please contact ATA Membership Department at atamembership@trucking.org.) If you are not an ATA member, learn more about joining here.
DOL-Registered Programs
Motor carriers who wish to administer their own apprenticeship programs can register through USDOL with assistance from USDOL’s intermediary FASTPORT. Learn more at apprenticeship.gov.
State-Registered Programs
Twenty-seven states have apprenticeship offices and administer apprenticeship programs at the state level, through which motor carriers can register to participate. Often there are additional requirements and benefits from state programs.
Motor carriers may also want to register nationally with USDOL through ATA or independently also to ensure broad access to federal benefits and national recognition of their programs. A number of states grant reciprocal registration in their states if you have federal registration. To view a list of states with such programs, visit Apprenticeship System | Apprenticeship.gov.
ATA’s driver program is currently cross-registered with Louisiana, and we will be adding other states over time.
Military Veterans
The trucking industry is committed to hiring our nation’s heroes and providing them with a seamless transition from military service to successful careers. Learn more about the opportunities trucking offers Veterans: