All About Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
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.
- Drive trucks to weigh stations before and after loading and along routes in compliance with state regulations.
- Read bills of lading to determine assignment details.
- Operate equipment, such as truck cab computers, CB radios, phones, or global positioning systems (GPS) equipment to exchange necessary information with bases, supervisors, or other drivers.
- Inventory and inspect goods to be moved to determine quantities and conditions.
- Give directions to laborers who are packing goods and moving them onto trailers.
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Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Required Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers say are important on the job.
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.
Types of Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Jobs
- Goat Driver
- Milk Truck Driver
- Street Flusher Driver
- Drip Pumper
- Van Driver
Job Opportunities for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
There were about 1,871,700 jobs for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver in 2016 (in the United States). 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.
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Average Salary
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers make between $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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
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?
What kind of Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver requirements are there?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver?
Who Employs Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers?
Below are examples of industries where Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers work:
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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