Truck Driving Schools in New Hampshire

The duties of a truck driver in New Hampshire extend beyond ensuring that vehicles are transported from one point to another. These professionals are able to leverage their skills to accurately locate destinations, load and unload cargo, and retrieve the correct products.

The process of becoming a truck driver in New Hampshire involves meeting minimum requirements, completing a training program, passing licensing examinations, and more. In the article below, readers will find all these steps broken down into concise and comprehensive sections.

They will also understand the best training programs to attend, and the annual average salary to expect, among other important information.

How to Become a Truck Driver in New Hampshire

Truck drivers in New Hampshire typically begin their careers by following the steps below.

Age & Other Basic Requirements

Individuals in New Hampshire must be at least 18 years old to obtain a commercial learner’s permit and a commercial driver’s license. In order to carry hazardous materials or to cross state lines, candidates must be at least 21 years old.

They also have to choose a specific CDL class and pass a Department of Transportation medical examination.

Commercial Learner’s Permit

A commercial learner’s permit is crucial to becoming a truck driver because it allows candidates to prepare for their CDL examination. Candidates must hold a Commercial Learner’s Permit (CLP) for at least 14 days before taking the CDL road test.

A commercial learner’s permit in New Hampshire is valid for 180 days; after this period, all tests must be retaken to obtain another permit.

CDL Preparation Programs

While there is a statement that it officially requires students to attend a training program to receive their CDL, it is still common among most candidates. Attending a training program can be effective in terms of opportunities for employment, professional development, networking, and skills acquisition.

Of course, candidates who attend a top-class training program will also be well-prepared for their CDL exam and have a higher chance of success.

CDL Exam

Finally, passing the CDL examination is the last major step to obtain a commercial driver’s license and become a fully-fledged truck driver in New Hampshire. Individuals must complete a skills test that showcases proficiency in various aspects of inspection, maneuvering, backing, and other skills relevant to their license category.

Licensure & Certification Requirements

Obtaining a CDL in New Hampshire involves paying several basic fees, including $60 for each class of CDL and $20 for the commercial learner’s permit. Candidates who wish to pursue endorsements must also pay $10 for each endorsement added to their base Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).

Candidates must also undergo self-certification, in which they inform the New Hampshire Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) of the type of commerce they plan to operate within or outside the state.

A truck driver in New Hampshire may have their CDL disqualified for major offenses. These include having an alcohol concentration level of more than 0.04 while operating a commercial motor vehicle, fleeing the scene of an accident, and committing a felony with their vehicle.

Top Truck Driver Schools in New Hampshire

The schools below are notable for high-quality truck driving programs in New Hampshire.

Explore truck driving schools in New Hampshire by City:

• Truck driving schools in Manchester

Salary & Career Outlook

Truck drivers in New Hampshire can begin their careers earning an annual average salary of around $46,740 or $93,069. Those who fall into the first category are considered to be in the bottom 10% bracket, while the second category comprises median earners.

Truck drivers in New Hampshire who have scaled their earnings to be among the top 10% end the year with an average salary of $185,320. They typically achieve this by working on their experience, location, credentials, and endorsements, among other viable factors.

Concerning top locations, Manchester, with an annual average salary of $109,247, and Nashua, with an annual average salary of $108,644, are the highest-paying cities for truck drivers in New Hampshire.

Portsmouth, with an annual average salary of $108,593, and Dover, with an annual average salary of $107,358, follow in third and fourth place, respectively.