There are several different types of trucks and trailers driven by professional CDL drivers. If you’re a driver, you are usually qualified to drive one or more of a specific kind of truck or truck/trailer combination based on your CDL License Type(A, B, or C), and your experience/endorsements. This list defines the difference between each trailer type, and will allow you to narrow your job search by these haul types.
Auto Hauling Truck Driver Jobs
An Auto-Hauler will pull a trailer carrying vehicles. This is a specialized type of haul and requires a higher skill-set.
Dry Van Truck Driver Jobs
A Dry Van trailer is the most common type of trailer pulled by professional CDL drivers. It carries a variety of dry goods.
Flatbed Truck Driver Jobs
A Flatbed trailer is another common type of trailer and a high demand type of job. Drivers pull materials on a flatbed trailer usually held down by straps and sometimes covered with a tarp.
Reefer / Refrigerated Truck Driver Jobs
A Refrigerated trailer looks like a dry van, or box trailer, but it has a refrigerating unit attached to it. Reefer trailers typically haul frozen or refrigerated produce items and foods.
Tanker Truck Driver Jobs
A Tanker trailer typically carries liquid or hazardous materials like fuel, or other flammable liquids. A tanker can also haul dry goods, but any type of tanker driver is required to have a Tank endorsement, or Tank/HazMat combo.