According to the Occupational Outlook handbook, employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average of all occupations. As the economy grows, the demand for goods will increase and more truck drivers will be needed to keep supply chains moving.
What do they do? Truck drivers are one of the main components to the economic lifeblood of the country by hauling finished goods and required parts across the country using 18-wheel semi-trucks. Depending on the company or contractor, truck drivers may drive within a specific region or even cross country.
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.
Duties
Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers typically do the following:
- Drive long distances
- Report to a dispatcher any incidents encountered on the road
- Follow all applicable traffic laws
- Inspect their trailers before and after the trip, and record any defects they find
- Maintain a log of their working hours, following all federal and state regulations
- Report serious mechanical problems to the appropriate personnel
- Keep their trucks and associated equipment clean and in good working order
Most heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers’ routes are assigned by a dispatcher, but some independent drivers still plan their own routes. They may use satellite tracking to help them plan.
A driver must know which roads allow trucks and which do not. Drivers also must plan legally required rest periods into their trip. Some drivers have one or two routes that they drive regularly, and others drivers take many different routes throughout the country. Also, some drivers have routes that include Mexico
or Canada.
Companies sometimes use two drivers, known as teams, on long runs in order to minimize downtime. On these team runs, one driver sleeps in a berth behind the cab while the
other drives.
Certain cargo requires drivers to adhere to additional safety regulations. Some heavy truck drivers who transport hazardous materials, such as chemical waste, must take special precautions when driving, and may carry specialized safety equipment in case of an accident. Other drivers, such as those carrying liquids, oversized loads, or cars, must follow rules that apply specifically to them.
Some long-haul truck drivers, called owner–operators, buy or lease trucks and go into business for themselves. In addition to their driving tasks, owner-operators also have business tasks, including finding and keeping clients and doing administrative work, such as accounting.
Education/Training Program
The Truck Driving Academy at North Central Texas College offers a 180 hour program designed to be completed in four weeks. The program includes over 50 hours of behind the wheel drive time experience for students.
Employment Outlook
Job opportunities for truck drivers are currently abundant. With tighter regulations in the industry, retirements, and an improvement in freight economy, drivers will be needed to keep the supply chains moving. Funding may be available to those who qualify. For more information on these programs call Judge Christian at (940) 668-6272, ext. 4914.
Quick Facts
Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers
2015 Median Pay: $40,260 per year/$19.36 per hour
Typical Entry-Level Education: Postsecondary nondegree award
Work Experience in a Related Occupation: None
On-the-job Training: Short-term on-the-job training
Number of Jobs, 2014: 1,797,700
Job Outlook, 2014-24: 5% (As fast as average)
Employment Change, 2014-24: 98,800
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers, on the Internet at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/heavy-and-tractor-trailer-truck-drivers.htm (visited February 20, 2017).
