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Heavy Truck Driver

💰 Earn $48K-$70K
📚 Vocational Training
⏱️ 6–12 Month Training
📈 4% Job Growth
  • Drive across the country and see new places while earning a living on the open road.
  • Transport essential goods, keeping industries and communities connected and supplied.
  • Operate powerful vehicles and enjoy the freedom of the highway with a CDL.
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Heavy Truck Driver
What Heavy Truck Drivers DoDrive 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.
  • 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.
  • Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles.
  • Obtain receipts or signatures for delivered goods and collect payment for services when required.
Heavy Truck Drivers Education, Salary, and Growth
Minimum EducationVocational Training
Career ProspectsGood (Increasing by 1-5%)
Training Time6 months to 1 year
Job Openings237,600 Annually
Median Earnings
$59,950 in California
$57,440 Nationally

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Real Talk Reel

We've curated a playlist for you to get a glimpse into a day in the life of this career.

@darryunaa
@laneape.co
@alan_trucker
@mcheavyhaul
@2ssjaz
Is This Career Right For You?
YOU Like
  • Using data or completing tasks
  • Working with my hands
you value
  • Having support
  • Having freedom
  • Job security
you are skilled in
  • Operations Monitoring
  • Speaking
  • Critical Thinking
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Active Listening
  • Quality Control Analysis
Go Deeper: Heavy Truck Drivers Explained
Heavy Truck Driver
Heavy Truck DriverExplore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.
How Do You Train for This Career?

Learn about the education and training paths that can lead to this career — and what to expect from each one.

Vocational School
Vocational SchoolA vocational school typically equips students with specialized skills and practical training in specific trades or occupations, enhancing their employability and providing direct pathways to relevant careers.
🎓 Skills-Focused
⏱️ Finish in 6 months - 2 years
Associate's Degree
Associate's DegreeAn associate's degree typically provides graduates with foundational knowledge and skills for entry-level jobs in the graduate's industry, or serves as a stepping stone towards further education.
🎓 College
⏱️ Finish in 2-3 years
Bachelor's Degree
Bachelor's DegreeA bachelor's degree typically results in increased knowledge about a variety of academic subjects, specialized knowledge in a focused field of study, and is considered the foundational qualification for many careers.
🎓 College
⏱️ Finish in 4-5+ years
Apprenticeship
ApprenticeshipAn apprenticeship typically offers a combination of hands-on training and classroom instruction, leading to practical skills, industry-specific knowledge, and the potential for long-term employment in a specific trade or profession.
🎓 Paid Work
⏱️ Finish in 2-5 years
Workforce Development Program
Workforce Development ProgramA workforce development program typically enhances participants' opportunities to succeed in the workforce through employment skill-building, career counseling, connections to employers, and pathways to high-demand and high-wage jobs.
🎓 Skills-Focused
⏱️ Finish in 6 months - 2 years
Technology Bootcamp
Technology BootcampA technology bootcamp typically offers intensive training in specific tech skills, preparing participants for entry-level roles in the tech industry in a relatively short period of time.
🎓 Skills-Focused
⏱️ Finish in Less than a year
Professional Upskilling
Professional UpskillingProfessional upskilling typically results in acquiring new or enhanced skills and knowledge relevant to a participant's current job or desired career path, leading to improved job performance, opportunities for career advancement, and greater employability.
🎓 Skills-Focused
⏱️ Finish in 1 week - 3 months
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What Is the Building & Distribution Industry?
Building & Distribution
Building & DistributionThe primary activities of this group involve constructing, installing, repairing, and maintaining physical infrastructure, producing goods and materials, and transporting people and products from one location to another.
What Are Similar Careers?
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Updated April 2026. Data sourced from O*NET and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
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Heavy Truck Driver | Explore this Career