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Truck Driver

CAREER OVERVIEW   

A heavy truck driver drives a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) and may be required to unload truck. This type of truck driver position requires a commercial drivers’ license.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

A heavy truck driver and most types of truck drivers may be called on to handle loads up to 20 lbs. and sometimes up to 50 lbs. Work in this occupation involves being keenly aware of safety issues for themselves and others. 
       
A person choosing this career has tasks and responsibilities including: Checking vehicles to ensure that all mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order; maneuvering trucks into loading or unloading positions; following signals from loading crew and checking that vehicle and loading equipment are properly positioned; Collecting delivery instructions from appropriate sources and verifying instructions and routes; Maintaining logs of working hours and of vehicle service and repair status; following applicable state and federal regulations; Securing cargo for transport, using ropes, blocks, chain, binders, or covers; reporting vehicle defects, accidents, traffic violations, or damage to the vehicles; driving trucks with capacities greater than 3 tons, including tractor-trailer combinations, to transport and deliver products or materials; driving trucks to weigh stations before and after loading and along routes to document weights and to comply with state regulations; maintaining logs of working hours and of vehicle service and repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations; taking inventory of goods and inspecting goods to be moved to determine quantities and conditions to take into account. 

AVERAGE SALARY

  • $52,730 (annually)
  • $25.35 (hourly)

SALARY RANGES 

  • $43,390 – $71,880 (annually)
  • $20.86 – $34.56 (hourly)

*SOURCE: Occupational Employment Statistics Program, US Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, for Colorado, from May 2020. https://www.bls.gov/oes/

 * Low range wage rates based on the 25th percentile wage level. High range wage rates based on the 90th percentile wage level.

VIDEO SOURCE: Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration on careeronestop.org