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Any responsible person would do a lot of research before choosing a new career.
It’s time to discover more regarding what it takes to become a truck or bus driver.
Article Table of Contents
Are You Qualified?
Meeting certain requirements before getting your new driving license means you’re qualified.
The first of them is that of your age: you have to be at least 18 years old to drive a truck in Idaho.
You must be at least 21 if you want to drive out of state or carry dangerous materials.
Additionally, only those who can prove their legal status in the USA, are residents of Idaho, have a clean driving record, pass a background check and some medical examinations can hope to become either truck drivers or diesel mechanics.
Choosing a School
Choosing the right school is important because the best ones would offer a quality program and could even help you with a grant, a scholarship and several ways to train for your future career.
It may be possible that you already have a job but would like to transfer to a different sector of your company, and your employer could pay for your tuition instead.
In any case, even if you don’t qualify for any of those options, these schools are not very expensive and out of financial reach.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Boise State University | 1910 University Dr., Boise, ID 83725 |
| College of Western Idaho Professional Truck Driving | 5252 Treasure Valley Way, Nampa, ID 83687 |
| Eastern Idaho Tech | 1600 South 25th East, Idaho Falls, ID 83404 |
| Idaho Provisioners | 1356 E Beechcraft Ct, Boise, ID 83716 |
| Lewis Ayers Truck Driving School | 2158 4th Avenue East, Twin Falls, ID 83801 |
| SAGE | 3448 N Huetter Road, Coeur d'Alene, ID 83814 |
| SAGE | 80 Doud Street, Blackfoot, ID 83221 |
| SAGE | 418 S Kit Ave, Caldwell, ID 83606 |
| SAGE – College of Southern Idaho | 315 Falls Avenue, Room 107C, Twin Falls, ID 83301 |
| Swift Driving Academy | 1428 Seventh Ave N, Lewiston, ID 83501 |
| Top Gun Truck Driving Academy | 21389 US 30, Twin Falls, ID 83301 |
You should, however, pay attention if your school offers endorsements and which ones.
Drivers who can transport hazardous materials are more valuable for their employers and can earn more money.
Driving a bus for more than 16 people, for instance, also requires a special endorsement.
These are some of the other endorsements available:
- HAZMAT
- Doubles/Triples
- Tanker
- Air Brake
Remember that adding endorsements to your license means you have more career options and you can earn more money as well.
License
It’s not enough to have an endorsement to drive trucks or buses: you also need the right license class.
There are 3 main classes you can get.
They’re set apart by the type of vehicle they allow you to drive.
The first 2 classes, A and B, make a difference when it comes to how much the vehicle weighs, while the 3rd class, C, applies to vehicles that don’t belong in the first 2.
Holders of Class A can drive vehicles below it (B, C, D).
However, if you hold a Class C license, you can’t drive vehicles in the upper classes (A and B).
Income
Professional drivers in Idaho make on average about $41,741 per year, while those in the top 10% earn about $48,374 per year.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Boise | $41,961 |
| Meridian | $41,917 |
| Nampa | $41,519 |
| Idaho Falls | $40,203 |
| Caldwell | $41,474 |
| Pocatello | $38,432 |
| Coeur d'Alene | $43,518 |
| Twin Falls | $38,299 |
| Post Falls | $43,612 |
| Lewiston | $43,664 |
Regional Salary in Idaho
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boise City, ID | 5,680 | $55,680 | $26.77 | $74,930 | $37,370 |
| Coeur d'Alene, ID | 740 | $56,270 | $27.05 | $74,670 | $41,330 |
| Idaho Falls, ID | 1,810 | $53,230 | $25.59 | $69,120 | $33,840 |
| Lewiston, ID-WA | 410 | $57,730 | $27.76 | $76,650 | $39,990 |
| Pocatello, ID | 520 | $52,970 | $25.47 | $67,880 | $38,110 |
| Twin Falls, ID | 1,460 | $52,800 | $25.38 | $69,530 | $38,420 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Final Thoughts
The best idea would be to enroll in a school that also knows employers, though finding a position as soon as you graduate shouldn’t be difficult.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Truck Driver
CDL Schools by State