How to become a garbage collector

1. 1Meet basic hiring requirements

   Time: Before applyingSources 1, 3

   Employers look for a valid driver's license, a clean driving record and the strength to lift and throw heavy cans and bags all day, in all weather. Many require a high school diploma or equivalent. Drivers working in interstate commerce must be at least 21 under federal rules; in-state age rules for CDL holders are set by each state. Expect a background check and, for driving jobs, a drug test.

2. 2Get hired as a helper or loader

   Time: 1-4 weeksCost: FreeSources 1

   Apply to private haulers, which hire directly, or to your city's sanitation or public works department, which may use civil service postings and a waiting list. Staffing agencies also place temporary helpers. Training for helpers is on the job and short: riding the truck safely, lifting technique, handling hazardous items and working around traffic. It is a common way to learn routes before driving.

3. 3Get a commercial learner's permit

   Time: A few days to studyCost: State fees varySources 2, 6

   To drive, start with a commercial learner's permit (CLP) from your state licensing agency by passing the CDL general knowledge test. You must be at least 18 and already hold a regular driver's license from that state. With the permit you can practice in a truck only with a CDL holder in the front seat beside you. The permit is valid for up to one year.

4. 4Complete entry-level driver training

   Time: 2-6 weeksCost: Up to about $1,922 at a community collegeSources 4, 5

   Federal rules require anyone getting a Class A or B CDL for the first time to complete training from a provider on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry. That can be an employer's in-house program, a community college or a private school. Pima Community College's Class B course, for example, is about 96 contact hours. Training covers vehicle inspection, backing, air brakes and safe driving on public roads.

5. 5Pass the Class B skills test and get your CDL

   Time: At least 14 days after the permitCost: State fees varySources 2, 7

   You cannot take the skills test until you have held the CLP for 14 days. The test, taken in a representative heavy straight truck, includes a pre-trip inspection, basic vehicle control and an on-road drive. A Class B CDL covers single vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more, which includes most garbage and roll-off trucks.

6. 6Pass the DOT physical and drug test, then start driving

   Time: 1-2 weeksCost: Varies; often employer-paidSources 8, 9, 10

   CDL drivers need a medical certificate from a certified examiner, renewed at least every 24 months, and must pass a pre-employment drug test before driving for an employer. They are also subject to random alcohol and drug testing afterward. New drivers usually ride with a trainer on the route before taking a truck alone, learning the stops, dump sites and the truck's automated arm or packer controls.

Requirements differ by state. Check your state’s rules in the CareerOneStop License Finder (U.S. Department of Labor) before you enroll.

Physical strength and stamina

Helpers may lift and throw hundreds of cans and bags a shift, often running between stops.

Safe driving in tight spaces

Drivers back large trucks down alleys and dead ends and maneuver around parked cars, children and pedestrians.

Situational awareness

Passing traffic, moving hydraulic arms and the compactor can injure workers who lose track of where they are.

Mechanical sense

Daily inspections and spotting leaking hydraulics or worn brakes early keep the truck safe and on schedule.

Reliability

Routes start before dawn every day, and a missing crew member means a neighborhood goes without pickup.

O*NET 31.0 rates these skills as most important for the occupation: active listening, speaking, critical thinking, reading comprehension, writing.

Training cost

$0–$1.9K

Before financial aid

Time

1-3 months for a CDL driver

Typical path

Median pay

$49,690

All US jobs: $50,980

Payback once qualified

No premium

Pay above the all-jobs median vs. cost

Low: helpers are trained by the employer at no cost, and employers that run their own registered training programs may train drivers in-house. High: Pima Community College's estimated 2026-27 cost for its Class B CDL program, $1,922, which includes tuition, program fees, books, drug screening, background check and a $25 credential fee. Not included: state permit, skills test and license fees, which vary by state, and the DOT physical. Private CDL schools set their own prices.

Rough guide only: ignores taxes, aid, interest and earnings given up during training. How we calculate it.

• CDL route driver$58,640 median

  Helpers move up by earning a Class B CDL, and some go on to a Class A license to drive transfer trailers between transfer stations and landfills.

• Heavy equipment or crane operator$68,080 median

  Landfills and transfer stations use loaders, compactors and material handlers; operators learn them on the job or through equipment training and certification.

• Diesel mechanic$61,770 median

  Workers with mechanical skill can move into the fleet shop, usually after a diesel technology program or on-the-job training.

• Route supervisor or operations manager$105,770 median

  Experienced drivers can become route supervisors and then managers of a hauling division or sanitation department, often with added training in safety and logistics.