Amazon Truck Driver Jobs After Truck Driver Institute

Amazon truck driver jobs are sprouting up faster than they can be filled. From its inception in 1994, Amazon has changed the way we think about goods, services, and the means by which we acquire them. Now that Amazon has become most people’s first choice in online shopping, they’ve created a huge demand for CDL drivers to deliver the goods that flow through their platform. Being the innovative company they are, Amazon truck driver jobs look a little different from the traditional transportation jobs with many carriers around the country.

The e-commerce industry’s meteoric growth will continue in the coming years, making it a secure and safe bet when it comes to choosing a new career. But how does one find an Amazon truck driver job, and is driving for a company like Amazon for you?

In this page, we’ll dive into what you need to start driving for Amazon, what it’s like to drive for Amazon, and what are some of the associated key ideas that come along with those questions.

Get started with as little as $225 out of pocket!

Do I Need a CDL to Drive for Amazon?

First and foremost, you do need a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to drive for Amazon. Since vans, box trucks, and tractor trailers are used to deliver products from Amazon, we recommend that you get a Class A CDL or a Class B CDL.

Class A CDLs allow you to drive:

  • Semi trucks
  • Flatbeds
  • Tanker vehicles
  • Truck and trailer combinations
  • Most Class B and Class C vehicles

Class B CDLs allow you to drive:

  • Straight trucks
  • Box trucks
  • Dump trucks
  • School busses
  • Segmented busses

Class C CDLs allow you to drive:

  • Vehicles designed to transport more than 16 people
  • Vehicles designed to transport hazardous materials

Ultimately, the type of CDL you get depends on what kind of driving you want to do. For example, the Class A CDL is ideal for interstate drivers because it authorizes you to drive larger vehicles that are capable of long-distance travel. On the other hand, Class B CDLs are good for regional drivers because vans and box trucks are commonly used for local, short-distance applications.

Although Class C CDLs allow you to drive similar vehicles to the Class B CDL, it’s always better to make sure to cover all your bases with a Class B or Class A license. That’s because it allows you to easily transition between careers if you wish to move to a different company that operates in another industry.

At Truck Driver Institute, or TDI, you can earn your Class A, Class B, or Class C CDL in just 3 weeks.

Most of our students pursue the Class A CDL because it allows them to drive most Class B and Class C vehicles, which expands their career options and allows them to take both long-distance and regional jobs.

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What Kinds of Amazon Truck Driver Jobs Are There?

As we mentioned before, driving for Amazon is different than driving for a traditional carrier. To help you get a better picture of what Amazon truck driver jobs are like, here are three of the main differences.

  1. Amazon truck drivers are small business owners. Amazon is a business to customer company while most traditional carriers are business to business companies. This means Amazon delivers products directly to customers’ doorsteps. One-day delivery is the new norm for online shoppers, and Amazon sells thousands and thousands of products per day. Amazon’s delivery needs adapted to allow people to create small, separate delivery businesses that are attached to Amazon itself, as the delivery load would be impossible to manage otherwise. For a small overhead fee, you can work closely with Amazon to create your own regional delivery business, hire employees, and deliver products on behalf of Amazon. This system is similar to the owner-operator system that many traditional carriers offer, which we’ll cover later on.
  2. If running your own delivery business isn’t for you, Amazon truck drivers have the option of driving for a Delivery Service Partner (DSP). Naturally, starting your own business may not have been what you had in mind when you first considered getting your CDL. That’s why Amazon truck drivers have the option of teaming up with people who started their own Amazon delivery service and driving for them.
  3. Amazon truck drivers are paid by the hour. This is the biggest difference between driving for Amazon and driving for a traditional carrier. While conventional truck driver jobs pay by the mile with a minimum pay per week, Amazon truck driver jobs pay by the hour. According to several different sources, Amazon truck drivers can make anywhere between $15 to $25 per hour with the option of overtime.

The main reasons people decide to become Amazon truck drivers are flexibility and freedom. Being your own boss allows you to create your own schedule, take on just as much work as you want, and run the business the way you think it should be run.

Additionally, those who start their own Amazon delivery businesses have Amazon’s years of logistics and management experience as a safety net, allowing them to ask for help and extra guidance when needed. This makes the overhead cost extraordinarily low compared to starting a business in the traditional sense because the framework, business plan, and funding is already there.

What’s an Owner-Operator at Amazon?

For the sake of a fair comparison, we’ll mention what owner-operators are and what they do.

Much like Amazon truck drivers, owner-operators run their own trucking business and are on contract to an established carrier. They own their own trucks, frequently manage a team of drivers, and have the backing of a large and established carrier. They have the freedom to create as much work for themselves as they want and to scale the business to the size that works best for them.

Owner-operators tend to be industry veterans with many years of experience driving trucks and transporting goods.

The Amazon equivalent is the Delivery Service partner.

Jon and Tammy Walker

Truck Driver Institute was the best choice for us. TDI allowed us to explore all carriers opportunities. The instructors were top notch, caring supportive and patient. We would recommend TDI to anyone interested in a career in the trucking industry.

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Finding an Amazon Truck Driver Job as an Owner-Operator

For the sake of a fair comparison, we’ll mention what owner-operators are and what they do.

