CDL driving jobs pay well. Driving jobs start from 52k and range higher with more experience, often capping out at 75k. This is only after CDL certification and hours of on the job training.
Yes. CDL truck driving positions generally pay more than non CDL positions. In addition, there are not very many truck driving jobs available that do not require the driver to have a CDL license. If you are seriously interested in applying for a truck driving job, you odds of getting hired are much greater if you have a valid CDL license.
It varies according to job. There are a multitude of different jobs which require a CDL - some may have driving as the primary (or only) function, and for some, driving may be a secondary function. There are a multitude of pay scales which go along with them, as well.
There really isn't an "average". It depends on where you live, and what you do, exactly. There is a wide range of CDL driving jobs out there, and the pay will vary, just as the jobs vary.
Whether or not they pay for the cost of obtaining the license will vary by employeer. You can search for jobs at http://www.cdljobs.com/ and http://www.getacdljob.com/
CDL jobs are something that is always in demand. They are so in demand, that many companies will sign you up with a contract where they will pay for your CDL training and you have to work for them for a set period of time. The pay rate may not be as good as if you paid for your own training, but you have no upfront costs to worry about. The market for CDL licensed drivers will get better as the economy improves. Since truck driving is not as lucrative as it once was, a shortage of drivers is expected an pay for drivers may rise later in the year.
Non cdl driving jobs, meaning jobs that don't require a commercial driving lisence can be popular depending on the area you live. They can be particularly popular in urban areas as common careers in this field include taxi drivers, limo drivers, and couriers. Flexible hours and freedom are 2 things that these jobs offer, although the hours can be long and pay varies by position and company.
As much as the company sees fit to pay them. There are a variety of Class A jobs, and not all of them are just driving a truck. There isn't one answer to blanket the entire range of Class A driving jobs.
Yes, local truck driving jobs generally pay less than long distance trucking jobs. To become a truck driver, you will need to prepare for and pass the Commercial Drivers License (CDL) test.
There are three classes of CDL, and countless job descriptions. The pay scale varies greatly depending on what kind of job it is, and what kind of company someone is working for. You could be driving a single axle dump for close to minimum wage (or that job could pay well - depends on who you work for). You could be making over 80k annually in the oil fields. You could make significantly less.
There really isn't "one answer to rule them all" here. Freight haulers get paid either by the mile or by percentage, so that depends on how hard they run (as well as, in the case of those paid by percentage, the amount that load pays to the truck, their percentage they get paid at, etc.). Not all CDL jobs are primarily truck driving jobs... oilfield workers, municipal workers, and many other professions will require their employees to have at least some class of CDL, although driving might only be a secondary function of their job. There are CDL jobs out there which only pay minimum wage, or just barely over it, and there are some great paying ones.
Well of course you will have to become a certified CDL driver and find the closest CDL school to you. Most truck driving companies will actual pay for your school. But if you are wanting to be your own boss I would advice not to spend over 5k on your schooling.
If your driving record is clean you could apply for work as a limousine driver. Your wages will be determined on tips as well as your hourly pay. Once you build a client base your pay would increase.