Education:
54%
High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)
26%
Less than a High School Diploma
Heavy or Tractor-trailer Truck Driver
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Job Outlook:
As fast as average
Education:
Postsecondary nondegree award
Salary
High:
$75,220.00
Average:
$53,090.00
Hourly
Average:
$25.52
What they do:
Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers' license. Includes tow truck drivers.
On the job, you would:
- Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy.
- Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure.
- Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.
Important Qualities
Hand-eye coordination. Drivers of heavy trucks and tractor-trailers must be able to coordinate their legs, hands, and eyes simultaneously so that they will react appropriately to the situation around them and drive the vehicle safely.
Hearing ability. Truck drivers need good hearing. Federal regulations require that a driver be able to hear a forced whisper in one ear at 5 feet away (with or without the use of a hearing aid).
Physical health. Federal regulations do not allow people to become truck drivers if they have a medical condition, such as high blood pressure or epilepsy, which may interfere with their ability to operate a truck. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website has a full list of medical conditions that disqualify someone from driving a long-haul truck.
Visual ability. Truck drivers must be able to pass vision tests. Federal regulations require a driver to have at least 20/40 vision with a 70-degree field of vision in each eye and the ability to distinguish the colors on a traffic light.
Personality
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Characteristics of this Career |
|---|---|---|---|
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84% | Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks. | |
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84% | Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations. | |
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83% | Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations. | |
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80% | Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations. | |
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79% | Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude. | |
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74% | Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical. | |
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73% | Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done. | |
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71% | Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job. | |
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70% | Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges. | |
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69% | Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Strengths |
|---|---|---|---|
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100% | Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services. | |
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61% | Conventional - Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Values of the Work Environment |
|---|---|---|---|
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61% | Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical. |
Aptitude
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality |
|---|---|---|---|
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78% | Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance. | |
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72% | Spatial Orientation - The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you. | |
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72% | Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions. | |
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72% | Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion. | |
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72% | Rate Control - The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene. | |
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72% | Response Orientation - The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part. | |
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69% | Reaction Time - The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears. | |
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66% | Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem. |
Job Details
Responsibilities
Follow safety procedures for vehicle operation.
Inspect motor vehicles.
Record operational or production data.
Record service or repair activities.
Collect fares or payment from customers.
Operate vehicles or material-moving equipment.
Operate vehicles or material-moving equipment.
Secure cargo.
Review work orders or schedules to determine operations or procedures.
Report vehicle or equipment malfunctions.
Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards.
Read maps to determine routes.
Connect cables or electrical lines.
Review work orders or schedules to determine operations or procedures.
Verify information or specifications.
Inspect cargo areas for cleanliness or condition.
Operate vehicles or material-moving equipment.
Maintain vehicles in good working condition.
Acquire supplies or equipment.
Remove debris or damaged materials.
Monitor cargo area conditions.
Direct material handling or moving activities.
Install parts, assemblies, or attachments in transportation or material handling equipment.
Maintain vehicles in good working condition.
Operate vehicles or material-moving equipment.
Operate vehicles or material-moving equipment.
Operate green energy production equipment.
Choose optimal transportation routes or speeds.
Adjust routes or speeds as necessary.
Inspect cargo to ensure it is properly loaded or secured.
Review documents or materials for compliance with policies or regulations.
Operate vehicles or material-moving equipment.
Operate communications equipment or systems.
Load shipments, belongings, or materials.
Secure cargo.
Package materials or products.
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent |
|---|---|---|---|
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99% | In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment - How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)? | |
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94% | Outdoors, Exposed to Weather - How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions? | |
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91% | Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization? | |
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87% | Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer? | |
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86% | Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls? | |
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84% | Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets? | |
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82% | Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer? | |
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81% | Very Hot or Cold Temperatures - How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures? | |
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81% | Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines? | |
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79% | Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it? | |
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79% | Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting? | |
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76% | Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job? | |
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76% | Consequence of Error - How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable? | |
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75% | Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job? | |
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74% | Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job? | |
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72% | Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals? | |
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72% | Exposed to Contaminants - How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)? | |
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69% | Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job? | |
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69% | Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job? | |
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66% | Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions? | |
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65% | Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable - How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable? | |
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65% | Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job? | |
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88% | Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week. |
| A3 | Your Strengths | Importance |
Tasks & Values |
|---|---|---|---|
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91% | Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft. | |
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86% | Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects. | |
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82% | Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources. | |
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72% | Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems. | |
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72% | Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events. | |
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68% | Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person. | |
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67% | Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards. |
What Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers Do
Some heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers plan their own routes.
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. Most tractor-trailer drivers are long-haul drivers and operate trucks with a total weight exceeding 26,000 pounds for the vehicle, passengers, and cargo. These drivers deliver goods over intercity routes that sometimes span several states.
Duties
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers typically do the following:
- Drive long distances
- Report any incidents encountered on the road to a dispatcher
- Follow all applicable traffic laws
- Secure cargo for transport, using ropes, blocks, chains, or covers
- Inspect their trailers before and after the trip and record any defects they find
- Maintain a log of their working hours, following all federal and state regulations
- Report serious mechanical problems to the appropriate people
- Keep their trucks and associated equipment clean and in good working order
Most heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers’ routes are assigned by a dispatcher, but some independent drivers still plan their own routes. When planning routes, drivers must take into account any road restrictions that prohibit large trucks. Drivers also must plan legally required rest periods into their trip.
