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Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

Typical education: High school diplomaHigh pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

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.

Kinds of work

  • Realistic: Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals, often outdoors.
  • Conventional: Organizing information, following clear procedures and working with data and details.

High pressure: How much pressure workers in this job report: deadlines, conflict, dealing with upset people, the cost of mistakes, responsibility for others' safety, competition and long hours. It varies a lot from one employer to the next. Source: U.S. Department of Labor worker surveys.

Pay, tasks and more

Salary

United States $58,640 Median per year · $28.19/hr Most earn $40,140–$79,380

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • 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.
  • Check conditions of trailers after contents have been unloaded to ensure that there has been no damage.
  • Operate idle reduction systems or auxiliary power systems to generate power from alternative sources, such as fuel cells, to reduce idling time, to heat or cool truck cabins, or to provide power for other equipment.
  • Operate equipment, such as truck cab computers, CB radios, phones, or global positioning systems (GPS) equipment to exchange necessary information with bases, supervisors, or other drivers.
  • Plan or adjust routes based on changing conditions, using computer equipment, global positioning systems (GPS) equipment, or other navigation devices, to minimize fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Numerous Job Openings

United States
4% more jobs by 2035, about as fast as average · about 214,500 openings a year

Openings include new jobs and jobs left by workers who retire or change careers. Projections: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. "Bright Outlook": U.S. Department of Labor.

Where they work

  • Truck transportation40.1%
  • Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods7.6%
  • Self-employed (their own business)7.3%
  • Couriers and express delivery services4.3%
  • Warehousing and storage4.0%

Share of all workers in this career. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Employment Matrix.

Experience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Some people start through an apprenticeship: paid training on the job, often with classes. Search apprenticeships on Apprenticeship.gov (opens in a new tab) ↗

Career path

How people usually get into this career, from school to their first job and beyond.

Typical education: High school diplomaExperience before this job: 1 to 2 years

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck driving usually isn't a first job out of school. Most people spend about 1 to 2 years in related entry-level work first, then earn a commercial driver's license (CDL) to move into this role.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school, which is the typical education for this career. Good reading, math, and driving-safety habits will help you pass CDL tests and follow logbook and safety rules.

  2. Freight, Stock, and Material Mover (Laborer)

    6 months to 1 year

    Load, unload, and move freight at a warehouse or distribution center. You learn how trucks, shipments, and schedules work, and you can often earn a CDL while employed.

  3. Light Truck Driver

    6 months to 1 year

    Drive smaller delivery trucks, which builds road experience, customer service skills, and a clean driving record. This is the experience most employers look for before hiring someone for a big rig.

  4. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver

    Career goal

    After getting your CDL, you drive tractor-trailers or trucks over 26,000 pounds GVW, often on long routes.

Where it can lead

  1. Driver Trainer

    2-3 years of experience first

    Teach newer drivers safe driving, inspections, and company procedures. Strong safety record and patience with new drivers help you move into this role.

  2. Dispatcher

    3-5 years of experience first

    Plan routes, schedules, and driver assignments from an office. This role uses your road knowledge and usually requires good computer and communication skills.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take math and English classesStrong reading and math help with CDL written tests, logbooks, route planning, and paperwork.
  • Get a part-time jobA job at a grocery store, warehouse, or delivery business teaches responsibility and shows what working around trucks and freight is like.
  • Take a driver's safety or auto classMany schools offer driver education or auto shop classes that teach vehicle basics and safe driving habits.
  • Volunteer with a food bank or moving help groupHelping load and deliver goods builds lifting, teamwork, and reliability, and it looks good when you apply for jobs later.
  • Learn about the CDL processTalk with a school counselor or local trucking employer about the CDL steps and what the age and training requirements are where you live.

In college

  • Take business, logistics, or supply chain coursesEven one or two classes help you understand how freight moves, which matters for dispatch and fleet roles later on.
  • Work a warehouse or delivery jobWorking as a freight or material mover builds the 1-2 years of related experience most employers expect.
  • Look into CDL trainingMany community colleges and trucking schools offer CDL programs, so check what is available near you and what it costs before you enroll.
  • Get a clean driving recordAvoid tickets and accidents, since employers review driving records closely when they hire drivers.
  • Join a campus transportation or business clubClubs help you meet people in logistics and transportation and build leadership and communication skills.

Tips for getting started

  • Ask your school counselor or a local adult if any programs or training options exist for getting a CDL, and check the age requirements and rules in your state.
  • Look for part-time or summer jobs at warehouses, moving companies, or delivery services. Even a few months of work that involves trucks or freight shows employers you're reliable.
  • Keep a clean record: stay out of trouble, follow traffic rules, and be on time. Employers who hire drivers check driving and work history closely.

Related jobs that often lead here

Related jobs a step up

Education, experience and related careers: U.S. Department of Labor. The step-by-step path, where it can lead and what you can do now were written by AI as typical examples; many people take other ways.

College majors that lead here

  • Ground Transportation Certificate: typical pay 1 year after finishing $48,327 a year · typical debt $6,365

Majors: U.S. Department of Education and BLS (CIP–SOC crosswalk). Earnings and debt: College Scorecard, typical across U.S. colleges.

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