Since the passage of the Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 1986, a commercial driver's license (CDL) has been required for anyone operating a vehicle that has a gross weight of more than 26,000 pounds or that regularly carries 16 or more passengers. This applies to long-haul truckers, bus drivers and many construction equipment operators. However, there are several types of driving jobs available that do not require workers to possess a CDL.
Taxi Drivers and Chauffeurs
Most taxi drivers and chauffeurs, including limousine drivers, transport fewer than 16 people at a time and so are not required to possess a commercial driver's license. This occupation also has no formal educational requirements. Once hired, a taxi driver or chauffeur typically undergoes a short on-the-job training, typically one to two weeks. While a CDL is not usually required, some states do require that taxi drivers and chauffeurs obtain a different specialized license, sometimes called a "hack" license. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), taxi drivers and chauffeurs earned a median income of $22,440 as of 2010.
Delivery drivers who operate vehicles and cargo with a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 26,000 pounds are not required to have a CDL. Light truck delivery drivers work in a variety of industries, such as retail, wholesale trade, courier services and for grocery stores. These jobs typically require no formal education higher than a high school diploma, and entail on-the-job training of less than one month. Light truck delivery drivers usually work locally, and many have a set route that they drive. According to the BLS, light truck delivery drivers earned a median income of $28,630 as of 2010.
U.S. Postal Service mail carriers who work in rural areas often drive a vehicle to deliver mail. This job requires no higher education than a high school diploma, and offers relatively high pay and benefits; according to the BLS, the median income of a mail carrier as of 2010 was $53,860 per year. However, the U.S. Postal Service is in the process of curtailing some of its operations, and mail carrier jobs are expected to be difficult to come by in the coming years. The BLS reports that available mail carrier jobs are expected to decrease at a rate of 12 percent between 2010 and 2020.
Locomotive engineers drive cargo and passenger trains between stations, and are exempt from CDL requirements. Only rail yard engineers who use heavy vehicles to haul cargo within a station are required to possess a CDL. Many companies require applicants to hold a high school diploma or GED, though some do not have formal educational requirements. After being hired, locomotive engineers are trained by their company for a period of two to three months. As of 2010, locomotive engineers reported a median income of $46,630 per year to the BLS.
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