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FACTOIDS:
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• Truck drivers held about 3.3 million jobs in 1998, mostly in large metropolitan areas.
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• Truck driving has become less physically demanding, because most trucks are now more comfortable and have ergonomically designed cabs.
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• Elvis Presley was a truck driver before embarking on his career as the King of Rock and Roll.
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- Truck drivers transport goods across towns, states and the country. Local drivers may provide daily service along a specific route, while other drivers make intercity and interstate deliveries.
- Before they leave the terminal or warehouse, truck drivers check their trucks for fuel and oil, perform a safety inspection, and check that the cargo was loaded properly and will not shift during transport.
- Truck drivers must have a driver's license issued by the state in which they live, and most employers require clean driving records.
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- Employers look for drivers who are responsible, self-motivated and can work with little supervision.
- Drivers need good hand-eye-feet coordination for driving and making minor repairs.
- Some truck drivers have to be able to lift and carry heavy objects while loading and unloading trucks.
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- Many employers prefer drivers who have high school diplomas or GEDs.
- Driver-training courses are recommended for truck-driving jobs and obtaining a commercial driver's license needed to operate most larger trucks. High school courses in driver-training and automotive mechanics may also be helpful.
- Many private and public technical-vocational schools offer training programs.
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- Opportunities in truck driving should be favorable over the next several years as it has among the greatest number of job openings each year.
- Competition is expected for jobs offering the highest earnings or most favorable work schedules.
- Jobs vary greatly in terms of earnings, weekly work hours, number of nights spent on the road and the quality of equipment operated.
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Sources: Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics
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