Truck driving is an essential component of most industries. If you're interested in becoming a truck driver, read ahead to learn more about the job outlook and salary for for these professionals.
Duties and Responsibilities
Truck driving is a large industry with great opportunity. As a truck driver, you can choose from a variety of specialties within the occupation. You might work as a local pick-up or delivery driver, and follow the same routes to and from distributing centers and businesses in one regional area. You could work as a long-haul or heavy truck driver and carry goods and products across city and state lines. You might also find a position as driver/sales worker and carry out sales duties, in addition to driving duties.
As a truck driver, some of your responsibilities may include loading and unloading cargo onto a truck, making pick-ups and deliveries and keeping logs of your activities. You are also responsible for following laws and safety regulations and making sure that the truck you drive is in working condition.
<h3 id="section---ImportantFactsAboutThisOccupation">Important Facts about this Occupation</h3><p></p><table border="1"><tr><th> </th><th>Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers</th><th>Delivery Truck Drivers, Driver/Sales Workers</th></tr>
<tr><td>Required Education</td><td> High school diploma + professional truck driving school</td><td> High school diploma</td></tr>
<tr><td>Training</td><td> On-the-job training, typically 1-3 months</td><td> On-the-job training, typically 1 month or less</td></tr>
<tr><td>Licensure</td><td> Commercial Driver's License (CDL)</td><td> Driver's license</td></tr>
<tr><td>Work Environment</td><td> Away from home for long periods, alone; Physically demanding; High rate of injury and illness due to traffic accidents</td><td> Physically demanding; High rate of injury and illness; May start work very early in the morning</td></tr>
</table><h3 id="section---EmploymentOutlook">Employment Outlook</h3><p>The BLS predicts that the overall employment for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers should increase by 4% between 2021 and 2031, while light truck or delivery service workers will likely see job growth of about 6%. Driver/sales workers are predicted to see employment decreases of about 10% during the same time, per the BLS.
</p><h3 id="section---SalaryStatistics">Salary Statistics</h3><p>Delivery service and light truck drivers made a median annual salary of about $42,630 in May 2021, according to the BLS. The majority of those individuals worked for the wholesale trade industry. As of May 2021, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers earned a mean annual salary of about $50,340. Those who worked for the deep sea, coastal, and great lakes water transportation industries earned the highest salaries ($66,490 on average), followed by those who worked for support activities for water transportation ($65,980).
</p><p>Driver/sales workers earned a mean annual salary of about $31,970 in 2021, per the BLS. Many of those individuals worked for restaurants, merchant wholesalers, and laundry services.</p>
