Truck Driver Jobs in Los Angeles, CA
Class A truck drivers in Los Angeles earn a metro median near $29 an hour, and local LTL routes post $33 to $41 with home-daily schedules. The Port of Los Angeles and the warehouse belt south of downtown keep demand steady. Here are the current openings, then who is hiring and how to get licensed.
Current truck driver Openings in Los Angeles, CA
Listings marked External are sponsored openings provided by the Jobs2Careers network.
Truck Driver Work in Los Angeles
Los Angeles trucking starts at the water. The Port of Los Angeles in San Pedro moved 10.2 million container units in 2025, and drayage drivers shuttle those boxes up the 710, the 110 and the Alameda Corridor to rail yards and warehouses in Vernon, Commerce, Santa Fe Springs and the City of Industry. Many driving jobs here are local: LTL carriers, beverage bottlers, food distributors and metal service centers run city routes and are home every night.
Two things set Los Angeles apart from the rest of California. Port work needs a TWIC card and a truck listed in the Port's drayage registry, and heavy-duty trucks operating in California must pass CARB's Clean Truck Check emissions program.
Top Los Angeles Employers Hiring Truck Drivers
These employers had CDL driver openings in the Los Angeles area posted on their own career sites when this guide was checked:
- Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling - the Coca-Cola bottler hires Class A route and transport drivers in Sylmar, Downey and the City of Industry.
- Saia - the LTL freight carrier hires Class A local city drivers with hazmat, tank and doubles endorsements at its Gardena terminal.
- XPO - the LTL carrier runs home-daily Class A driver jobs from its Santa Fe Springs terminal with step pay progression.
- Sysco - the foodservice distributor hires Class A local delivery drivers in Walnut and Class B produce drivers at FreshPoint in the City of Industry.
- Phoenix Metals - the Reliance metals service center hires CDL drivers to deliver metal products from its Los Angeles location.
- City of Los Angeles - hires Heavy Duty Truck Operators across city departments, with civil service pay.
Truck Driver Salaries in Los Angeles
- Entry level: about $24 to $29 an hour for newer Class A and Class B drivers.
- Experienced: roughly $29 to $36 an hour on local routes with one or more years of Class A experience.
- Senior / top progression: $36 to $41 or more an hour at LTL carriers and transport routes with full endorsements.
These are estimates from BLS 2025 wage data for the Los Angeles metro and pay ranges posted by local employers. Endorsements move pay the most: hazmat, tank and doubles qualify you for LTL city driving, where Saia posts $33.75 to $38.50 and XPO tops out at $41.38. The City of Los Angeles pays Heavy Duty Truck Operators $71,785 to $89,199 a year.
How to Become a Truck Driver in Los Angeles
You need a commercial driver license from the California Department of Motor Vehicles: Class A for tractor-trailers and Class B for single heavy trucks. You must be 18 to drive within California and 21 to drive interstate or haul hazmat, pass a DOT medical exam, hold a commercial learner's permit for at least 14 days and pass the knowledge and skills tests. Federal Entry-Level Driver Training rules from the FMCSA require you to finish training with a provider on the federal Training Provider Registry before your first Class A or B test. Locally, the LAUSD Division of Adult and Career Education offers a 120-hour Commercial Driver's License Preparation course at Harbor Occupational Center in San Pedro, and Long Beach City College runs a 160-hour Class A program. For port work, add a TWIC card from the TSA.
What the Job Involves
Truck drivers inspect their vehicles before and after each trip, couple and uncouple trailers, drive set routes or dispatched loads, and log hours on an electronic logging device. Local delivery drivers also unload product with hand trucks or pallet jacks and collect signatures, while LTL drivers make several pickups and deliveries a shift.
Skills Employers Look For
- Valid California Class A or Class B CDL with a clean driving record
- Hazmat, tank and doubles endorsements for LTL work
- Thorough pre-trip and post-trip inspections
- ELD and hours-of-service compliance
- Backing and maneuvering at tight urban docks
- Physical stamina for loading and unloading
Career Path and Advancement
Many Los Angeles drivers start in a warehouse or on a Class B delivery route, earn a Class A, then move to LTL city driving or transport routes for higher pay. From there the path runs to driver trainer, dispatcher, safety supervisor or terminal operations. Some experienced drivers move into port drayage or owner-operator work.
Related Careers in Los Angeles
If truck driving interests you, these related Los Angeles roles are close matches:
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a CDL in Los Angeles?
Apply for a commercial learner's permit at the California DMV, pass the medical exam and knowledge tests, and complete Entry-Level Driver Training with a registered provider. After holding the permit for at least 14 days, you take the skills test, which covers a vehicle inspection, basic control and a road test.
How much do truck drivers make in Los Angeles?
BLS 2025 data puts the Los Angeles metro median for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers at about $29 an hour, or $60,340 a year. Local Class A jobs posted by area employers range from about $28 to $41 an hour, with the top rates at LTL carriers that require endorsements.
Do I need a TWIC card to drive in Los Angeles?
Only if you need unescorted access to secure areas of port terminals, which most drayage drivers do. The TSA issues the card for five years, a new card costs $125.25, and you should apply at least 60 days before you need it.
Are there home-daily truck driving jobs in Los Angeles?
Yes. LTL carriers, beverage bottlers, food distributors and metal suppliers in Los Angeles run local routes, and carriers such as XPO and distributors such as FreshPoint advertise home-daily or home-nightly schedules.
How old do you have to be to drive a truck in California?
You can get a California CDL at 18, but you are limited to driving within the state. You must be 21 to drive across state lines or carry hazardous materials, and many LTL carriers hire only drivers 21 or older.
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