Truck Drivers
Overview
Introduction
Truck drivers generally are distinguished by the distance they travel. Over-the-road drivers, also known as long-distance drivers or tractor-trailer drivers, haul freight over long distances in large trucks and tractor-trailer rigs that are usually diesel-powered. Depending on the specific operation, over-the-road drivers also load and unload the shipments and make minor repairs to vehicles. Short-haul drivers or pickup and delivery drivers operate trucks that transport materials, merchan...
Quick Facts
Median Salary
Employment Prospects
Minimum Education Level
Experience
Skills
Personality Traits
Earnings
Wages of truck drivers vary according to their employer, size of the truck they drive, product being hauled, geographical region, and other factors. Drivers who are employed by for-hire carriers have higher earnings than those who work independently or for private carriers.
Pay rates for over-the-road truck drivers are often figured using a cents-per-mile rate. Most companies pay between...
Work Environment
There is work for truck drivers in even the smallest towns, but most jobs are located in and around larger metropolitan areas. About a third of all drivers work for for-hire carriers, and another third work for private carriers. Some drivers are self-employed.
Driving trucks is often a tiring job, even with modern improvements in cab design. Some local drivers work 40-hour weeks; many wo...
Outlook
Employment for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is expected to increase by about 2 percent, slower than the average rate for all other occupations, through 2029, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Job opportunities are expected to remain strong for drivers in the oil and gas extraction and construction industries. Employment growth for light and delivery truck drivers will be fas...