Much like Amazon truck drivers, owner-operators run their own trucking business and are on contract to an established carrier. They own their own trucks, frequently manage a team of drivers, and have the backing of a large and established carrier. They have the freedom to create as much work for themselves as they want and to scale the business to the size that works best for them. 

With an owner-operator relationship like one you get with the many Amazon truck drivers jobs out there, you’ll have access to many benefits. Here are a few:

You’ll be able to make your own schedule 

Time is money, as they always say, and you’re in charge of making your own schedule to build as big of a profit as you can. One of the most important reasons business owners have for starting a business is their ability to make their own schedules. You’re in charge of building your business and you control what you do with every second of the day. By owning your own truck, you’re ensuring that your time belongs to you and no one else. As an Amazon Delivery Service partner, you’ll make your own schedule. You’ll choose which jobs you want to take on. This will give you the freedom and flexibility to divide your time on the road with your time at home. This makes it all the more easier to maintain a family and long lasting friendships while you’re on the go. The flexibility of your schedule will allow you to accept whichever jobs you desire. 

You’ll have ownership of your very own truck  

When you’re on the hunt for Amazon truck driver jobs, owning your own truck will sweeten the deal. If you want to be your own boss, an Amazon truck driver job is probably the second step in making that dream come true. The first is a proper CDL license. With a CDL license you’ll not only be behind the wheel of a big rig, but you may even eventually get to own one. Through the ownership of a semi truck, you can call all of the shots. When you have your own truck, you can take on Amazon truck driver jobs all over the country. Your truck will be your home away from home and you can deck it out to suit your lifestyle. You’ll never have to worry about damaging company property when you own your own truck, but it’s your responsibility to keep it in tiptop shape when it transports you all over the country. 

You’ll have the cost of everything and the profits

In an owner-operator relationship, you’ll handle the cost of everything, but you’ll also reap the full benefits of the profits. When driving big trucks, the most important expense will be the cost of fuel, the gas that takes you from one job to the next. When you own your own vehicle, you’ll be shouldering that cost on your own. That means your driving skills and route planning will be put to the test. It’ll be up to you to figure out the best way to travel to your destination  to use your fuel most efficiently. This will come in handy when you need to cut costs elsewhere as well. By being the one in control of your costs, you can minimize them when you can. If you take care of your truck, it will take care of you by not only taking you to your destination, but cutting down on maintenance fees and fuel expenses. All of these things will increase your profits and give you a long career behind the wheel of your very own truck. 

What’s an Amazon Delivery Service Partner?

Amazon Delivery Service Partners perform the same function as owner-operators in that they run the operations of a service that delivers Amazon packages. The only differences are that the overhead is lower (usually around $10,000) and that DSPs tend to have less experience in the industry.

DSPs can run a fleet of up to 40 vehicles and manage up to 100 employees. Although Amazon does help new DSPs get the business set up, as a DSP you would be responsible for hiring, firing, and coaching your team.

When you’re searching for Amazon truck driver jobs, becoming a DSP is a great option for those interested in starting a small business. And, if becoming a DSP is not a goal of yours, you can quickly get in touch with a DSP in your area and drive for their team.

Get Amazon Truck Driver Jobs With TDI–Course Breakdown

If you’re interested in earning your commercial driver’s license so you can get an Amazon truck driver job, here’s a breakdown of the 3-week TDI CDL course.

Before You Arrive

Before you arrive at TDI, our job placement team will begin the pre-screening process to ensure you’re qualified to get an Amazon truck driver job. This way, you can start your CDL training with added confidence.

Your First Week

Your first week at TDI will take place in the classroom. The classroom portion of the course teaches you the technical skills that you need to stay organized and comply with the laws in your state. After Week One, you’ll take the written test to obtain your CDL permit.

Your Second Week

Your second week at TDI is focused on getting you behind the wheel. During Week Two, you work closely with one of our experienced instructors on our private driving range to get the hang of driving in a straight line and offset backing. Students also learn the ins-and-outs of pre-trip inspections and other essential mechanical skills.

Your Third Week

After you learn the basics during Week Two, Week Three gets you on the road. Week Three focuses on advanced driving maneuvers, and it involves a combination of both range driving and highway driving. After you master the advanced skills like night driving, you’re ready to take your final CDL test and earn your license.

The best part about Truck Driver Institute is that it prepares you for Amazon truck driver jobs in just 3 weeks, making it one of the quickest truck driving courses in the country. At that, TDI is not a CDL mill which teaches new drivers the bare minimum to get a job.

TDI students leave with the industry knowledge and driving skills to get a job with any carrier, including and Amazon DSP.y browsing our truck driving blog.

Amazon Truck Driver Jobs After Truck Driver Institute

As you can see, Amazon truck driver jobs allow you to be a little more flexible in the type of CDL driving you do, and they revolve around independence rather than top-down management.

If becoming a DSP or driving for a DSP is something you’re interested in, the first step is getting your CDL. Truck Driver Institute has been training new drivers like you since 1973, and our refined program is designed to get you behind the wheel in as little as 3 weeks. Along with our financing options, getting your CDL and driving for top companies like Amazon has never been quicker or more affordable.

If you’d like more information on what a CDL can do for your career, don’t hesitate to contact us today or learn more by browsing our truck driving blog.

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