### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			heavy and tractor trailer truck drivers imageTruck drivers transport goods around the country.							
						Quick Facts:     Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers2023     Median Pay
            						$54,320     per year
										$26.12     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    Postsecondary nondegree awardWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Short-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    2,192,300Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    4% (As fast as average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    89,300What Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another.
            
                        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.
            
                                                How to Become a Heavy or Tractor-trailer Truck Driver
                                                
                        
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers usually have a high school diploma and attend a professional truck driving school. They must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $54,320 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Employment							of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to grow							 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
						About 241,200 openings for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers Do 
            

			Heavy and tractor-trailer truck driversSome heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers plan their own routes.			
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. Most tractor-trailer drivers are long-haul drivers and operate trucks with a total weight exceeding 26,000 pounds for the vehicle, passengers, and cargo. These drivers deliver goods over intercity routes that sometimes span several states.
Duties
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers typically do the following:
Drive long distances
Report any incidents encountered on the road to a dispatcher
Follow all applicable traffic laws
Secure cargo for transport, using ropes, blocks, chains, or covers
Inspect their trailers before and after the trip and record any defects they find
Maintain a log of their working hours, following all federal and state regulations
Report serious mechanical problems to the appropriate people
Keep their trucks and associated equipment clean and in good working orderMost heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers’ routes are assigned by a dispatcher, but some independent drivers still plan their own routes. When planning routes, drivers must take into account any road restrictions that prohibit large trucks. Drivers also must plan legally required rest periods into their trip.
Some drivers have one or two routes that they drive regularly, and other drivers take many different routes throughout the country. In addition, some drivers have routes that include Mexico or Canada.
Companies sometimes use two drivers, known as teams, on long runs to minimize downtime. On these team runs, one driver sleeps in a berth behind the cab while the other drives.
Certain cargo requires drivers to adhere to additional safety regulations. Some heavy truck drivers who transport hazardous materials, such as chemical waste, must take special precautions when driving and may carry specialized safety equipment in case of an accident. Other drivers, such as those carrying liquids, oversized loads, or cars, must follow rules that apply specifically to them.
Some long-haul truck drivers, also called *owner-operators*, buy or lease trucks and go into business for themselves. In addition to their driving tasks, owner-operators have business tasks, including finding and keeping clients and doing administrative work.
 Work Environment
			Heavy and tractor-trailer truck driversSome truck drivers travel far from home and can be on the road for long periods at a time.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers held about 2.2 million jobs in 2022. The largest employers of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers were as follows:
        Truck transportation
                42%Wholesale trade
                12Self-employed workers
                8Manufacturing
                7Construction
                6Working 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. They spend much of this time alone. Driving a truck can be a physically demanding job as well. Driving for many consecutive hours can be tiring, and some drivers must load and unload cargo.
Injuries and Illnesses
Because of the potential for traffic accidents, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations.
Although fatalities are uncommon, heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers experience one of the highest rates of occupational fatalities of all occupations.
Work Schedules
Most heavy tractor-trailer drivers work full time. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the hours that a long-haul truck driver may work. Drivers may not work more than 14 hours straight, comprising up to 11 hours driving and the remaining time doing other work, such as unloading cargo. Between working periods, drivers must have at least 10 hours off duty. Drivers also are limited to driving no more than 60 hours within 7 days or 70 hours within 8 days; then drivers must take 34 hours off before starting another 7- or 8-day run. Drivers must record their hours in a logbook. Truck drivers often work nights, weekends, and holidays.
 How to Become a Heavy or Tractor-trailer Truck Driver

