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Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
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.
Other titles employers use
CDL Driver (Commercial Driver's License Driver) · Driver · Line Haul Driver · Log Truck Driver · Over the Road Driver (OTR Driver) · Production Truck Driver · Road Driver · Semi Truck Driver
Inside the work
What you would actually do.
6 responsibilities that define the role, before job titles and workplaces change the details.
- 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.
- Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles.
- Obtain receipts or signatures for delivered goods and collect payment for services when required.
- Maintain logs of working hours or of vehicle service or repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations.
Who it suits
Would this work hold your attention?
This career often appeals to people drawn to practical and organizing work.
- Practical
- Building, repairing, using tools, or working outdoors
- Organizing
- Creating order, checking details, and keeping work accurate
Skills and strengths
What you would get good at.
Compare the skills the work relies on, the subjects behind it, and the abilities that make it easier to learn.
Core skills
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
Subjects to know
- Transportation
- Public Safety and Security
- Customer and Personal Service
- English Language
- Law and Government
Useful strengths
- Far Vision
- Spatial Orientation
- Control Precision
- Multilimb Coordination
- Response Orientation
Working day
Picture yourself doing it.
These measures show how much of the day involves people, movement, conversation, and hands-on work.
| Measure | Out of 5 | What that means here |
|---|---|---|
| Close to other people | 2.6 | Largely your own space |
| On your feet | 2.2 | Mostly seated |
| Talking face to face | 4.1 | A regular part of the day |
| Working with your hands | 4.4 | Handling tools, instruments or materials |
Preparation
How people prepare for this work.
Employers usually ask for a postsecondary certificate. Other routes may also lead into the field.
- High school or less 80%
- A certificate or some college 20%
Tools of the work
Technology you may use.
- Word processing software
- Spreadsheet software
- Office suite software
- Electronic mail software
- Operating system software
- Enterprise resource planning ERP software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Route navigation software
Opportunity near you
See where this work is growing.
Choose a state to compare the size of the field, annual openings, and expected hiring change.
- People doing this work
- 270,320
- Job openings each year
- 30,180
- Expected hiring change, 2022–2032
- 19.4%
Compare every available state
| State | People doing it | Job openings each year | Expected change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 270,320 | 30,180 | 19.4% |
| California | 249,300 | 27,140 | 11.7% |
| Florida | 125,680 | 13,830 | 14.8% |
| Ohio | 102,030 | 10,770 | 3.7% |
| Pennsylvania | 97,180 | 10,260 | 3.6% |
| Illinois | 90,720 | 9,600 | 4.3% |
| Georgia | 90,230 | 9,950 | 15.3% |
| North Carolina | 79,270 | 8,580 | 10.0% |
| New York | 72,330 | 10 | — |
| Tennessee | 71,380 | 7,720 | 10.0% |
| Indiana | 62,340 | 6,590 | 4.0% |
| Michigan | 61,250 | 6,420 | 2.1% |
| New Jersey | 59,280 | 6,410 | 9.6% |
| Wisconsin | 56,180 | 6,020 | 7.5% |
| Arizona | 53,850 | 6,110 | 25.2% |
| Missouri | 53,730 | 5,690 | 4.6% |
| Iowa | 52,250 | 5,720 | 13.1% |
| Virginia | 48,770 | 5,110 | 1.9% |
| Minnesota | 45,680 | 4,860 | 5.8% |
| Washington | 43,490 | 5,010 | 8.3% |
| Alabama | 42,470 | 4,560 | 8.1% |
| Arkansas | 37,990 | 4,020 | 4.4% |
| South Carolina | 37,030 | 4,000 | 9.2% |
| Colorado | 33,940 | 3,690 | 10.8% |
| Kentucky | 33,340 | 3,570 | 7.2% |
| Oklahoma | 30,090 | 3,220 | 7.3% |
| Nebraska | 28,840 | 3,080 | 6.7% |
| Mississippi | 28,410 | 3,050 | 7.8% |
| Maryland | 28,270 | 3,050 | 8.9% |
| Utah | 27,820 | 3,060 | 15.0% |
| Oregon | 27,690 | 2,980 | 8.7% |
| Kansas | 26,700 | 2,840 | 5.1% |
| Louisiana | 26,310 | 2,800 | 5.2% |
| Nevada | 22,350 | 2,550 | 26.6% |
| Connecticut | 18,810 | 2,050 | 11.5% |
| Idaho | 15,500 | 1,700 | 13.1% |
| Puerto Rico | 14,290 | 1,560 | 11.9% |
| Massachusetts | 14,090 | 1,490 | 4.8% |
| New Mexico | 13,720 | 1,500 | 13.5% |
| North Dakota | 13,040 | 1,430 | 13.9% |
| West Virginia | 12,740 | 1,360 | 6.9% |
| Maine | 11,030 | 1,140 | −1.0% |
| Delaware | 9,460 | 1,050 | 17.8% |
| Montana | 8,940 | 970 | 11.8% |
| New Hampshire | 8,740 | 930 | 6.5% |
| South Dakota | 8,300 | 900 | 9.8% |
| Wyoming | 7,750 | 860 | 17.8% |
| Rhode Island | 3,990 | 430 | 12.7% |
| Vermont | 3,750 | 390 | 1.9% |
| Alaska | 2,860 | 310 | 11.3% |
| District of Columbia | 840 | 90 | 15.1% |
| Guam | 510 | 60 | — |
| Virgin Islands | 300 | 30 | 15.4% |
Career to college
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