Like all states, you must have a Commercial Driver’s License or CDL to work as a truck driver in Alaska. You’ll need to accomplish several things first before you can receive one. Compared to other states, acquiring a CDL in Alaska may be relatively easy.
Since Alaska is a bit isolated to the other states, commercial truck drivers there won’t be doing much interstate driving. This means that you won’t need to wait until you reach the federal interstate driving age of 21 years old. CDL licenses issued in Alaska also come in types A, B, and C, with each type relating to the gross weight vehicle. In many cases, you’ll be able to start working as soon as you receive your license. There is no specific rule that requires applicants to first undergo a particular type of training before applying for a CDL. What’s important is that applicants will be able to pass the required documents, the written exam, and the road skills test.
All applicants are required to take the General Knowledge Test. Applicants can prepare for the test by reading the state’s commercial driver’s license manual. This manual contains important information that will be covered in the written test. It can be obtained from the local DMV office or by downloading it from the internet. Additional exams will be given for each endorsement you wish to add to your CDL. Trying to obtain endorsements is advantageous since it allows you to perform additional tasks such as carrying hazardous materials and operating a combination of vehicle types.
When you pass the written test, you will be given a temporary driver’s permit, which will allow you to operate a commercial vehicle while under the supervision of a licensed driver. This permit will only be valid for up to 6 months. Use this time to get enough practice for the road test. Applicants must schedule and take the road test while their permits are still valid. The road test is conducted by a 3rd party, and there is a road test fee of $25. Applicants are required to provide their own appropriate vehicle for testing and must be accompanied by a licensed driver to the testing site. The road test is divided into a pre-trip inspection, a basic skills demonstration that involves maneuvering a truck in private roads, and on-road testing in an actual traffic situation. Applicants must pass all three parts to receive their CDLs from the DMV office.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics has estimated the annual salary of commercial truck drivers in Alaska to be around $50,050. Although it might not be one of the biggest trucking states, you can still find an array of truck driving careers there. The biggest industries that one can find work in includes gas and petroleum, food manufacturing, general merchandising, and many more.
List of Truck Driving Schools in AK
Anchorage
Center for Employment Education
520 East 34th Avenue, Suite 201
Anchorage, AK 99503
Phone: (907) 279-8451 or (800) 478-4233
Barrow
Ilisagvik College
100 Stevenson Street,
Barrow, AK 99723
Phone: (907) 852-3333
Ilisavik is the only accredited, Alaska Native controlled higher educational institution in Alaska. It is also the only college that’s located within the boundaries of the Arctic Slope. This is a two-year tribal college that offers quality post-secondary academic, vocational, and technical education aimed at matching workforce needs. The college is dedicated to perpetuating and strengthening its Eskimo culture, language, values, and traditions.
Palmer
Northern Industrial Training
1740 North Terrilou Court
Palmer, AK 99645
Phone: (907) 357-6400 or (888) 367-6482
There are different types of vehicles that you can drive commercially. They can be over-the-road trucks and trailers, passenger or school buses, and large and heavy equipment vehicles that are used for commercial purposes. The important feature that these vehicles should possess is that they have a gross weight of more than 26,000 pounds or they are carrying 15 or more passengers. They must also be able to be driven from the job site over the road.