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5 steps · MA
Warehouse / Non-CDL Driver
Stable W-2 work driving a box truck or moving freight — no CDL needed under 26,000 lbs.
Pay range
$20–$28/hr in MA with overtime. Union shops (Teamsters Local 25, Local 170, Local 251) and Amazon DSPs hit the high end with benefits and 401(k).
What this job is
The honest version
This is where driving turns into a real career. Non-CDL local driver jobs (box trucks, sprinter vans, parts trucks under 26,000 lbs Gross Vehicle Weight) are everywhere in MA — Amazon DSPs, FedEx Ground, UPS, US Foods, Sysco, HD Supply, Ferguson, and hundreds of local distributors. Same building, you'll find warehouse roles (forklift operator, picker/packer, loader) that pay similarly and let you cross-train onto the truck. Most of these jobs offer real W-2 benefits, paid time off, overtime, and a clear path to CDL training paid for by the employer.
Is this you?
You'll fit if…
- You want a steady W-2 paycheck instead of gig pay
- You're comfortable lifting 50+ lbs all day
- You can back a 26-foot box truck into a tight Boston dock
- You show up on time for a 5 AM start
What you'll do
Core skills
- Backing, parking, and dock approach in city traffic
- DOT pre-trip inspection (lights, brakes, tires, fluids)
- Hand-truck and pallet jack handling without injuring yourself
- Reading a manifest and a delivery route
- Customer service at receiving docks and storefronts
- Basic load securement (straps, e-tracks, blankets)
What you'll need
Required certifications
Stand out
Things that give you a leg up
- Prior delivery experience anywhere — even one season at UPS or Amazon counts
- Clean Class D license with 5+ years' history
- Bilingual — most MA warehouses run primarily in Spanish or Portuguese
- Willingness to work nights, weekends, or peak season (Nov–Dec)
- Mechanical sense — can diagnose a flat, a dead battery, a loose strap
Take a step
Learn more
- Apply at 5 local Amazon DSPs (delivery service partners) — they hire weekly in MA
- Apply at FedEx Ground, UPS, Sysco, US Foods, and a local beverage distributor
- Get a DOT medical card at any federally-certified MA examiner (~$100, takes 1 hour)
- Ask employers if they pay for CDL training — most national fleets and union shops do
Heads up
Real talk before you commit
- Lifting injuries are the #1 reason people leave this work. Use the lift gate. Use the dolly. Always.
- Amazon DSP turnover is high. The best DSPs are owner-operated and treat people well — ask the drivers, not the recruiter.
- Box trucks at 26,000 lbs GVWR feel huge. Practice in an empty parking lot before your first solo route.
- Some employers misclassify drivers as 1099 to skip workers' comp. MA AG actively enforces this — if it doesn't smell right, it isn't.