Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Also called: Truck Driver, Driver, Over the Road Driver (OTR Driver), Line Haul Driver
What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
- Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.
- 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.
Knowledge
Transportation
- movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road
Safety and Government
- public safety and security
Engineering and Technology
- mechanical
Business
- customer service
Skills
Basic Skills
- keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
- listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
- noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
Abilities
Controlled Movement
- quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
- use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down
Vision
- see details that are far away
- decide which thing is closer or farther away from you or decide how far away it is from you
Spatial
- know where things are around you
- imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed
Hand and Finger Use
- keep your arm or hand steady
Personality
People interested in this work like activities that include
practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
- Self Control
- Independence
- Attention to Detail
- Integrity
- Dependability
- Stress Tolerance
Technology
You might use software like this on the job:
Data base user interface and query software
- Easy Trucker software
- Fog Line Software Truckn2004
Route navigation software
- ALK Technologies PC*Miler
- MarcoSoft Quo Vadis
Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software
- PeopleNet
Education
![Education: (rated 2 of 5)](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20120925134301im_/http://www.mynextmove.org/vets/image/hi_ed2.png)
high school diploma or
some college
usually needed
some college
usually needed
Take advantage of the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program to prepare for this career.
These apprenticeships may have sponsors in your area:
- Construction Driver
- Truck Driver, Heavy
Job Outlook
![Bright Outlook](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20120925134301im_/http://www.mynextmove.org/vets/image/outlook0.png)
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
![Salary](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20120925134301im_/http://www.mynextmove.org/vets/image/hi_sal.png)
$37,930
per year, on average
This work is part of the green economy.
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