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Light Truck Drivers

Typical education: High school diplomaModerate pressure Bright Outlook

What they do

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.

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.

Moderate 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 $44,860 Median per year · $21.57/hr Most earn $30,800–$80,310

BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, 2025.

What you might do

  • Present bills and receipts and collect payments for goods delivered or loaded.
  • Report any mechanical problems encountered with vehicles.
  • Maintain records, such as vehicle logs, records of cargo, or billing statements, in accordance with regulations.
  • 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.
  • Turn in receipts and money received from deliveries.

Job outlook

Bright Outlook Rapid Growth; Numerous Job Openings

United States
6% more jobs by 2035, faster than average · about 107,200 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

  • Couriers and express delivery services25.1%
  • Local messengers and local delivery11.9%
  • Automotive parts, accessories, and tire retailers7.5%
  • Self-employed (their own business)7.2%
  • Merchant wholesalers, nondurable goods4.9%

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

Experience before this job: Up to 1 month

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: Up to 1 monthEntry-level

Light Truck Driver is an entry-level job you can start right after high school. Employers typically expect little or no prior experience, so most people learn the job on the job within about a month.

  1. High school diploma

    4 years

    Finish high school and build basic reading, math, and customer-service skills, which you'll use for reading delivery addresses, logs, and paperwork.

  2. Light Truck Driver

    Up to 1 month of on-the-job training

    Get a valid driver's license with a clean driving record, then learn your routes, safe loading and unloading, and delivery procedures from your employer.

Where it can lead

  1. Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver

    1-2 years of experience first

    You move up to larger trucks that need a commercial driver's license (CDL), which usually means extra training and a longer driving record.

  2. Dispatcher

    1-2 years of experience first

    You move off the road and into an office, where you plan routes, schedule drivers, and track deliveries. It helps to know the roads and the job from driving first.

What you can do now

Ideas for high school and college students.

In high school

  • Take a driver education courseA driver education class, if your school offers one, builds safe driving habits and helps you get your learner's permit sooner.
  • Take math and reading-focused classesStrong math helps with mileage, timing, and load calculations, and good reading helps with maps, forms, and instructions.
  • Get a part-time job in stocking or deliveryWorking at a grocery store, warehouse, or local shop teaches you lifting, careful handling, and dependable work habits.
  • Volunteer with a food bank or delivery programHelping deliver food or supplies to people shows responsibility and gives you practice planning routes and handling goods.
  • Practice safe driving with a licensed adultOnce you have a learner's permit, practice with a supervising adult so you build confidence on different roads and in traffic.

In college

  • Take business, logistics, or supply chain coursesClasses in logistics or supply chain show how goods move from warehouses to customers, which helps you understand the work and move into better roles.
  • Hold a part-time delivery or warehouse jobCampus or local jobs in delivery, shipping, or stock rooms build hands-on experience employers look for.
  • Keep a clean driving record and a valid licenseMost light truck jobs check your driving history, so avoiding tickets and accidents now makes you a stronger applicant.
  • Learn basic route software and spreadsheetsMany delivery companies use GPS, route apps, and inventory tools, so basic computer skills make you more useful from day one.
  • Join a business or student organizationClubs in business or entrepreneurship teach teamwork, communication, and time management, which help you move up toward dispatch or supervisor roles.

Tips for getting started

  • Check job ads in your area now. They often list a valid driver's license, a clean driving record, and minimum age, so you'll know what to work on.
  • Get a part-time job that involves lifting, stocking, or deliveries. Employers value reliability and safe handling of goods, and it gives you real experience to mention.
  • Learn your state's rules for getting a driver's license early, since the process can take time.

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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