Need CDL For UPS – Do You Need CDL To Drive A UPS Truck?

By Max Anthony •  Updated: 09/04/22 •  6 min read

If you are a passionate traveler, you may want to travel across the United States and deliver gifts and other items to people who are looking for them. If this is what you want to do, and if you are interested in driving for UPS as one of their valued drivers, you can read on to find out how!

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Working for UPS is definitely on your bucket list if you are passionate about traveling and delivering people’s gifts and orders! There are certain requirements that you need to meet before you can become a driver for UPS. This article will help you understand all the important points you may be worried about, including the requirement that you have a valid commercial driver license (CDL) to drive for UPS. Read it to learn everything you may be wondering about becoming a UPS driver, as well as a great deal about the driving courses you can take at your local driving school.

Is a CDL Needed for a UPS Truck?

You do not need to have a commercial driver’s license to drive a delivery vehicle for UPS. But keep in mind that there are some driving jobs that you cannot do if you do not have a commercial driving license (CDL).

You can drive a UPS delivery vehicle, a tractor trailer or a freight truck. But without a CDL, you cannot drive a heavy duty truck or a commercial vehicle. You cannot be much more than a delivery driver without having this special license.

You can work as one of UPS’ drivers at their driving department, but you are not allowed to work as a freight or tractor trailer driver for UPS. So, it’s certainly possible, but you’ll find that your options are much more limited.

What are the Requirements to Becoming a UPS Driver?

Some UPS drivers are paid very well, and if you want to become a delivery driver, there are some requirements that you need to meet. First of all, you need to have a valid driver’s license. Second, you must pass a physical test and a drug test. First and foremost, you must pass the DOT physical and drug tests. Lastly, you will need to be able to drive a standard vehicle. You must be able to drive a vehicle manually. UPS delivery drivers drive only UPS box trucks and vans. You will not drive any other vehicle if you do not have a valid driver’s license.

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If you want to drive a tractor trailer for UPS, you will need to pass more tests than if you wanted to be a delivery driver. You will need to have a valid commercial driver’s license. First and foremost, you must have a valid commercial driver’s license before you can get a CDL. You must also pass the DOT physical exam and drug test.

Need CDL For UPS

Third, you will need to pass the UPS road test. This is a special test that the UPS uses to gauge your driving proficiency. There is a test that UPS uses to check the driving ability of truck drivers. It measures whether drivers are competent or not. You will need to provide your state government-issued driving license. It is important to keep your driving abstract. Generally, you will need to provide a recent driving abstract to be accepted at UPS. You should be at least 21 years old at the time you submit the abstract. Drivers who want to work as a freight driver for UPS must also meet some requirements.

You need to have a valid commercial driver’s license, which includes a Class A commercial driver’s license. Class A CDLs should include endorsements for tankers, twin trailers, and hazardous material. Other requirements include passing drug and physical tests. You must also be able to pass driving tests and a written test. Third, you must be at least 21 years old to work as a delivery driver for UPS.

Does UPS Give Their Drivers CDL Training?

UPS does not provide training for commercial drivers. If you expect to be hired as a delivery driver then transfer to another job at UPS and get a CDL license while working for that company, you should think twice.

The only way you can get accepted to a UPS job that requires you to have a valid CDL license is to do that before you apply. UPS will not offer you training for a CDL license themselves, but the company does have training to ensure that those who work for the company always behave in a manner that is in line with the company’s goals.

What are the Types of Drivers UPS Hires?

Drivers who work for United Parcel Service (UPS) have many different driving positions that they can take. There are several driving positions that UPS offers. Although there are some common driving tasks for all of the positions, they do have some differences. You will find several driving positions with United Parcel Service (UPS), including:

Personal Vehicle Driver

As a personal vehicle driver, you drive your own vehicle and deliver packages to customers who live in your area. You can deliver packages to one home or to several households. You would be working under no contract with UPS. You can work with a lot of flexibility; just drop in at a UPS shipping facility. This is a great way to earn extra money.

Package Delivery Driver

These drivers take vans to deliver packages to the people whom their boss has assigned a route for them. These drivers pick up packages that arrive at a shipping facility and deliver them to many customers.

Tractor-Trailer Driver

Drivers of tractor-trailers carry packages from one city to another. They typically start their shift at night and end it at dawn the next morning. It is very common for drivers to travel for several days in order to deliver packages. Such drivers may be transporting packages to just one customer or to multiple customers at once.

Freight Driver

A city driver or a freight driver transports goods across cities and states. Because of that, the responsibilities of a freight driver can be quite broad. They pick up packages from different depots or warehouses in the city or county where the delivery will be made. They don’t deliver packages to people at their homes, but they finish their job within their working hours.

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Max Anthony

Max is a gizmo-savvy guy, who has a tendency to get pulled into the nitty gritty details of technology and cars. He attended UT Austin, where he studied Information Science. He’s married and has three kids, one dog and a GMC truck and a Porsche 911. With a large family, he still finds time to share tips and tricks on cars, trucks and more.

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