Summary
![Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/web/20121010023501im_/http://www.bls.gov/ooh/images/p30-to-p31/p315-1-jpg.jpg)
Quick Facts: Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers | |
---|---|
$37,770 per year
$18.16 per hour |
|
High school diploma or equivalent | |
1 to 5 years | |
Short-term on-the-job training | |
1,604,800 | |
21% (Faster than average) | |
330,100 |
What Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers Do
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. Most tractor-trailer drivers are long-haul drivers and operate trucks with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds per gross vehicle weight (GVW). They deliver goods over intercity routes, sometimes spanning several states.
Work Environment
Working as a long-haul truck driver is a major lifestyle choice, because these drivers can be away from home for days or weeks at a time. They spend much of this time alone.
How to Become a Heavy or Tractor-trailer Truck Driver
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers usually have a high school diploma and 2 years of related work experience. They must have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).
Pay
The median annual wage of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $37,770 in May 2010.
Job Outlook
Employment for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to grow 21 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average for all occupations. As the economy grows, the demand for goods will increase, and more truck drivers will be needed to keep supply chains moving.
Similar Occupations
Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers with similar occupations.
O*NET
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Contacts for More Information
Learn more about heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers by contacting these additional resources.