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Heavy & Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

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

What they do:
Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers' license.
On the job, you would:
  • Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.
  • Follow appropriate safety procedures for transporting dangerous goods.
  • Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure.

Knowledge

Transportation
  • movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road
Safety and Government
  • public safety and security
Business
  • customer service
Arts and Humanities
  • English language

Skills

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

Abilities

Controlled Movement
  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
  • quickly decide if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part
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
  • see details up close
Reaction Time and Speed
  • quickly move your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Attention to Detail
  • Integrity
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Cooperation

Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Data base user interface and query software
  • Fog Line Software Truckn Pro
  • TruckersHelper
Route navigation software
  • ALK Technologies PC*Miler
  • MarcoSoft Quo Vadis
Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology

Education

Education: (rated 2 of 5)
high school diploma/GED or
no high school diploma/GED
usually needed

Examples of Registered Apprenticeship programs include:

  • Construction Driver
  • Truck Driver, Heavy

Job Outlook

Bright Outlook
New job opportunities are very likely in the future.
Salary
$42,480
$27,510
$64,000

Green Green jobs will change the work and skills needed.

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