Transportation and material moving
Truck driver
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. Requires commercial drivers' license. Includes tow truck drivers.
Median pay
$58,640
Growth to 2035
+4%
about as fast as average
Openings a year
214,500
Time to qualify*
14 months
* From a bachelor's degree in an unrelated field.
Pay
Truck driver
Getting in
- Typical entry education
- Postsecondary nondegree award
- On-the-job training
- Short-term on-the-job training
- Prior experience
- None
- Required
- Commercial driver's license (CDL-A) · DOT medical card
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
Truck driver: 80% usually work over 40 hours a week
Core tasks
- Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy.
- Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure.
- Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.
- Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles.
- Obtain receipts or signatures for delivered goods and collect payment for services when required.
- 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.
Also called: CDL Driver (Commercial Driver's License Driver) · Driver · Line Haul Driver · Log Truck Driver · Over the Road Driver (OTR Driver) · Production Truck Driver · Road Driver · Semi Truck Driver
Outlook and AI
Truck drivers held 2,221,200 jobs in 2025. BLS projects 2,305,000 by 2035 (+4%, about as fast as average; all jobs: +3.5%).
Compare with
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