CDL Driver

Chip trucks are the daily reality — full by mid-morning on a big removal, needing to reach a dump site and return before the crew stalls. Log trucks carry weight that puts them firmly in commercial territory. Lowboys move the crane, the lift or the loader between sites, and that is the load where the license class and endorsements get specific.

Beyond the vehicle, the job includes securing the load, knowing route restrictions for height and weight, and managing the dump or landing at the other end. A driver who has done tree work knows a chip truck loads differently from a gravel truck and that a badly loaded one is a genuine hazard.

On storm work the volume changes the job entirely. Continuous hauling for days, unfamiliar routes, and disposal sites that fill up and reroute you mid-run.

The license follows the vehicle and the load, not the industry. Combination weight decides the class, air brakes need the endorsement, some trailer configurations need doubles, and anything regulated on board adds its own requirement. Specify the vehicle in the posting and the right applicants self-select.

Medical certification is part of the package and expires independently of the license. Ask for both, and look at the dates rather than the claim.

Verification is entirely yours. Treelign publishes what drivers say about themselves and verifies none of it, so see the documents before anyone drives, and confirm your insurance covers a hired driver on that vehicle.

Day rates or per-run rates are both common, with longer bookings pricing better per day. Storm work carries a premium, reflecting long shifts, travel and the fact that everyone needs drivers in the same week.

Hours-of-service rules constrain the day whatever the rate, and a driver who tells you they cannot legally do the extra run is protecting your operating authority as much as their license.

The rate is agreed directly between you and the driver. Treelign handles no payments — settle shift length, overtime and per-diem before the first run.

Many drivers in this industry are also experienced ground crew or equipment operators. If your day has gaps between runs, saying so in the posting attracts people who can fill them, and their profiles will say what else they do.

Conversely, do not assume it. A driver hired to drive who is handed a saw at lunchtime is being asked to do a job they may not be insured or competent for.

If the machine has to move as well as the material, check whether the same person can legally haul it — operating a machine and towing it are separate qualifications, and the gap between them strands more jobs than it should.

Post the job stating the class and endorsements required, what is being driven, what it is hauling and the dates. Drivers whose service radius covers you are alerted immediately, and profiles list class, endorsements and experience so you can filter before messaging.

For storm work, drivers who have set travel dates covering the affected region appear alongside local ones — which matters, because hauling capacity is usually the bottleneck after a major event rather than cutting capacity.

Rates are agreed directly with the driver, and a free account is what unlocks applying, messaging and the exact address.