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.
A Day in the Life of a Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver
- 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.
- Check conditions of trailers after contents have been unloaded to ensure that there has been no damage.
- Maneuver trucks into loading or unloading positions, following signals from loading crew and checking that vehicle and loading equipment are properly positioned.
- Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles.
- Install or remove special equipment, such as tire chains, grader blades, plow blades, or sanders.
- Perform emergency roadside repairs, such as changing tires or installing light bulbs, tire chains, or spark plugs.
Featured schools near , edit
What Every Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Should Know
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.
Types of Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver
- Construction Driver
- Jockey
- Truck Driver Teamster
- Basket Operator
- Mechanic Driver
What Kind of Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Job Opportunities Are There?
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. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 213,500 job openings in this field each year.
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.
Salary for a Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver
The average yearly salary of a Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver ranges between $28,160 and $65,260.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers who work in Alaska, North Dakota, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
How much do Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers make 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?
Are there Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers education requirements?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver?
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Sector
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.
Featured Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs. Learn More > |
TradeCollege.org provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. TradeCollege.org is a for-profit site, and the displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© TradeCollege.org – All Rights Reserved.