Waste & Recycling Driver
Essential work. Steady pay. Home daily.
$42,000–$68,000
Very Strong
Class B
Early mornings; home daily
Overview
Waste and recycling drivers operate rear-load, front-load, and roll-off trucks for municipal and commercial waste collection. A Class B CDL is typically required. It is a stable, locally based career with strong benefits through municipal employers.
Waste collection is recession-proof and faces persistent driver shortages.
A Day in the Life
Waste drivers start before dawn, complete a pre-trip inspection, run a residential or commercial route, operate hydraulic compactors or front-load mechanisms, and return to the yard by midday.
Pros & Cons
Advantages
- Recession-proof demand
- Home daily
- Strong municipal benefits
- Entry-level friendly
Challenges
- Early start times
- Physical demands
- Odor and sanitation exposure
- Route pressure
Endorsements
Helpful to Have
Top Employers
How Diesel Xtrem Prepares You
Our Class B program qualifies you for waste and recycling positions. We cover the air brake and pre-trip skills that municipal employers require.