Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 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.
- This role centers on 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..
- The work relies on core professional skills among the skills shown below.
- Common backgrounds include high school or ged and a range of related job titles.
Quick facts
What this career is really about
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers 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. The role turns occupational data into practical guidance for people exploring this path.
Day-to-day success depends on skills such as practical workplace skills. These abilities support the communication, problem-solving, and coordination that the work requires.
Education paths vary, but high school or ged is the most commonly reported background. Related work experience also plays a role, with many workers bringing relevant practice before stepping into this position.
Common job titles
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers may appear under many titles. The names below come directly from the source dataset and reflect different employer naming conventions for similar responsibilities.
- Armored Truck Driver
- Automotive Carrier Driver (Auto Carrier Driver)
- Automotive Crane Driver (Auto Crane Driver)
- Automotive Haulaway Driver (Auto Haulaway Driver)
- Automotive Hauler (Auto Hauler)
- Automotive Transport Driver (Auto Transport Driver)
- Basket Operator
- Batch Mixing Truck Driver
- Bull Driver
- Car Ferrier
- Car Pickup Driver
- Car Pilot
- Carrier Driver
- CDL Driver (Commercial Driver's License Driver)
- CDL Truck Driver (Commercial Driver's License Truck Driver)
- CDL-A Flatbed Truck Driver (Commercial Driver's License Class A Flatbed Truck Driver)
- CDL-A Truck Driver (Commercial Driver's License Class A Truck Driver)
- CDL-B Truck Driver (Commercial Driver's License Class B Truck Driver)
- Cement Mixer Driver
- Cement Truck Driver
- City Driver
- Class A CDL Truck Driver (Class A Commercial Driver's License Truck Driver)
- Class A Truck Driver
- Class B Driver
- Coal Hauler
- Commercial Trailer Truck Driver
- Company CDL-A Truck Driver (Company Commercial Driver's License Class A Truck Driver)
- Company Driver
- Concrete Mixer Driver
- Concrete Mixer Truck Driver
- Concrete Truck Driver
- Construction Driver
- Contract Mail Carrier
- Cream Gatherer
- Cream Hauler
- Cross Country Truck Driver
- Cryogenic Transport Driver
- Dairy Truck Driver
- Dedicated CDL-A Truck Driver (Dedicated Commercial Driver's License Class A Truck Driver)
- Dedicated Driver
- Dedicated Truck Driver
- Delivery Truck Driver
- Diesel Truck Driver
- Drayage Truck Driver (Dray Truck Driver)
- Drip Pumper
- Driver
- Dump Truck Driver
- Dumpster Driver
- Dumpster Operator
- Explosives Truck Driver
- Farm Truck Driver
- Feed Hauler
- Feeder Driver
- Flatbed Driver
- Flatbed Truck Driver
- Fuel Oil Truck Driver
- Fuel Truck Driver
- Furniture Mover Driver
- Garbage Collector Driver
- Garbage Truck Driver
- Gas Truck Driver
- Goat Driver
- Gravel Hauler
- Gravel Truck Driver
- Hauler
- Heavy Truck Driver
- Highway Truck Driver
- Hook Up Driver
- Jockey
- Jumper
- Line Driver
- Line Haul Driver
- Livestock Trucker
- Local CDL-A Truck Driver (Local Commercial Driver's License Class A Truck Driver)
- Log Truck Driver
- Log Truck Tractor Trailer Driver
- Logging Flatbed Truck Driver
- Logging Truck Driver
- Long Haul Truck Driver
- Maintenance Truck Driver
- Mechanic Driver
- Milk Collector
- Milk Driver
- Milk Hauler
- Milk Pickup Driver
- Milk Pickup Truck Driver
- Milk Truck Driver
- Mixer Driver
- Moto Mix Operator
- Moving Van Driver
- Oil Deliverer
- Oil Transport Driver
- Oil Truck Driver
- OTR CDL-A Truck Driver (Over the Road Commercial Driver's License Class A Truck Driver)
- OTR Truck Driver (Over the Road Truck Driver)
- Over the Road Driver (OTR Driver)
- Pickup and Delivery Driver (P and D Driver)
- Pickup Driver
- Powder Truck Driver
- Production Truck Driver
- Ready Mix Truck Driver
- Regional CDL-A Truck Driver (Regional Commercial Driver's License Class A Truck Driver)
- Regional Driver
- Road Driver
- Roll Off Driver
- Rubbish Truck Driver
- Sand Hauler
- Sanitation Truck Driver
- Self-Loading Flatbed Truck Driver
- Semi Driver
- Semi Truck Driver
- Semi-Truck Driver
- Sprinkler Driver
- Sprinkling Truck Driver
- Star Route Mail Driver
- Store Driver
- Street Flusher Driver
- Street Sprinkler
- Tank Driver
- Tank Truck Driver
- Tank Truck Operator
- Tank Wagon Driver
- Tank Wagon Operator
- Tanker Driver
- Tar Distributor Operator
- Team Driver
- Team Truck Driver
- Tow Car Driver
- Tow Truck Driver
- Tow Truck Operator
- Tractor Trailer Driver
- Tractor Trailer Moving Van Driver
- Tractor Trailer Operator
- Tractor Trailer Truck Driver
- Trailer Driver
- Trailer Truck Driver
- Transit Mix Operator
- Transit Mixer Driver
- Transit Mixer Operator
- Transport Driver
- Transport Truck Driver
- Transportation Equipment Operator
- Trash Collector Truck Driver
- Trash Hauler
- Truck Chauffeur
- Truck Driver
- Truck Driver Teamster
- Truck Hop
- Truck Hopper
- Truck Jumper
- Truck Switcher
- Trucker
- Van Driver
- Waste Collection Driver
- Water Truck Driver
- Wrecker Driver
- Wrecker Operator
- Wrecking Car Driver
- Yard Spotter
Skills that carry the work
Detailed skill data is not available for this occupation. The role still requires relevant workplace abilities that can be built through training and experience.
Scores shown on a 0–5 scale using the importance value from the provided skills table.
Education
The education distribution is varied. High school or GED is the single largest group at 54.34%. Other credentials are also represented, indicating multiple possible paths into this career.
About 54.34% of workers in this role report high school or ged as their highest level of education.
Other reported backgrounds include less than high school and post-secondary certificate, showing flexibility in preparation.
These figures describe the education workers have reported, not a mandatory checklist for entering the role.
Experience
Experience levels vary. The largest group reports 1–2 years, followed by none required. This suggests that many people enter the role after building relevant experience.
A realistic way into this career
There is no single path into this role. Many people build related skills and experience first, then move into positions with greater responsibility. The steps below are a common pattern.
Start in roles that develop relevant workplace skills. These abilities form the base for the day-to-day work described in the source data.
Work in adjacent positions where you can apply those skills in real situations. This builds judgment, confidence, and the practical knowledge employers look for.
With relevant experience and the right credentials, step into a heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers position and take on the full scope of responsibilities.
Good fit signals
You work best when there are clear processes, goals, and measurable outcomes to track.
You can work with others, follow instructions, and keep tasks moving toward completion.
You are open to building experience and education over time rather than expecting an instant entry path.