How to Become A CDL Truck Driver in Vermont

Vermont employs approximately 3,560 cdl truck drivers according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, with a median annual wage of $60,830 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 Vermont, including requirements, training programs, and salary data.

Quick Answers About Becoming A CDL Truck Driver in Vermont

How do I become a cdl truck driver in Vermont? Vermont requires credentials such as Commercial Drivers License (CDL), Commercial Driver, Commercial Driver Instructor. The licensing authority is the Vermont Agency of Transportation - Department 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 Vermont? Yes. Vermont has licensing or registration requirements for cdl truck drivers. The Vermont Agency of Transportation - Department of Motor Vehicles oversees licensing 3. See the licensing section below for details.

What do cdl truck drivers earn in Vermont? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in Vermont is $60,830 according to BLS data. Entry-level wages start around $48,900 and experienced professionals can earn $74,700 or more 1.

At a Glance

CDL Truck Driver License Requirements in Vermont

The Vermont Agency of Transportation - Department of Motor Vehicles oversees cdl truck driver licensing in Vermont 3.

License Types

LicenseRequirements
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.
Commercial DriverDrives a heavy truck or tractor trailer with a gross vehicle weight rating over 26,000 pounds or a vehicle transporting hazardous materials or a local/transit bus, school bus or passenger vehicle desi…
Commercial Driver InstructorInstructs individuals in the driving of commercial or passenger motor vehicles or school busses.

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 Vermont

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

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual WageAvg. Annual WageEntry Level
(10th pctile)
Experienced
(90th pctile)
Burlington-South Burlington1,210$62,460$62,670$50,480$74,940

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 Vermont

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

Metro AreaEmploymentMedian Annual Wage
Burlington-South Burlington1,210$62,460

Explore cdl truck driver programs in Burlington.

Explore More Trades in Vermont

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the job outlook for cdl truck drivers in Vermont? Vermont currently employs approximately 3,560 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 Vermont with an out-of-state license? Contact the Vermont Agency of Transportation - Department of Motor Vehicles for details on reciprocity and credential transfer.

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

How much do cdl truck drivers earn in Vermont compared to the national average? The median annual wage for cdl truck drivers in Vermont is $60,830, which is $3,390 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


  1. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: https://www.bls.gov/oes/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  2. Bureau of Labor Statistics - Employment Projections: https://www.bls.gov/emp/ ↩︎ ↩︎

  3. Vermont Agency of Transportation - Department of Motor Vehicles - Licensing Information: http://dmv.vermont.gov/ ↩︎ ↩︎ ↩︎

  4. 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.

DataProviderVintage
Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)U.S. Bureau of Labor StatisticsMay 2025
Employment ProjectionsU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics2024-2034
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data SystemNational Center for Education Statistics (IPEDS)2024
College Scorecard (school-level outcomes)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release
College Scorecard (field-of-study earnings)U.S. Department of Educationlatest release (updated 2026-06-12)
Occupational licensing requirementsCareerOneStop (U.S. Department of Labor)latest release (updated 2026-02-22)
Registered apprenticeship programsCareerOneStop / 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)