Updated October 30, 2026

CDL Oilfield Jobs in the Permian: Water Haul, Sand Hauling and Vac Truck

Trucks move almost everything a Permian Basin well needs: fresh and produced water, frac sand, crude, chemicals, pipe and equipment. That makes a commercial driver's license (CDL) one of the most useful things you can carry in West Texas and southeast New Mexico. This guide covers the main oilfield driving jobs, what license and endorsements each one usually needs, the Texas and New Mexico rules, and how to get hired.

To see what's open right now, browse oilfield CDL jobs or the CDL driver category at delawarebasinjobs.com.

The main types of oilfield CDL jobs

Water hauling. Water haulers move fresh water to well sites and haul produced water (the salty water that comes up with oil) to disposal wells. It is mostly tank work on lease roads. In Texas, a company that hauls oil and gas waste such as produced water for hire needs a Railroad Commission Oil and Gas Waste Hauler Permit, renewed every year (Railroad Commission of Texas).

Vacuum (vac) truck. Vac truck drivers pull fluids out of pits, tanks and cellars and haul them for disposal. Expect hands-on work at the site, hoses, and a lot of time around tanks, which is why H2S training is commonly required.

Sand hauling. Frac jobs use huge volumes of sand. Sand haulers run pneumatic or bottom-dump trailers from mines and transload yards to frac locations, often around the clock.

Crude, chemical and fuel hauling. Crude and many chemicals are hazardous materials, so these jobs often call for tanker and hazmat endorsements.

Equipment, pipe and rig moves. Heavy-haul and winch truck drivers move rigs, pipe and production equipment. Some service companies also want operators with a CDL to drive their specialized frac, cement or wireline units to location.

Class A vs. Class B

• Class A lets you drive combination vehicles, like a tractor pulling a tank or sand trailer. Most water, sand and crude jobs want a Class A.
• Class B covers heavy single-unit trucks. Some vac trucks and straight trucks only need a B, but a Class A gives you far more options.

Endorsements that matter in the oilfield

• N (Tank vehicle). For hauling liquids or gases in bulk tanks. Common for water haul and vac truck jobs.
• H (Hazardous materials). For loads that require hazmat placards. You'll take a knowledge test, complete required hazmat theory training, and pass a TSA security threat assessment. As of October 1, 2026, TSA's fee for new and renewing applicants is $88.25, or $41 if you already hold a valid TWIC and your state accepts it (TSA).
• X is the combined tanker and hazmat endorsement.

Read each posting carefully. A Halliburton frac/acid trainee posting in Odessa on our site, for example, lists "CDL A + Tanker."

How to get a CDL in Texas or New Mexico

The basic path is the same in both states.

1. Get a DOT medical card. A medical examiner's certificate is valid for up to 24 months, and can be shorter if the examiner wants to monitor a condition (FMCSA).
2. Pass the knowledge tests and get a Commercial Learner's Permit (CLP). In Texas, you must hold the CLP for at least 14 days before taking the skills test, and a CLP is valid for 180 days (Texas DPS). In New Mexico, the CLP is issued for one year (NM MVD).
3. Complete Entry-Level Driver Training (ELDT). Since February 7, 2022, first-time Class A and Class B applicants must train with a provider listed on FMCSA's Training Provider Registry before the skills test (FMCSA).
4. Pass the skills test (pre-trip inspection, basic control and road test).

Age rules. Texas will issue a CDL at 18 (Texas Transportation Code §522.027). In New Mexico, drivers 18 to 20 can get a CDL with a "K" restriction for intrastate driving only, and you must be 21 to haul placarded hazardous materials, even within the state (NM MVD). Federal rules require age 21 for interstate driving, and many oilfield carriers set their own minimum age, so check the posting.

Local CDL schools in the Basin

These programs are run by local colleges. Prices and schedules are from their websites as of this writing, so confirm before you enroll.

• Odessa College Truck Driving Academy (Odessa and Pecos): five weeks, up to 200 hours, $4,500. Scholarships are available through the Permian Strategic Partnership (Odessa College).
• Midland College Transportation Training (Midland): Class A program of about 5 weeks (40 hours online plus 160 hours in-truck) for $4,350, and Class B for $3,200. Optional hazmat, tanker, doubles and triples endorsements. You need a DOT medical card and a CLP to start (Midland College).
• New Mexico Junior College (Hobbs): one-week (40-hour, for drivers with previous experience) and two-week (80-hour) CDL courses, $2,000 and $3,000. NMJC is also a third-party CDL skills testing site (NMJC).

Midland College lists Workforce Solutions Permian Basin as a WIOA funding partner for eligible students.

What hiring managers check

• Driving record (MVR). Recent violations or accidents can disqualify you, and many carriers have stricter standards than the law requires.
• Drug and Alcohol Clearinghouse. Employers must run a full query of FMCSA's Clearinghouse before hiring a CDL driver (FMCSA Clearinghouse).
• Safety cards. H2S and SafeLand/PEC are commonly requested for drivers who work on location. See where to get oilfield certifications.
• Experience. Many water and crude haulers want one or two years behind the wheel. If you're new, look for "trainee" or "will train" in the listing and filter for entry-level jobs.

Hours and schedules

Oilfield driving has a special federal hours-of-service rule. Drivers of vehicles used only to serve oil and gas field operations, including hauling water and supplies to sites and waste away from them, can restart their 70-hour/8-day clock after 24 consecutive hours off instead of 34 (49 CFR 395.1(d), FMCSA guidance). A separate "waiting time" rule applies only to specially trained operators of specially built well-service vehicles such as frac pumps and wireline trucks. FMCSA says it does not cover sand and water haulers. Many driving jobs also run on a hitch; see hitch schedules explained.

What CDL drivers earn

Pay varies a lot by company, load type and whether you're paid hourly, by load or by percentage. For a neutral baseline, BLS reports a national median of $58,640 a year for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in May 2025 (BLS). When an employer lists pay, it appears on the job listing on our site.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a Class A CDL to haul water in the oilfield?

Most water haul jobs that pull a tank trailer need a Class A, usually with a tanker (N) endorsement. Some straight vac trucks only need a Class B.

Can I get an oilfield CDL job at 18?

You can get a CDL at 18 in Texas, and an intrastate-only CDL at 18 in New Mexico. Interstate driving requires age 21, New Mexico requires 21 for placarded hazmat, and many oilfield carriers set their own higher minimum age.

How long does it take to get a CDL in West Texas?

Local programs run from one to about five weeks of training. Odessa College and Midland College Class A programs are about five weeks. In Texas you must also hold your learner's permit for at least 14 days before the skills test.

Do I need a hazmat endorsement for oilfield driving?

Not for every job. Fresh and produced water hauling usually needs a tanker endorsement, while crude, fuel and many chemical loads need hazmat (H) or combined tanker/hazmat (X). The job posting will say what is required.

What is the oilfield 24-hour restart?

It's a federal hours-of-service exception that lets drivers of vehicles used only to serve oil and gas field operations restart their 8-day on-duty limit after 24 consecutive hours off, instead of the usual 34.

Where can I find oilfield CDL jobs?

Delaware Basin Jobs lists CDL jobs from employers' own careers pages across Midland, Odessa, Pecos, Carlsbad, Hobbs and nearby towns, checked daily. You apply directly with the company.

Find your next driving job

Browse oilfield CDL jobs, check CDL openings in Odessa and Midland, or get free job alerts at delawarebasinjobs.com. Every job links straight to the employer's application.

More guides: Getting hired with no experience · Delaware Basin towns guide · Where to get your safety cards · Hitch schedules explained