Light Truck Drivers: Job Description
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.
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What Do Light Truck Drivers Take On?
The day-to-day responsibilities of light truck drivers include:
- 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.
What Light Truck Drivers Need to Know
Effective light truck drivers rely on a mix of skills and domain knowledge.
Top Skills
The abilities most important for this role, rated on an importance scale of 0 to 5:
Top Knowledge Areas
Types of Light Truck Drivers Jobs
Common job titles for this role include:
- Bulk Delivery Driver
- Car Escort
- Commercial Driver
- DSP Driver (Delivery Service Partner Driver)
- Deliverer
- Delivery Driver
- Delivery Person
- Delivery Truck Driver
Employment and Demand
The U.S. employs around 225,933 light truck drivers working in the United States today. Employment is projected to grow by +5.1% over the projection horizon.
Light Truck Drivers Pay
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Annual median | $27,779 |
| Hourly median | $13.36 |
| 10th percentile | $20,000 |
| 25th percentile | $22,659 |
| 75th percentile | $32,898 |
| 90th percentile | $38,017 |
Compensation varies based on experience, location, and industry.
How Much Do Light Truck Drivers Make in Different U.S. States?
| State | Annual median salary |
|---|---|
| Alaska | $52,000 |
| Idaho | $47,910 |
| Arizona | $47,910 |
| Washington | $47,870 |
| North Dakota | $47,750 |
| District of Columbia | $47,620 |
| Massachusetts | $47,450 |
| Minnesota | $47,440 |
| Colorado | $46,960 |
| Wisconsin | $46,480 |
| Illinois | $46,440 |
| Maryland | $46,230 |
| Montana | $46,220 |
| New York | $46,040 |
| New Jersey | $45,920 |
| Oregon | $45,710 |
| California | $45,500 |
| Rhode Island | $45,240 |
| New Hampshire | $44,980 |
| Vermont | $44,420 |
| Hawaii | $44,310 |
| Connecticut | $44,240 |
| South Dakota | $44,090 |
| Iowa | $43,910 |
| Utah | $43,760 |
| Tennessee | $43,680 |
| Virginia | $43,200 |
| Indiana | $43,070 |
| Georgia | $42,950 |
| Nebraska | $42,940 |
| Kentucky | $42,710 |
| Kansas | $42,620 |
| Missouri | $42,600 |
| Delaware | $42,550 |
| Pennsylvania | $42,430 |
| Nevada | $42,260 |
| Maine | $41,700 |
| New Mexico | $41,600 |
| Ohio | $41,430 |
| Wyoming | $41,030 |
| Texas | $40,760 |
| Michigan | $40,500 |
| Florida | $40,160 |
| South Carolina | $38,960 |
| Mississippi | $38,820 |
| North Carolina | $38,800 |
| Alabama | $38,130 |
| Oklahoma | $38,080 |
| Louisiana | $38,020 |
| Arkansas | $37,630 |
| West Virginia | $36,110 |
| Virgin Islands | $31,200 |
| Guam | $23,930 |
| Puerto Rico | $23,210 |
Where Light Truck Drivers Earn the Most
Compensation for light truck drivers shift depending on where you work. The following regions pay the most:
| Region | Median annual wage | Share of U.S. jobs | Location quotient |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountains | $45,954 | 3.6% | 0.94 |
| Far Western US | $45,678 | 16.4% | 0.99 |
| New England | $45,565 | 4.5% | 0.95 |
| Middle Atlantic | $44,959 | 15.4% | 1.06 |
| Plains States | $44,475 | 6.4% | 0.97 |
| Great Lakes | $43,694 | 15.5% | 1.10 |
| Southwest | $41,816 | 10.3% | 0.81 |
| Southeast | $40,641 | 27.3% | 1.13 |
Highest-Paying Metro Areas for Light Truck Drivers
| Metro area | State | Median annual wage | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anchorage, AK | AK | $51,170 | 810 |
| Fairbanks-College, AK | AK | $50,370 | 90 |
| San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | CA | $50,060 | 5,230 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | AZ | $49,780 | 13,810 |
| Barnstable Town, MA | MA | $49,630 | 560 |
| Flagstaff, AZ | AZ | $49,620 | 220 |
| Hagerstown-Martinsburg, MD-WV | MD | $49,620 | 1,770 |
| Bozeman, MT | MT | $49,550 | 410 |
Industry Breakdown
Most light truck drivers work in these industries:
| Industry | Employment | Median annual wage |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing | 480,180 | $47,390 |
| Retail Trade | 174,340 | $33,950 |
| Wholesale Trade | 152,990 | $43,710 |
| Manufacturing | 34,280 | $43,120 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services | 29,290 | $42,780 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing | 24,430 | $38,950 |
| Construction | 19,090 | $46,820 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) | 18,120 | $38,170 |
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
Tools and Technology
- Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel (hot technology)
- Office suite software: Microsoft Office software (hot technology)
- Electronic mail software: Microsoft Outlook (hot technology)
- Operating system software: Microsoft Windows (hot technology)
Work Environment
The on-the-job environment of light truck drivers is shaped by the following characteristics:
- In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
- Contact With Others
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Telephone Conversations
- Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How to Become Light Truck Drivers
Entry-level light truck drivers positions require a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry-level education. This occupation sits in Some Preparation Needed (Job Zone 2), reflecting the level of preparation typically expected.
Similar Occupations
Similar Occupations
- Cargo and Freight Agents (Primary-Long)
- Couriers and Messengers (Primary-Short)
- Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance (Primary-Long)
- Postal Service Clerks (Supplemental)
- Postal Service Mail Carriers (Primary-Long)
- Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks (Supplemental)
- First-Line Supervisors of Material-Moving Machine and Vehicle Operators (Supplemental)
- Driver/Sales Workers (Primary-Short)
Where to Study
Future light truck drivers commonly pursue programs in:
Transportation and Materials Moving
1 programs across 1 majors
About the Data
Data on this page comes from the following authoritative sources:
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics — Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) for employment and wage data by state and industry.
- BLS Employment Projections for total employment and growth forecasts.
- O*NET (Occupational Information Network) for skills, knowledge, tasks, work activities, work context, technology, and education-zone data.
SOC code: 53-3033.00 (Light Truck Drivers).
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