Truck drivers transport goods around the country. Quick Facts: Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers $41,340 per year $19.87 per hour Postsecondary nondegree award None Short-term on-the-job training 1,871,700 6% (As fast as average) 113,800 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 gross vehicle weight (GVW) capacity—that is, the combined weight of the vehicle, passengers, and cargo—exceeding 26,000 pounds.

These drivers deliver goods over intercity routes, sometimes spanning several states. Working as a long-haul truck driver is a major lifestyle choice because these drivers can be away from home for days or weeks at a time.

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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). The median annual wage for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $41,340 in May 2016. Employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2016 to 2026, about as fast as the average for all occupations. As the demand for goods increases, more truck drivers will be needed to keep supply chains moving. Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers. Crack 99 more.

Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers with similar occupations. 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. Some 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 gross vehicle weight (GVW) capacity of more than 26,000 pounds. These drivers deliver goods over intercity routes, sometimes spanning several states. Some 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 1.9 million jobs in 2016. The largest employers of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers were as follows: General freight trucking 33% Specialized freight trucking 13 Wholesale trade 11 Self-employed workers 8 Manufacturing 7 Working as a long-haul truck driver is a major 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.

Work Schedules Most heavy tractor-trailer drivers work full time. The regulates the hours that a long-haul truck driver may work. Drivers may not work more than 14 straight hours, comprising up to 11 hours spent driving and the remaining time spent 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. Drivers 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 truckdriving 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.