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Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

Transportation, Distribution and LogisticsO*NET 53-3032.00United States

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.

COMING SOON See related ASU learning
Median annual earnings
$57,334

50th percentile, United States

Projected change
+7%

2025 to 2035

Typical education
High school diploma or less

80.2% of the workforce

Employment
2.38M jobs

Growing to 2.54M by 2035

Explore this career by location

Compare nationwide estimates with state or county job-market data.

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Build the skills

ASU learning related to this career

These courses and certificates are connected through catalog career relationships and Lightcast skill tags.

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The work

What heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers do

Tasks reported for this occupation, ordered by how often they come up in the role.

  • Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure.
  • Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy.
  • Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.
  • Obtain receipts or signatures for delivered goods and collect payment for services when required.
  • Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles.
  • Maintain logs of working hours or of vehicle service or repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations.
  • Read bills of lading to determine assignment details.
  • Report vehicle defects, accidents, traffic violations, or damage to the vehicles.
  • Maneuver trucks into loading or unloading positions, following signals from loading crew and checking that vehicle and loading equipment are properly positioned.
  • Couple or uncouple trailers by changing trailer jack positions, connecting or disconnecting air or electrical lines, or manipulating fifth-wheel locks.
  • Perform basic vehicle maintenance tasks, such as adding oil, fuel, or radiator fluid, performing minor repairs, or washing trucks.
  • Drive trucks with capacities greater than 13 tons, including tractor-trailer combinations, to transport and deliver products, livestock, or other materials.
  • Collect delivery instructions from appropriate sources, verifying instructions and routes.
  • Read and interpret maps to determine vehicle routes.
  • Check conditions of trailers after contents have been unloaded to ensure that there has been no damage.
  • Drive trucks to weigh stations before and after loading and along routes in compliance with state regulations.
  • 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.
  • Load or unload trucks or help others with loading or unloading, using special loading-related equipment or other equipment as necessary.
  • 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.
  • Perform emergency roadside repairs, such as changing tires or installing light bulbs, tire chains, or spark plugs.
  • Remove debris from loaded trailers.

Pay and outlook

What the job pays and where it is heading

Annual earnings range

Reported earnings by percentile, United States

10th percentile
$37,080
25th percentile
$45,662
50th percentile
$57,334
75th percentile
$70,909
90th percentile
$90,203

The gold marker shows the median. Half earn more than $57,334 and half earn less.

Employment outlook

2025 to 2035 projection

+7%faster than average
20252,376,288 jobs
2035 projected2,541,921 jobs

165,633 more positions over the decade, before replacement hiring.

Preparation

Education levels

What people currently working in the career hold. These are not entry requirements.

High school diploma or less
80.2%
Certificate
18.5%
Some college
1.2%

Skills

Skills employers ask for

Technical skills appearing most often in job postings for this occupation.

  • Truck Driving
  • Good Driving Record
  • Loading And Unloading
  • Pre-Trip And Post-Trip Vehicle Inspections
  • Lifting Ability
  • Flatbed Truck Operation
  • Commercial Driving
  • No-Touch Freight
  • Dry Van Truck Operation
  • Warehousing
  • Safety Standards
  • Vehicle Inspection
  • Forklift Truck
  • Pallet Jacks
  • Time Off Management
  • Refrigerated Trucking
  • General Mathematics
  • Vehicle Maintenance
  • Load Securement
  • Over-The-Road Driving

How the work gets done

Core competencies

Broad capabilities associated with strong performance in this occupation.

Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Time Management
Managing one's own time and the time of others.
Troubleshooting
Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Speaking
Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Repairing
Repairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
Judgment and Decision Making
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Equipment Maintenance
Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
Writing
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Social Perceptiveness
Being aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Coordination
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Quality Control Analysis
Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Complex Problem Solving
Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Active Learning
Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
Service Orientation
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Systems Analysis
Determining how a system should work and how changes in conditions, operations, and the environment will affect outcomes.

In the market

Job titles and employers

Recent job postings in United States

Common job titles

  1. 01CDL-A Truck Drivers185,159 postings
  2. 02OTR CDL-A Truck Drivers33,106 postings
  3. 03Regional CDL-A Truck Drivers32,772 postings
  4. 04Local CDL-A Truck Drivers28,911 postings
  5. 05Drivers20,375 postings
  6. 06Dedicated CDL-A Truck Drivers17,515 postings
  7. 07CDL-A Flatbed Truck Drivers17,465 postings
  8. 08Truck Drivers15,934 postings
  9. 09Company CDL-A Truck Drivers15,243 postings
  10. 10Team CDL-A Truck Drivers12,788 postings
  11. 11Store Drivers10,210 postings
  12. 12Delivery Drivers10,013 postings
  13. 13CDL-B Truck Drivers9,787 postings
  14. 14OTR Company CDL-A Truck Drivers8,224 postings
  15. 15Regional Truck Drivers7,885 postings
  16. 16Local Truck Drivers7,105 postings
  17. 17OTR Truck Drivers6,102 postings
  18. 18Commercial Drivers5,924 postings
  19. 19CDL-A Dry Van Truck Drivers5,464 postings
  20. 20Owner-Operator CDL-A Truck Drivers5,354 postings

Top employers

  1. 01Roehl Transport11,191 postings
  2. 02Epes Transport10,522 postings
  3. 03C.R. England9,657 postings
  4. 04K&B Transportation8,806 postings
  5. 05JB Hunt8,123 postings
  6. 06Ryder7,704 postings
  7. 07System Transport7,153 postings
  8. 08Advance Auto Parts7,012 postings
  9. 09Marten Transport6,949 postings
  10. 10Hogan6,552 postings
  11. 11Transco Lines6,079 postings
  12. 12US Xpress5,605 postings
  13. 13Crete Carrier Corporation5,294 postings
  14. 14McLane Company5,073 postings
  15. 15Dollar General4,999 postings
  16. 16Riverside Transport4,837 postings
  17. 17Dunavant Logistics Group4,722 postings
  18. 18Sysco4,625 postings
  19. 19Performance Food Group4,551 postings
  20. 20Western Express4,425 postings

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