What You Need to Know About Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver
Job Description & Duties Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers' license.
Life As a Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver
- Wrap and secure goods using pads, packing paper, containers, or straps.
- Load or unload trucks or help others with loading or unloading, using special loading-related equipment or other equipment as necessary.
- Follow appropriate safety procedures for transporting dangerous goods.
- Check conditions of trailers after contents have been unloaded to ensure that there has been no damage.
- Perform basic vehicle maintenance tasks, such as adding oil, fuel, or radiator fluid or performing minor repairs.
- Maintain logs of working hours or of vehicle service or repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations.
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Skills Needed to be a Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver
These are the skills Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers say are the most useful in their careers:
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Time Management: Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Mail Truck Driver
- Jumper
- Mechanic Driver
- Wrecker Operator
- Auto Hauler
Job Demand for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
In the United States, there were 1,871,700 jobs for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver in 2016. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 108,400 new jobs for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver by 2026. The BLS estimates 213,500 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver are Utah, North Dakota, and Idaho. Watch out if you plan on working in Delaware, Maine, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
What is the Average Salary of a Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver
The salary for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers ranges between about $28,160 and $65,260 a year.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers who work in Alaska, North Dakota, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $40,580 |
| Alaska | $57,630 |
| Arizona | $45,430 |
| Arkansas | $41,980 |
| California | $47,300 |
| Colorado | $48,840 |
| Connecticut | $49,880 |
| Delaware | $44,160 |
| District of Columbia | $52,760 |
| Florida | $42,020 |
| Georgia | $43,260 |
| Hawaii | $48,910 |
| Idaho | $42,010 |
| Illinois | $48,650 |
| Indiana | $46,210 |
| Iowa | $43,820 |
| Kansas | $46,180 |
| Kentucky | $45,550 |
| Louisiana | $42,090 |
| Maine | $40,040 |
| Maryland | $47,940 |
| Massachusetts | $50,310 |
| Michigan | $43,450 |
| Minnesota | $48,710 |
| Mississippi | $41,900 |
| Missouri | $45,070 |
| Montana | $46,100 |
| Nebraska | $44,710 |
| Nevada | $50,920 |
| New Hampshire | $45,030 |
| New Jersey | $49,080 |
| New Mexico | $44,460 |
| New York | $50,460 |
| North Carolina | $44,030 |
| North Dakota | $52,080 |
| Ohio | $45,010 |
| Oklahoma | $43,880 |
| Oregon | $47,410 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,650 |
| Rhode Island | $48,360 |
| South Carolina | $44,270 |
| South Dakota | $41,590 |
| Tennessee | $43,660 |
| Texas | $45,260 |
| Utah | $45,600 |
| Vermont | $45,250 |
| Virginia | $42,660 |
| Washington | $48,620 |
| West Virginia | $39,520 |
| Wisconsin | $45,950 |
| Wyoming | $50,200 |
What Tools & Technology do Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- SAP
- Microsoft Windows
- YouTube
- Computerized inventory tracking software
- ALK Technologies PC*Miler
- ADP ezLaborManager
How do I Become a Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver?
Education needed to be a Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver:
What work experience do I need to become a Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver?
Where Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Work
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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