Entry Level CDL-A Trainees

American Driver; Cleveland (OH); On-site; USD 45,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

American Driver offers an entry level CDL-A trainee program with paid training and mentorship. New drivers start with a structured pay path, beginning with training pay and progressing to solo drive earnings based on mileage.

The company provides real freight experience, clear progression, and weekly home time once training is completed. The program emphasizes hands-on tractor-trailer operation, compliance with hours-of-service and vehicle inspections, and learning dispatch procedures under real

Qualifications

• Valid Class A CDL
• 21 years or older
• 120+ hours from an accredited CDL school
• Pass DOT physical and pre-employment drug screen

Responsibilities

• Hands-on Class A tractor-trailer operation
• ELD systems and hours-of-service compliance
• Proper pre-trip and post-trip inspections
• How dispatch communication and company procedures work

Skills

Hands-on Class A driving

Dispatch communication

ELD systems knowledge

Education

CDL school hours

Job description

About the job Entry Level CDL-A Trainees

Fresh out of CDL school and ready to start earning? American Driver runs a structured, paid training program built specifically for new drivers — real freight, real mentorship, and a clear pay path from your first week behind the wheel.

PAY STRUCTURE

• Training: $850/week
• Once solo: $0.56/mile, with a $1,000/week minimum guaranteed for your first 3 months
• After 3 months: pay climbs to $0.56–$0.64/mile, averaging $1,200 to $1,700/week

HOW TRAINING WORKS

For 4 to 6 weeks, you're paired with an experienced trainer who rides with you on actual routes — not a classroom, not a simulator. Your trainer tracks your progress and signs off when you're ready to run solo.

What you’ll learn:

• Hands‑on Class A tractor‑trailer operation
• ELD systems and hours‑of‑service compliance
• Proper pre‑trip and post‑trip inspections
• How dispatch communication and company procedures work

AFTER TRAINING

• Weekly home time
• DOT‑compliant operation at all times
• Current, accurate ELD logs and DVIRs
• Full equipment inspections every shift
• Professional dispatch communication

WHAT IT TAKES

• Valid Class A CDL
• 21 years or older
• 120+ hours from an accredited CDL school
• Pass DOT physical and pre‑employment drug screen

American Driver is an Equal Opportunity Employer.