What Do Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Do?
Job Description & Duties Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers’ license.
List of Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Job Duties
- Couple or uncouple trailers by changing trailer jack positions, connecting or disconnecting air or electrical lines, or manipulating fifth-wheel locks.
- Drive trucks with capacities greater than 3 tons, including tractor-trailer combinations, to transport and deliver products, livestock, or other materials.
- Perform emergency roadside repairs, such as changing tires or installing light bulbs, tire chains, or spark plugs.
- Maintain logs of working hours or of vehicle service or repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations.
- Install or remove special equipment, such as tire chains, grader blades, plow blades, or sanders.
- Plan or adjust routes based on changing conditions, using computer equipment, global positioning systems (GPS) equipment, or other navigation devices, to minimize fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
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What Skills Do You Need to Work as a Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver?
These are the skills Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers say are the most useful in their careers:
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.
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.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Types of Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Jobs
- Cream Hauler
- Tank Driver
- Bottle Hop
- Batch Mixing Truck Driver
- Co Pilot
Job Outlook for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
There were about 1,871,700 jobs for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver in 2016 (in the United States). New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 108,400 new jobs for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver by 2026. The BLS estimates 213,500 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver are Utah, North Dakota, and Idaho. Watch out if you plan on working in Delaware, Maine, or Vermont. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver Salary
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers make between $28,160 and $65,260 a year.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers who work in Alaska, North Dakota, or District of Columbia, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers in different U.S. states.
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $40,580 |
| Alaska | $57,630 |
| Arizona | $45,430 |
| Arkansas | $41,980 |
| California | $47,300 |
| Colorado | $48,840 |
| Connecticut | $49,880 |
| Delaware | $44,160 |
| District of Columbia | $52,760 |
| Florida | $42,020 |
| Georgia | $43,260 |
| Hawaii | $48,910 |
| Idaho | $42,010 |
| Illinois | $48,650 |
| Indiana | $46,210 |
| Iowa | $43,820 |
| Kansas | $46,180 |
| Kentucky | $45,550 |
| Louisiana | $42,090 |
| Maine | $40,040 |
| Maryland | $47,940 |
| Massachusetts | $50,310 |
| Michigan | $43,450 |
| Minnesota | $48,710 |
| Mississippi | $41,900 |
| Missouri | $45,070 |
| Montana | $46,100 |
| Nebraska | $44,710 |
| Nevada | $50,920 |
| New Hampshire | $45,030 |
| New Jersey | $49,080 |
| New Mexico | $44,460 |
| New York | $50,460 |
| North Carolina | $44,030 |
| North Dakota | $52,080 |
| Ohio | $45,010 |
| Oklahoma | $43,880 |
| Oregon | $47,410 |
| Pennsylvania | $46,650 |
| Rhode Island | $48,360 |
| South Carolina | $44,270 |
| South Dakota | $41,590 |
| Tennessee | $43,660 |
| Texas | $45,260 |
| Utah | $45,600 |
| Vermont | $45,250 |
| Virginia | $42,660 |
| Washington | $48,620 |
| West Virginia | $39,520 |
| Wisconsin | $45,950 |
| Wyoming | $50,200 |
What Tools do Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Use?
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft Outlook
- SAP
- Microsoft Windows
- YouTube
- Computerized inventory tracking software
- ALK Technologies PC*Miler
- ADP ezLaborManager
How to Become a Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver
What kind of Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver requirements are there?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver?
Where Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers Work
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers work in the following industries:
References:
Image Credit: Hic85 via Public Domain
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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