USA Career Guide- Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers

Licenses & Training needed to be Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers usually have a high school diploma and 2 years of related work experience. They must have a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).

Licenses

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 and 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 an additional knowledge test and a background check.

Training

Some drivers attend professional driving schools, where they take training courses to learn how to manoeuvre large vehicles on highways or through crowded streets. During these classes, drivers also learn the federal laws and regulations governing interstate truck driving.

In the near future, the U.S. Department of Transportation may require all interstate truck drivers to take a truck-driving course.

The Professional Truck Driver Institute (PTDI) certifies a small percentage of driver-training courses at truck driver training schools that meet industry standards and the U.S. Department of Transportation guidelines for training tractor-trailer drivers.

Pay of Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers

The median annual wage of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers was $37,770 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $24,730, and the top 10 percent earned more than $57,480.
Drivers of heavy trucks and tractor-trailers are usually paid by how many miles they have driven, plus bonuses.

Job Prospects ofHeavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers

Employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to grow 21 percent from 2010 to 2020, faster than the average of all occupations. Competition is expected for jobs offering the highest earnings or most favorable work schedules.
The demand for goods in the United States is likely to increase the job opportunities for more truck drivers. Job prospects for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are expected to be favorable. Due to the somewhat difficult lifestyle and time spent away from home, many companies have trouble finding qualified long-haul drivers. Those who have the necessary experience and other qualifications should be able to find jobs.

Industrial Overview of Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers

Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers held about 1.6 million jobs in 2010. Many heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are employed in general freight trucking.

The industries that employed truck drivers (2010)

General freight trucking    33%
Specialized freight trucking    12%
Wholesale trade    12%
Manufacturing    8%

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2012-13 Edition, Heavy and Tractor

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