What Are the Different Types of Trainee Driving Jobs?

Most driving jobs do not require the driver to have earned a certain level of education, though he or she will usually need to earn a commercial driver's license (CDL) and undergo some job training. Trainee driving jobs are usually available in any industry that requires various types of drivers, from long haul trucking companies to taxi cab companies. Before a driver can sit behind the wheel as a full-time employee, he or she will need to take one of many trainee driving jobs to learn the ins and outs of the job and to learn the appropriate safety measures that must be taken on a daily basis.

Long haul heavy truck drivers will operate large tractor-trailer units that are generally driven long distances. The route the driver will take usually cannot be completed in one business day, so he or she will generally sleep in the sleeping cabin built into the truck. Trainee driving jobs are usually available for drivers who have completed a training course; in order to drive full time, he or she generally needs to complete driving hours under the guidance and supervision of a full-time employee. The trainee will therefore accompany the full-time driver on several long haul routes.

Delivery drivers are likely to operate smaller vehicles within a certain city, town, or region. The trainee driving jobs in such scenarios will usually teach the student not only how to operate the delivery vehicle, but also how to perform deliveries, keep track of invoices, and perform any other relevant duties. Route drivers may also perform such duties, though they are not relegated exclusively to deliveries; these drivers may perform services on site instead. Trainee driver jobs generally last several weeks or months in these settings; in other settings, such as long haul trucker trainee driving jobs, the training period may be more extensive and prolonged.

Taxi cab companies and other livery services will usually have trainee driving jobs available as well. Such services are responsible for transporting passengers from one location to another; livery services may include taxis, limousines, buses, vans, or shuttles. Airport shuttle drivers, for example, may transport travelers from parking lots to airport terminals, and vice versa. Limousine drivers may transport travelers to a special event such as a wedding, prom, business engagement, or even to a hotel from an airport. Bus drivers may work in cities and towns to transport people to various locations, or they may do longer trips from one city to another.