Truck Drivers, Heavy or Tractor Trailer Description OES Code: 97102 Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 3 tons, to transport and deliver goods, livestock, or materials in liquid, loose or packaged form. May be required to unload truck. CA Wages/hour median range New, no experience: $9.17 minimum – $16.39 New, experienced: $11.00 minimum – $18.36 3 yrs+ experience: $13.00 minimum – $21.57 Local Wages • CCOIS Survey • OES Survey Hours & Benefits Most employees in this occupation are full time and average 44 hours per week. Most employers provide medical and dental insurance in addition to vacation, retirement and life insurance plans. Employment Trends Employment 1996 92,930 Projected Employment 2006 119,970 Growth Rate 1996-2006 29.1% Openings due to Separations 14,870 Employment Trends by California County Working Conditions Long distance drivers spend many hours driving behind the wheel of a truck, mostly at night. Truck Drivers are responsible for driving big, expensive trucks. They normally work the most number of hours that are allowed by law (federal regulations). Many of the trips keep drivers away from home several days at a time. Improvements have been made on the trucks so that Truck Drivers can drive safely and smart. There have been many changes made in seating, circulation of fresh air and equipment for seeing, to make for safer driving conditions. However, vibration, noise, poor weather conditions and the need to stay sharp and alert in heavy traffic or on long stretches of isolated roads can still cause physical and mental stress for the driver. Truck Drivers who drive in the local area work more regular hours than long distance drivers, and sometimes work overtime. They are faced with stop-and- go local traffic, and the risk of safely driving such big trucks through narrow streets and alleys and backing into loading docks. Advancement Chances for promotion for Truck Drivers are kind of limited, but some drivers become driver trainers, supervisors of warehouses, terminals and docks or company branch managers. Commercial drivers expect to change employers a lot for more pay, different kinds of driving experience, more responsibility or better working conditions. Some drivers buy trucks and set up their own business or become independent contractors. Getting the Job & Other Information The high cost of insurance makes it difficult to get a job as a Truck Driver if you are under the age of 25. The best way to get started as a Truck Driver is to apply directly to companies for work as a driver-helper, warehouse-worker or dock loader. The California Employment Development Department,, lists jobs for drivers and other workers in this type of work. Information about union jobs may be gotten by contacting the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. For current job listings, browse CalJOBS or America's Job Bank. References Note: The references below (and/or on other parts of this page) will link to pages on the internet outside the Career Video system. California Occupational Guide: Truck Driver - Heavy #255 Related Occupation: Bus Drivers #2, Garbage Collectors & Drivers #460 Training: California State Training Inventory

Click arrow at bottom left of image to begin. Requires QuickTime Education and Training In California, Truck Drivers must have a Class A drivers license to drive heavy trucks. All applicants for a Class A license or for those that are renewing their license, must meet the following minimum requirements: have a good driving record; be at least 18 years old for driving within the state, or 21 years old to transport out of state cargo; pass a medical examination that requires good hearing, 20/40 vision, with or without glasses, normal use of arms and legs (unless one gets a waiver) and normal blood pressure. All drivers must pass written exams and road driving tests, and meet the State licensing and driving requirements for the truck being driven. Drivers that drive out of the state are tested for drugs at least once every two years; and also must take a drug test before being hired to work and take a drug test after an accident. There are no formal apprenticeship programs for Truck Drivers, but one is being proposed by the American Trucking Association and the Truck Driver Institute of America. If adopted, it will create a new Licensed Apprentice Driver classification, which would team the Apprentice Driver with a Commercial Licensed Driver for on-the-job-training. Some trucking firms have formal on-the-job training programs. Classes in automobile mechanics and driver training, especially school bus driver instruction given by many school districts, improve chances of getting hired as a trucker. Public schools do not usually train Truck Drivers because it is very expensive to have heavy trucks for students to practice with. A list of private schools certified to train Truck Drivers may be obtained from the Truck Driver Institute of America. Skills & Other Requirements Heavy Truck Drivers operate gasoline and diesel powered tractor-trailers that weigh from 6,000 pounds up to 20,000 pounds per axle. In California, the equipment can be no more than 75 feet long. Drivers may work for common carrier companies (they deliver goods to the general public), contract carrier companies (delivery of goods for a specific group of shippers) or private carrier firms that drive their own trucks. Drivers in the local area work for various businesses. They deliver products to construction sites, or deliver vegetables and fruits to canneries. Sometimes the driver has to load and unload the product they are delivering. Truck Drivers can also be considered truck brokers who act as go-betweens for shippers and receivers. Truck brokers in most cases have their own trucks, but may hire other truckers to take cargo on the return trip back to their home base. The Truck Driver's responsibilities depend on the kind of load to be delivered. For example, if they deliver a product that needs to be cold, they need to check the refrigeration equipment. If they deliver livestock (animals), they need to know how to feed and water the animals. If they are delivering hazardous materials, they have to know how to handle it according to regulations. The Truck Driver must also know how to operate special equipment on the truck for loading and unloading the product they are carrying.   © State of California EDD/LMID, US Department of Labor Unless indicated otherwise, wage data is based on Statewide aggregated CCOIS survey responses between 1995 and 1997. Questions or Comments? Contact us.