Heavy or Tractor-trailer Truck Driver

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
		84%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		84%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		83%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		80%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		79%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		74%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		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.
		71%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		70%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		69%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		64%	Achievement/Effort - Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
		60%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
		58%	Leadership - Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
		53%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		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.
		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
		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.
		56%	Independence - Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		78%	Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
		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.
		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.
		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.
		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.
		72%	Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
		69%	Reaction Time - The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
		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.
		63%	Depth Perception - The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
		63%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		56%	Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
		53%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		53%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Skills \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		52%	Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

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.

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 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
		99%	In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment - How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?
		94%	Outdoors, Exposed to Weather - How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
		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?
		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?
		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?
		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?
		82%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		81%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		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?
		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?
		79%	Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting?
		76%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		76%	Consequence of Error - How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable?
		75%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		74%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		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?
		72%	Exposed to Contaminants - How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
		69%	Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
		69%	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
		66%	Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions - How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
		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?
		65%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		64%	Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
		58%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		57%	Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
		54%	Deal With Unpleasant or Angry People - How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
		53%	Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting - How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
		52%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		88%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		91%	Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
		86%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
		82%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		72%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		72%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		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.
		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.
		62%	Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
		58%	Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
		57%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		56%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		54%	Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
		53%	Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information - Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
		52%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		51%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.

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

Education:

54%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

26%

Less than a High School Diploma

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

Heavy or Tractor-trailer Truck Driver

What they do:

On the job, you would:

Important Qualities

Personality

Characteristics of this Career

Strengths

Values of the Work Environment

Aptitude

Abilities | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Skills | Cognitive, Physical, Personality

Job Details

Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent

Tasks & Values

What Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers Do

Duties

Work Environment

Injuries and Illnesses

Work Schedules

Getting Started

How to Become a Heavy or Tractor-trailer Truck Driver

Education

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

Training

Job Outlook

Employment

Contacts for More Information

Similar Occupations