Road to the Office: Dylan’s Journey After CDL School
Meet Dylan, a Southwest Truck Driver Training graduate!
For Dylan, trucking is kind of the family business. His grandfather and uncle both entered the field. His grandpa drove for years, and Dylan used to ride with him, leading to a love of trucks and a desire to work in the field. His uncle is also one of our grads, and he recommended Southwest Truck Driver Training to Dylan.
Though Dylan loves the industry, he realized being a driver isn’t for him. So, he worked his way up to a safety specialist role. We sat down with Dylan to ask about this decision. He told us about why he changed directions and how he became a safety specialist. We’ll also tell you about some other roles and what safety specialists do.
Why Dylan Changed His Path: Work/Life Balance in Trucking
While many drivers stay behind the wheel for their entire careers, some change paths. Dylan’s reason for leaving the rig is one of the more common ones: He wanted more time at home.
Why Do Some Drivers Leave the Trucking Industry?
When we asked Dylan if he sees people switch from driving to off-the-road jobs often, he said no. Instead, those who want a change of pace frequently leave the industry, even if they love it.
Why? Dylan believes the answer may be simple: They don’t know about the other options they may have.
If you’re a driver and want to leave the rig but stay in trucking, you have a lot of options! You spent the time learning to drive and familiarizing yourself with trucking. Why not use your insider knowledge of the industry in an office role? Here are just a few off-the-road positions former drivers may want to consider:
- Dispatcher
- Maintenance crew
- Recruiter
- Safety specialist
- Terminal manager
- Trade compliance specialist
- Truck driving instructor
Wanting to be home more often doesn’t mean you have to stop driving. You could become a local or regional driver instead. Local drivers are home daily, and regional drivers may be gone for only a few days at a time.
You may only need a CDL B for many local or regional jobs. However, a CDL A lets you do everything someone with a CDL B can and more.
No matter which CDL you have, you might need to get an endorsement to qualify for some positions.
A few vehicles you could drive locally or regionally are:
- Cement truck
- Buses
- Delivery vehicle
- Dump truck
- Less-than-truckload (LTL) vehicles
- Limousines
- Passenger vehicles, such as buses or shuttles
- School buses
- Tow trucks
How Dylan Found His Off-the-Road Job
When he decided to stop driving, Dylan looked for a new role with his existing employer, Werner. He first took a role as a shuttle driver. Unlike over-the-road (OTR) driving, this job didn’t take him away from home for days at a time.
After that position, he switched to a driver support representative role. Then, he began his current job as a safety specialist.
If your company doesn’t have openings, check out job boards and other companies’ sites. And remember: Southwest Truck Driver Training offers lifelong career services to our graduates.
Safety Specialist: An Essential Trucking Industry Job
Safety specialist jobs always involve ensuring driver safety and regulatory compliance. People in these roles need to be excellent communicators and always on alert for risks. Understanding laws and regulations is essential. (Don’t worry; no one knows everything right away!)
Some specific tasks safety specialists may have are:
- Creating internal safety rules: Individual trucking companies have rules beyond those required by law.
- Ensuring compliance: They make sure their company and drivers follow all safety regulations.
- Handling safety incidents: Safety specialists assist with or lead investigations into safety-related incidents. They help figure out what happened and suggest what steps to take. This may involve communication with drivers, lawyers, regulatory bodies, and insurance companies.
- Performing safety training: Safety specialists provide refresher safety courses, regardless of whether there’s a problem. They also make sure drivers are aware of and trained in new legal requirements. Safety specialists might even run truck driver wellness programs. After all, health and safety are related.
Safety supervisors or managers have more responsibilities. For instance, they oversee safety staff and might need to be on-call 24/7 to handle emergencies.
Former drivers are often ideal candidates for safety roles. They’re well-versed in recognizing problems with trucks and can relate to drivers’ experiences. Life on the road isn’t like any other life, and those living it may have unique safety and health concerns as a result.
ZipRecruiter says that, as of May 2025, safety specialists nationwide earn a median of $60,404. Pay ranges from about $33,500 to $105,500 per year.
Dylan’s Advice for Truck Driving School Students
When we asked Dylan what advice he has for truck driving students, he said, “Study, study, study.” A lot of information is packed into the few weeks you’re in our program, and you want to be ready for your CDL tests!