Heavy Truck Driver

Explore This Path

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.

💰 Earn $47K-$65K

📚 Vocational Training

⏱️ 6–12 MONTH TRAINING

📈 4.6% JOB GROWTH

Find Training

What You’ll 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.

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.

Scoop

Minimum Education

Vocational Training

Career Prospects

Good (Increasing by 1-5%)

Training Time

6 months to 1 year

Job Openings

240,300 Annually

Median Earnings

$58,030 in California

$54,320 Nationally

$25K

$50K

$75K

$100K

$125K

$150K

$175K

$200K

$225K

$250K

Real Talk Reel

Want to see what it's like to be a Heavy Truck Driver? We've curated a playlist for you to get a glimpse into a day in the life.

@darryunaa

@laneape.co

@alan_trucker

@mcheavyhaul

@2ssjaz

Best For You If...

YOU Like 💕

Using data or completing tasks
Working with my hands

You are skilled in 💫

Active Listening
Critical Thinking
Operations Monitoring
Quality Control Analysis
Reading Comprehension
Speaking

You value 🙏

Having support
Having freedom
Job security

Deep Dive

Heavy Truck Driver

Explore career pathways, key skills, and what each role has to offer.

Pathways to this Career

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

Vocational School

A 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

An 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

A 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