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Career Exploration

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

Also called: Driver, Line Haul Driver, Over the Road Driver (OTR Driver), Truck Driver

What they do:

Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers' license. Includes tow truck drivers.

On the job, you would:
  • Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy.
  • Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure.
  • Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.
On the job, you'll need:

Transportation

  • movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road

Safety and Government

  • public safety and security
  • law and government

Business

  • customer service

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Basic Skills

  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • reading work related information

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Controlled Movement

  • change when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving
  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat

Spatial

  • know where things are around you
  • imagine how something will look after it is moved around or changed

Vision

  • see details that are far away
  • decide which thing is closer or farther away from you or decide how far away it is from you

Attention

  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Cooperation
  • Integrity

Word processing software

  • 3M Post-it App
  • Microsoft Word

Data base user interface and query software

  • ddlsoftware.com drivers daily log program DDL
  • TruckersHelper

Route navigation software

  • ALK Technologies PC*Miler
  • MarcoSoft Quo Vadis

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Bright.

New job opportunities are very likely in the future. This career will have large numbers of openings.

Median Annual Salary: $49,920

Education

High school diploma/GED or no high school diploma/GED is usually needed.