"How long does it take to become a cdl truck driver in Rhode Island?"

"Most paths into the cdl truck driver field take 1 to 5 years, depending on whether you complete a trade school program, a registered apprenticeship, or a combination of both."

"Do cdl truck drivers need a license in Rhode Island?"

"Yes. Rhode Island requires state-level licensing or registration for cdl truck drivers, administered by the Rhode Island Department of Revenue - Division of Motor Vehicles. See the licensing section above for credential types and current requirements."

"What apprenticeships are available for cdl truck drivers in Rhode Island?"

"In Rhode Island, registered apprenticeships are administered through the Rhode Island Office of Apprenticeship, which works with employers and trade union locals to register programs. See the apprenticeship section above for office contact details."

How to Become A CDL Truck Driver in Rhode Island

Q: "How much do cdl truck drivers earn in Rhode Island?"

"According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), cdl truck drivers in Rhode Island earned a median annual wage of approximately $60,190. Employment concentration in Rhode Island is roughly 0.55 of the national average, meaning fewer workers per capita than the U.S. as a whole."

Q: "What is the job outlook for cdl truck drivers in Rhode Island?"

"Rhode Island currently employs approximately 3,620 workers, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 4.0% national employment change for this occupation from 2024 to 2034."

Updated June 8, 2026 | TradeCareerPath Editorial Team

Rhode Island heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn a median annual wage of $60,190 ($28.94/hr) according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS data (May 2025), with about 3,620 workers employed statewide. The state median is approximately 2.6% above the national median of $58,640 for the same occupation.

Key Takeaways

Median annual pay: $60,190 ($28.94/hr)
25th percentile: $50,330 per year
75th percentile: $64,250 per year
Top 10% earn: more than $75,120 per year
Entry-level (bottom 10%): under $45,600 per year
Workers employed in Rhode Island: 3,620
Versus national median: 2.6% above the U.S. median of $58,640
Job concentration: Location quotient 0.55 - this occupation is less concentrated in Rhode Island than the national average

Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025. Last reviewed June 8, 2026.

Rhode Island employs approximately 3,620 cdl truck drivers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,190 ¹. Nationally, cdl truck driver employment is projected to grow 4.0% from 2024 to 2034, with about 237,600 openings per year ². This page covers how to become a cdl truck driver in Rhode Island, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A CDL Truck Driver in Rhode Island

How do I become a cdl truck driver in Rhode Island? Rhode Island requires credentials such as Commercial Drivers License (CDL), Chauffeur / CDL. The licensing authority is the Rhode Island Department of Revenue - Division of Motor Vehicles ³. You also need to complete an approved training program or apprenticeship.

How long does it take? Most paths take 1 to 5 years depending on whether you choose trade school, an apprenticeship, or a combination of both.

Do I need a license in Rhode Island? Yes. Rhode Island has licensing or registration requirements for cdl truck drivers. The Rhode Island Department of Revenue - Division of Motor Vehicles oversees licensing ³. See the licensing section below for details.

What do cdl truck drivers earn in Rhode Island? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in Rhode Island is $60,190 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $45,600 and experienced professionals can earn $75,120 or more ¹.

At a Glance

Training paths: trade school, community college, or apprenticeship
Typical timeline: 1 to 5 years depending on the path
Licensing authority: Rhode Island Department of Revenue - Division of Motor Vehicles
Median wage (Rhode Island): $60,190 per year ¹
Exam requirement: State exam required

CDL Truck Driver License Requirements in Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Department of Revenue - Division of Motor Vehicles oversees cdl truck driver licensing in Rhode Island ³.

License Types

License	Requirements
Commercial Drivers License (CDL)	Commercial Drivers Licenses are issued by state departments but are similar from state to state, since the minimum requirements of the licenses and endorsements are set centrally.
Chauffeur / CDL	Drives a private or commercial vehicle to the designated location as requested by the owner or other passenger. License required to receive payment for driving vehicles with passengers.

Additional Requirements

Background check: No criminal record prohibitions
Exam: State exam required
Experience: No experience required

License information sourced from CareerOneStop ⁴.

CDL Truck Driver Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Wages by Metro Area in Rhode Island

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2025 OES data), heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers wages in Rhode Island vary by metro area.

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage	Avg. Annual Wage	Entry Level (10th pctile)	Experienced (90th pctile)
Providence-Warwick	7,030	$60,610	$60,270	$45,560	$74,970

Wages reflect survey data and vary based on experience, credentials, employer, and local market conditions. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025.

Top Metros for Cdl truck drivers in Rhode Island

The metropolitan areas listed below report the highest cdl truck driver employment within Rhode Island according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025).

Metro Area	Employment	Median Annual Wage
Providence-Warwick	7,030	$60,610

Explore cdl truck driver programs in Providence.

Explore More Trades in Rhode Island

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cdl truck drivers in Rhode Island? Rhode Island currently employs approximately 3,620 cdl truck drivers ¹. Nationally, cdl truck driver employment is projected to grow 4.0% from 2024 to 2034 ².

Can I work as a cdl truck driver in Rhode Island with an out-of-state license? Contact the Rhode Island Department of Revenue - Division of Motor Vehicles for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

What training programs are available in Rhode Island? Options include trade schools, community colleges, and apprenticeship programs. Use the school finder above to search for accredited programs in Rhode Island.

How much do cdl truck drivers earn in Rhode Island compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in Rhode Island is $60,190, which is $2,750 above the national median of $57,440 according to BLS data ¹.

Citations

About this guide: Researched and written by the TradeCareerPath Editorial Team. Our editorial team researches and sources every trade school and career guide using federal labor and education data, including BLS OEWS and Employment Projections, DOL apprenticeship records, IPEDS, College Scorecard, and state licensing boards. We follow the editorial standards documented at /editorial-policy/.

References

Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎
Rhode Island Department of Revenue - Division of Motor Vehicles - Licensing Information: https://dmv.ri.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎
CareerOneStop - Licensed Occupations: https://www.careeronestop.org/Toolkit/Training/find-licenses.aspx ↩︎

Data sources

Figures on this page are sourced from the federal and state datasets below. Methodology: how we rank and source data.

Data	Provider	Vintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	May 2025
Employment Projections	U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics	2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System	National Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)	2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)	U.S. Department of Education	latest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirements	CareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programs	CareerOneStop / Apprenticeship.gov (U.S. Department of Labor)	latest release (updated 2025-10-25)
O*NET occupation profiles (skills, tasks, tools, job zones)	U.S. Department of Labor (O*NET / Employment & Training Admin.)	O*NET 29.1 (updated 2026-06-13)