Some drivers have one or two routes that they drive regularly, and other drivers take many different routes throughout the country. In addition, some drivers have routes that include Mexico or Canada.
Companies sometimes use two drivers, known as teams, on long runs to minimize downtime. On these team runs, one driver sleeps in a berth behind the cab while the other drives.
Certain cargo requires drivers to adhere to additional safety regulations. Some heavy truck drivers who transport hazardous materials, such as chemical waste, must take special precautions when driving and may carry specialized safety equipment in case of an accident. Other drivers, such as those carrying liquids, oversized loads, or cars, must follow rules that apply specifically to them.
Some long-haul truck drivers, also called owner-operators, buy or lease trucks and go into business for themselves. In addition to their driving tasks, owner-operators have business tasks, including finding and keeping clients and doing administrative work.
Work Environment
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers held about 2.2 million jobs in 2022. The largest employers of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers were as follows:
| Truck transportation | 42% |
| Wholesale trade | 12 |
| Self-employed workers | 8 |
| Manufacturing | 7 |
| Construction | 6 |
Working as a long-haul truck driver is a lifestyle choice because these drivers can be away from home for days or weeks at a time. They spend much of this time alone. Driving a truck can be a physically demanding job as well. Driving for many consecutive hours can be tiring, and some drivers must load and unload cargo.
Injuries and Illnesses
Because of the potential for traffic accidents, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations.
Although fatalities are uncommon, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers experience one of the highest rates of occupational fatalities of all occupations.
Work Schedules
Most heavy tractor-trailer drivers work full time. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the hours that a long-haul truck driver may work. Drivers may not work more than 14 hours straight, comprising up to 11 hours driving and the remaining time doing other work, such as unloading cargo. Between working periods, drivers must have at least 10 hours off duty. Drivers also are limited to driving no more than 60 hours within 7 days or 70 hours within 8 days; then drivers must take 34 hours off before starting another 7- or 8-day run. Drivers must record their hours in a logbook. Truck drivers often work nights, weekends, and holidays.
Getting Started
How to Become a Heavy or Tractor-trailer Truck Driver
Drivers learn the federal laws and regulations governing interstate trucking.
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers usually have a high school diploma and attend a professional truck driving school. They must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
Education
Most companies require their truck drivers to have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Many prospective drivers attend professional truck driving schools, where they take training courses to learn how to maneuver large vehicles on highways or through crowded streets. During these classes, drivers also learn the federal laws and regulations governing interstate truck driving. Students may attend either a private truck-driving school or a program at a community college that lasts between 3 and 6 months.
Upon finishing their classes, drivers receive a certificate of completion.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
All long-haul truck drivers must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Qualifications for obtaining a CDL vary by state but generally include passing both a knowledge test and a driving test. States have the right to refuse to issue a CDL to anyone who has had a CDL suspended by another state.
Drivers can get endorsements to their CDL that show their ability to drive a specialized type of vehicle. Truck drivers transporting hazardous materials (HAZMAT) must have a hazardous materials endorsement (H). Getting this endorsement requires passing an additional knowledge test and a background check.
Federal regulations require CDL drivers to maintain a clean driving record and pass a physical exam every two years. They are also subject to random testing for drug or alcohol abuse. Truck drivers can have their CDL suspended if they are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs or are convicted of a felony involving the use of a motor vehicle.
Other actions can result in a suspension after multiple violations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website has a list of these violations. Additionally, some companies have stricter standards than what federal regulations require.
Training
After completing truck-driving school and being hired by a company, drivers normally receive several weeks of on-the-job training. During this time, they drive a truck accompanied by an experienced mentor-driver in the passenger seat. This period of on-the-job training is given so that the new drivers will learn more about the specific type of truck they will drive and material they will transport.
Job Outlook
Employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to grow 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
About 241,200 openings for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
Employment
Trucks transport most of the freight in the United States. The need for truck drivers should rise as households and businesses increase their spending and their demand for goods.
Contacts for More Information
For more information about truck drivers, visit
American Trucking Associations
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
For more information about truck driving schools and programs, visit
Commercial Vehicle Training Association
National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools
Similar Occupations
This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers.
| Occupation | Job Duties | Entry-Level Education | Median Annual Pay, May 2022 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Bus Drivers |
Bus drivers transport people between various places. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $44,440 |
|
Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers |
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers pick up, transport, and drop off packages and small shipments within a local region or urban area. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $38,220 |
|
Hand Laborers and Material Movers |
Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials. |
See How to Become One | $34,960 |
|
Material Recording Clerks |
Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $40,490 |
|
Railroad Workers |
Railroad workers ensure that passenger and freight trains operate safely. They may drive trains, coordinate the activities of the trains, or control signals and switches in the rail yard. |
High school diploma or equivalent | $68,960 |
|
Water Transportation Workers |
Water transportation workers operate and maintain vessels that take cargo and people over water. |
See How to Become One | $66,100 |