Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver

Career Overview

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another.

Education

A high school diploma or equivalent is necessary to obtain these positions. It will be necessary to complete a program in truck driving in order to obtain one of these positions. These programs are typically offered through colleges and truck driving schools. Other training will occur on-the-job. They must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL).

Future Outlook

Employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to grow 2 percent from 2019 to 2029, slower than the average for all occupations. The economy depends on truck drivers to transport freight and keep supply chains moving. As the demand for goods increases, more truck drivers will be needed.

Work Environment

Working as a long-haul truck driver is a lifestyle choice because these drivers can be away from home for days or weeks at a time.

Recommended High School Courses

Math
Trade-related courses
Automotive Repair

Critical Thinking - Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operation Monitoring - Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
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.

Customer and Personal Service - Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language - Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
Transportation - Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.

Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Category Flexibility - The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Depth Perception - The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
Hearing Sensitivity - The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
Inductive Reasoning - The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Information Ordering - The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Night Vision - The ability to see under low light conditions.
Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Peripheral Vision - The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes are looking ahead.
Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Rate Control - The ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
Reaction Time - The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Response Orientation - The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
Selective Attention - The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Spatial Orientation - The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
Speech Clarity - The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Static Strength - The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Visualization - The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

Inspect motor vehicles.
Follow safety procedures for vehicle operation.
Inspect cargo to ensure it is properly loaded or secured.
Record operational or production data.
Record service or repair activities.
Operate vehicles or material-moving equipment.
Secure cargo.
Monitor cargo area conditions.
Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards.
Report vehicle or equipment malfunctions.
Collect fares or payment from customers.
Review documents or materials for compliance with policies or regulations.
Review work orders or schedules to determine operations or procedures.
Verify information or specifications.
Connect cables or electrical lines.
Inspect cargo areas for cleanliness or condition.
Maintain vehicles in good working condition.
Read maps to determine routes.
Acquire supplies or equipment.
Package materials or products.
Operate communications equipment or systems.
Adjust routes or speeds as necessary.
Choose optimal transportation routes or speeds.
Load shipments, belongings, or materials.
Remove debris or damaged materials.
Install parts, assemblies, or attachments in transportation or material handling equipment.
Direct material handling or moving activities.

Schools

Advanced Career Institute...

Alaska Driving Academy, T...

Atlanta Technical College

Ats Heavy Equipment Opera...

Center For Employment Edu...

Chippewa Valley Technical...

Coastal Pines Technical C...

Excel Driver Services

Kenai Peninsula Driving I...

Lanier Technical College-...

Miller-motte College- Fay...

Miller-motte College- Jac...

Miller-motte College- Ral...

Miller-motte Technical Co...

Northern Industrial Train...

Roadmaster Driver School...

Rosedale Technical Colleg...

Southwest Mississippi Com...

Southwest Truck Driving T...

Truck Driver Institute

Capilano Truck Driver...

Carlton Trail Regional...

Humber College- Transp...

Keyin College

Toronto Truck Driver A...

Potential Scholarships

5 Strong Scholarship

Agnes M. Lindsay Scholars...

Curt Pozan Trades Scholar...

Approx Salary Expectation

Currency:

Low End:

$29,130.00 /yr

Avg/Med:

$45,260.00 /yr

High End:

$66,840.00 /yr

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References

Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/.
Trend Analysis - Explorer the Market, Labour Market Information, Government of Canada https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis.
O*NET OnLine, National Center for O*NET Development, https://www.onetonline.org/.