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Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Iowa
Thinking about a career as a Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Iowa? Below are the key facts. 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. Excludes “Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors” (53-7081).
What do Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Make in Iowa?
For a heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers working in Iowa, the median annual wage is $55,080 per year (or about $26.48/hour).Earnings range from $38,570 at the 10th percentile to $79,290 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $38,570 | $18.54 |
| 25th percentile | $47,100 | $22.64 |
| Median (50th) | $55,080 | $26.48 |
| 75th percentile | $63,180 | $30.38 |
| 90th percentile | $79,290 | $38.12 |
The location quotient — a measure of how concentrated this occupation is in Iowa relative to the national average — is 1.78, meaning that heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are more concentrated here than the national average.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn a median of $28,514 per year ($13.71/hour), exceeding the Iowa median.
Employment Outlook
There are roughly 665,069 heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers nationwide. In Iowa alone, approximately 37,430 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 27,840 heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers.
Top Iowa Metros for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
The largest metro-area employers of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Iowa.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA | 8,580 | $58,880 |
| Cedar Rapids, IA | 3,560 | $56,950 |
| Sioux City, IA-NE-SD | 3,010 | $49,560 |
| Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL | 2,900 | $54,750 |
| Iowa City, IA | 2,450 | $59,600 |
| Waterloo-Cedar Falls, IA | 1,670 | $52,830 |
| Dubuque, IA | 1,460 | $54,300 |
| Ames, IA | 670 | $53,530 |
Top States for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Employment
View the states that employ the most heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers work.
| State | Number Employed |
|---|---|
| Texas | 212,700 |
| California | 211,740 |
| Florida | 105,730 |
| Ohio | 91,090 |
| Pennsylvania | 90,160 |
| Illinois | 76,650 |
| Georgia | 75,700 |
| North Carolina | 64,610 |
| Tennessee | 63,130 |
| New York | 61,410 |
| Michigan | 59,910 |
| Indiana | 57,870 |
| Virginia | 55,430 |
| Wisconsin | 52,980 |
| New Jersey | 49,450 |
| Missouri | 47,530 |
| Arizona | 42,270 |
| Washington | 40,700 |
| Minnesota | 38,530 |
| Alabama | 37,490 |
Highest-Paying States for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
The highest-paying states for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers.
| State | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $64,890 |
| New Jersey | $64,720 |
| Washington | $63,760 |
| District of Columbia | $63,610 |
| Oregon | $61,180 |
| Minnesota | $61,090 |
| Nevada | $60,900 |
| Massachusetts | $60,630 |
| New York | $60,520 |
| Wyoming | $60,270 |
Skills
Top heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Knowledge Areas
Important knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Abilities
The abilities that matter most for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Common tasks include:
- 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.
- Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles.
- Obtain receipts or signatures for delivered goods and collect payment for services when required.
- Maintain logs of working hours or of vehicle service or repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations.
- Read bills of lading to determine assignment details.
- Report vehicle defects, accidents, traffic violations, or damage to the vehicles.
- Perform basic vehicle maintenance tasks, such as adding oil, fuel, or radiator fluid, performing minor repairs, or washing trucks.
- Couple or uncouple trailers by changing trailer jack positions, connecting or disconnecting air or electrical lines, or manipulating fifth-wheel locks.
- Maneuver trucks into loading or unloading positions, following signals from loading crew and checking that vehicle and loading equipment are properly positioned.
- Collect delivery instructions from appropriate sources, verifying instructions and routes.
Work Activities
- Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
- Getting Information
- Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
- Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
- Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
- Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
- Documenting/Recording Information
- Communicating with People Outside the Organization
- Handling and Moving Objects
Tools & Technology
Software and systems commonly involved: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel
What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?
Related college programs include:
Related Careers
Careers similar to heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers include:
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
- Pile Driver Operators
- Operating Engineers and Other Construction Equipment Operators
- Highway Maintenance Workers
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining
- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists
Also Known As
Armored Truck Driver, Automotive Carrier Driver (Auto Carrier Driver), Automotive Crane Driver (Auto Crane Driver), Automotive Haulaway Driver (Auto Haulaway Driver), Automotive Hauler (Auto Hauler), Automotive Transport Driver (Auto Transport Driver), Basket Operator, Batch Mixing Truck Driver, Bull Driver, CDL Driver (Commercial Driver's License Driver), CDL Truck Driver (Commercial Driver's License Truck Driver), CDL-A Flatbed Truck Driver (Commercial Driver's License Class A Flatbed Truck Driver), CDL-A Truck Driver (Commercial Driver's License Class A Truck Driver), CDL-B Truck Driver (Commercial Driver's License Class B Truck Driver), Car Ferrier.
References
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics — https://www.bls.gov/oes/
- O*NET Online — https://www.onetonline.org/
- BLS Employment Projections — https://www.bls.gov/emp/
- O*NET-SOC code: 53-3032.00
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