			Heavy and tractor-trailer truck driversDrivers learn the federal laws and regulations governing interstate trucking.			
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers usually have a high school diploma and attend a professional truck driving school. They must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL).
Education
Most companies require their truck drivers to have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Many prospective drivers attend professional truck driving schools, where they take training courses to learn how to maneuver large vehicles on highways or through crowded streets. During these classes, drivers also learn the federal laws and regulations governing interstate truck driving. Students may attend either a private truck-driving school or a program at a community college that lasts between 3 and 6 months.
Upon finishing their classes, drivers receive a certificate of completion.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
All long-haul truck drivers must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Qualifications for obtaining a CDL vary by state but generally include passing both a knowledge test and a driving test. States have the right to refuse to issue a CDL to anyone who has had a CDL suspended by another state.
Drivers can get endorsements to their CDL that show their ability to drive a specialized type of vehicle. Truck drivers transporting hazardous materials (HAZMAT) must have a hazardous materials endorsement (H). Getting this endorsement requires passing an additional knowledge test and a background check.
Federal regulations require CDL drivers to maintain a clean driving record and pass a physical exam every two years. They are also subject to random testing for drug or alcohol abuse. Truck drivers can have their CDL suspended if they are convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs or are convicted of a felony involving the use of a motor vehicle.
Other actions can result in a suspension after multiple violations. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website has a list of these violations. Additionally, some companies have stricter standards than what federal regulations require.
Training
After completing truck-driving school and being hired by a company, drivers normally receive several weeks of on-the-job training. During this time, they drive a truck accompanied by an experienced mentor-driver in the passenger seat. This period of on-the-job training is given so that the new drivers will learn more about the specific type of truck they will drive and material they will transport.
Important Qualities
***Hand-eye coordination.*** Drivers of heavy trucks and tractor-trailers must be able to coordinate their legs, hands, and eyes simultaneously so that they will react appropriately to the situation around them and drive the vehicle safely.
***Hearing ability.*** Truck drivers need good hearing. Federal regulations require that a driver be able to hear a forced whisper in one ear at 5 feet away (with or without the use of a hearing aid).
***Physical health.*** Federal regulations do not allow people to become truck drivers if they have a medical condition, such as high blood pressure or epilepsy, which may interfere with their ability to operate a truck. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website has a full list of medical conditions that disqualify someone from driving a long-haul truck.
***Visual ability.*** Truck drivers must be able to pass vision tests. Federal regulations require a driver to have at least 20/40 vision with a 70-degree field of vision in each eye and the ability to distinguish the colors on a traffic light.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck DriversMedian annual wages, May 2023Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers$54,320  Total, all occupations$48,060  Motor vehicle operators$47,490Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $54,320 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $37,440, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $76,780.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Truck transportation
                $57,830Wholesale trade
                52,700Manufacturing
                51,090Construction
                51,080Drivers of heavy trucks and tractor-trailers usually are paid by how many miles they have driven, plus bonuses. The per-mile rate varies from employer to employer and may depend on the type of cargo and the experience of the driver. Some long-distance drivers, especially owner-operators, are paid a share of the revenue from shipping.
Most heavy tractor-trailer drivers work full time. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulates the hours that a long-haul truck driver may work. Drivers may not work more than 14 hours straight, comprising up to 11 hours driving and the remaining time doing other work, such as unloading cargo. Between working periods, drivers must have at least 10 hours off duty. Drivers also are limited to driving no more than 60 hours within 7 days or 70 hours within 8 days; then drivers must take 34 hours off before starting another 7- or 8-day run. Drivers must record their hours in a logbook. Truck drivers often work nights, weekends, and holidays.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck DriversPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Motor vehicle operators7%  Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers4%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Employment				of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to grow				 4 percent from 2022 to 2032, about as fast as the average for all occupations.
			
			About 241,200 openings for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Trucks transport most of the freight in the United States. The need for truck drivers should rise as households and businesses increase their spending and their demand for goods.
			

                        Employment projections data for     heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers**
			53-3032
			2,192,300
			2,281,500
			4
			89,300
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Bus Drivers**
            Bus drivers transport people between various places.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $48,230**Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers**
            Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers pick up, transport, and drop off packages and small shipments within a local region or urban area.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $39,950**Hand Laborers and Material Movers**
            Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials.
            See How to Become One
            $36,770**Material Recording Clerks**
            Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $44,210**Railroad Workers**
            Railroad workers ensure that passenger and freight trains operate safely. They may drive trains, coordinate the activities of the trains, or control signals and switches in the rail yard.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $73,580**Water Transportation Workers**
            Water transportation workers operate and maintain vessels that take cargo and people over water.
            See How to Become One
            $64,930
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about truck drivers, visit
American Trucking Associations
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
For more information about truck driving schools and programs, visit
Commercial Vehicle Training Association
National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm (visited *May 20, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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