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Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Louisiana
Considering working as a Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in Louisiana? Here’s what you need to know. 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 Louisiana?
For a heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers working in Louisiana, wages run about $48,770 per year (or about $23.45/hour).Pay can range from $34,600 at the 10th percentile to $71,540 at the 90th percentile.
| Wage Statistic | Annual | Hourly |
|---|---|---|
| 10th percentile | $34,600 | $16.63 |
| 25th percentile | $41,320 | $19.86 |
| Median (50th) | $48,770 | $23.45 |
| 75th percentile | $60,110 | $28.90 |
| 90th percentile | $71,540 | $34.39 |
The job concentration index in Louisiana relative to the national average — is 1.02.
National Wage Comparison
Nationally, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earn a median of $28,514 per year ($13.71/hour), above the Louisiana median.
Employment Outlook
National employment for 665,069 heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers nationwide. In Louisiana alone, about 26,260 people work in this role. That’s fewer than the typical state, which employs around 27,840 heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers.
Top Louisiana Metros for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
The largest metro-area employers of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in Louisiana.
| Metro Area | Number Employed | Annual Median Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge, LA | 5,470 | $54,030 |
| New Orleans-Metairie, LA | 5,050 | $52,000 |
| Shreveport-Bossier City, LA | 2,900 | $49,330 |
| Lafayette, LA | 2,540 | $49,200 |
| Houma-Bayou Cane-Thibodaux, LA | 1,440 | $46,950 |
| Lake Charles, LA | 1,180 | $48,340 |
| Monroe, LA | 1,060 | $46,220 |
| Slidell-Mandeville-Covington, LA | 760 | $47,500 |
| Alexandria, LA | 730 | $45,930 |
| Hammond, LA | 610 | $48,730 |
Top States for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Employment
The table below shows the states where 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
These states pay the most 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
Top abilities for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Daily Tasks
Day-to-day, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers typically:
- 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
Related occupations 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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