Transportation and material moving
Light truck driver
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.
Median pay
$44,860
Growth to 2035
+6%
faster than average
Openings a year
107,200
Time to qualify*
1 month
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Light truck driver
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- High school diploma or equivalent
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
What the work is like
Dealing with the public
Unpleasant or angry people
Time pressure
Cost of a mistake
Freedom to make decisions
Repeating the same tasks
Time sitting
Time standing
Outdoors in all weather
Hazardous conditions
Light truck driver: 72% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Obey traffic laws and follow established traffic and transportation procedures.
- Report any mechanical problems encountered with vehicles.
- 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.
- Read maps and follow written or verbal geographic directions.
- Load and unload trucks, vans, or automobiles.
- Present bills and receipts and collect payments for goods delivered or loaded.
- Maintain records, such as vehicle logs, records of cargo, or billing statements, in accordance with regulations.
Also called: Bulk Delivery Driver · Delivery Driver · Driver · Light Truck Driver · Package Car Driver · Package Delivery Driver · Route Driver · Service Provider
Outlook and AI
Light truck drivers held 1,068,500 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 1,136,400 by 2035 (+6%, faster than average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
- Light truck driver vs. Truck driver
- Light truck driver vs. Driver/sales worker
- Light truck driver vs. Couriers and messengers
- Light truck driver vs. Shuttle drivers and chauffeurs
- Light truck driver vs. Taxi driver
- Light truck driver vs. Industrial truck and tractor operators
- Light truck driver vs. Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance
- Light truck driver vs. Railroad conductors and yardmasters
- Light truck driver vs. Cargo and freight agents
- Light truck driver vs. Postal service mail carrier