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Light Truck Drivers in Michigan

Want to work as a Light Truck Drivers in Michigan? Here’s what the data says. Drive a light vehicle, such as a truck or van, with a capacity of less than 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), primarily to pick up merchandise or packages from a distribution center and deliver. May load and unload vehicle. Excludes “Couriers and Messengers” (43-5021) and “Driver/Sales Workers” (53-3031).

What do Light Truck Drivers Make in Michigan?

For light truck drivers working in Michigan, the typical annual salary is $40,500 per year (or roughly $19.47/hour).Earnings range from $28,660 at the 10th percentile to $76,370 at the 90th percentile.

Wage Statistic	Annual	Hourly
10th percentile	$28,660	$13.78
25th percentile	$33,520	$16.11
Median (50th)	$40,500	$19.47
75th percentile	$48,180	$23.17
90th percentile	$76,370	$36.72

The job concentration index in Michigan compared to the national average — is 1.03.

National Wage Comparison

Nationally, light truck drivers earn a median of $27,779 per year ($13.36/hour), higher than the Michigan median.

Employment Outlook

Nationally, total employment in this occupation is 225,933 light truck drivers in the U.S.. In Michigan alone, approximately 29,110 people work in this role. That’s more than the typical state, which employs around 12,090 light truck drivers.

Top Michigan Metros for Light Truck Drivers

The metro areas below employ the most light truck drivers in Michigan.

Metro Area	Number Employed	Annual Median Salary
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	13,430	$41,530
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI	4,610	$41,870
Lansing-East Lansing, MI	1,210	$40,210
Flint, MI	1,030	$39,950
Muskegon-Norton Shores, MI	870	$28,900
Kalamazoo-Portage, MI	720	$43,890
Ann Arbor, MI	710	$42,890
Saginaw, MI	470	$40,420
Jackson, MI	400	$40,500
Traverse City, MI	400	$42,380
Niles, MI	340	$37,960
Bay City, MI	250	$32,550
Battle Creek, MI	220	$36,940
Monroe, MI	210	$42,150
Midland, MI	120	$42,250

Top States for Light Truck Drivers Employment

The table below shows the states where the most light truck drivers work.

State	Number Employed
California	117,250
Texas	71,660
Florida	71,340
New York	52,290
Illinois	48,940
Pennsylvania	42,360
North Carolina	37,860
Ohio	35,510
New Jersey	35,290
Tennessee	30,680
Michigan	29,110
Georgia	28,510
Virginia	24,570
Indiana	22,330
Washington	22,170
Massachusetts	19,360
Maryland	19,350
Wisconsin	19,020
Minnesota	18,650
Arizona	18,100

Highest-Paying States for Light Truck Drivers

Where light truck drivers earn the most: light truck drivers.

State	Annual Median Salary
Alaska	$52,000
Idaho	$47,910
Arizona	$47,910
Washington	$47,870
North Dakota	$47,750
District of Columbia	$47,620
Massachusetts	$47,450
Minnesota	$47,440
Colorado	$46,960
Wisconsin	$46,480

Skills

Key light truck drivers skills, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Knowledge Areas

Core knowledge areas for this occupation, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Abilities

Top abilities for light truck drivers, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:

Daily Tasks

Common tasks include:

• Obey traffic laws and follow established traffic and transportation procedures.
• Report any mechanical problems encountered with vehicles.
• Verify the contents of inventory loads against shipping papers.
• Inspect and maintain vehicle supplies and equipment, such as gas, oil, water, tires, lights, or brakes, to ensure that vehicles are in proper working condition.
• Read maps and follow written or verbal geographic directions.
• Load and unload trucks, vans, or automobiles.
• Present bills and receipts and collect payments for goods delivered or loaded.
• Maintain records, such as vehicle logs, records of cargo, or billing statements, in accordance with regulations.
• Drive vehicles with capacities under three tons to transport materials to and from specified destinations, such as railroad stations, plants, residences, offices, or within industrial yards.
• Turn in receipts and money received from deliveries.
• Use and maintain the tools or equipment found on commercial vehicles, such as weighing or measuring devices.
• Report delays, accidents, or other traffic and transportation situations to bases or other vehicles, using telephones or mobile two-way radios.

Work Activities

• Handling and Moving Objects
• Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
• Performing General Physical Activities
• Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
• Getting Information
• Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
• Documenting/Recording Information
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge
• Processing Information

Tools & Technology

Common tools and software used in this occupation include: Hot technologies: Microsoft Excel

What Major Will Prepare You For This Career?

Several college majors map to this occupation:

• Ground Transportation

Related Careers

Careers similar to light truck drivers include:

• Cargo and Freight Agents
• Couriers and Messengers
• Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance
• Postal Service Clerks
• Postal Service Mail Carriers
• Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks

Also Known As

Bulk Delivery Driver, Car Escort, Commercial Driver, DSP Driver (Delivery Service Partner Driver), Deliverer, Delivery Driver, Delivery Person, Delivery Truck Driver, Directories Distributor, Directory Carrier, Distributor Operator, Driver, Errand Runner, Escort Vehicle Driver, Explosives Truck Driver.

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: 53-3033.00