Heavy and Light Truck Drivers; Route Drivers
In the interest of time, the majority of goods traveling long distances today are transported via trains, boats, and airplanes. Aside from these popular modes of transportation, commercial and delivery service trucks are almost always necessary for a portion of the shipment process. Trucks are ideal for shorter trips and door-to-door deliveries; and in the case of lengthier freight shipments, trucks are often used for the first and final legs of the journey. Because of the crucial role that trucks play in the freight transportation industry, commercial truck drivers constitute a relevant and sizeable employment sector within the U.S.—one that’s expected to grow favorably over the next few years. In 2006, truck drivers already held 3.4 million jobs in this country.The Bureau of Labor Statistics separates truck drivers into three general categories: heavy truck and tractor-trailer drivers, light or delivery services truck drivers, and route drivers. Heavy truck and tractor-trailer drivers operate automobiles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 26,000 pounds or more. These drivers transport everything from packaged goods to cars to livestock, and many of their routes cover long distances. During a “sleeper” run, two long-distance drivers will travel together in the same vehicle and take turns driving while the other sleeps in a berth behind the cab of the truck. With standard stops made for food, fuel, and loading and unloading; sleeper runs can last anywhere from several days to upwards of a few weeks. Some heavy truck drivers perform regular runs to the same cities and regions, while others complete different routes each day. The location and the length of a driver’s runs will depend upon the company he or she works for and the freight being transported.
Light or delivery services truck drivers are limited to driving vans and trucks that are less than 26,000 pounds GVW. For the most part, light truck drivers pick up and deliver merchandise within an established area. Most of these drivers use electronic delivery tracking systems to log the whereabouts of the packages and the merchandise that they are responsible for. Delivery services truck drivers can be designated to either local or intercity and interstate routes.
Drivers with customer service and sales responsibilities are often referred to as driver/sales workers or route drivers. These men and women usually work for a specific company, delivering its products within a set territory and following established routes. Route drivers are affiliated with the brands and the products that they transport and deliver; so they may respond to customer inquiries, take orders, fulfill requests, and collect payments while completing their routes.
Most truck driving jobs have the potential to be tiring and strenuous. A driver’s hours, the familiarity of the routes he follows, and the cargo he’s responsible for loading and unloading will all have an impact on the difficulty of the profession. Given that truck drivers operate such large and potentially harmful vehicles, precautions are taken so that these workers don’t endanger other drivers on the road. The hours and the working conditions of any truck drivers engaging in interstate commerce are monitored by the U.S. Department of Transportation. For instance, a long-distance driver may work up to 14 hours (and drive for only 11 of them) if he or she has had 10 hours off prior to that shift. Drivers are required to document their travels in a logbook, and if they’ve worked more than 60 hours in the past week, they are prohibited from driving again until 34 consecutive hours have been taken off. The Department of Transportation also has drivers monitor the condition of their vehicles and record any details regarding accidents that they’ve been involved in. Drivers may have to work night, weekend, and holiday shifts in an effort to avoid traffic on U.S. highways.
Because of the vehicles they operate, the qualifications for heavy truck drivers are much more stringent than for light truck drivers. Drivers who plan to operate any motor vehicle(s) with a GVW that exceeds 26,000 pounds, that carry more than 16 passengers, or that transport hazardous materials are required by U.S. law to obtain a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Each state issues its own CDLs, so the testing requirements for drivers vary throughout the nation. Most states require that drivers be at least 18 years old before they apply for an intrastate CDL and 21 years old if they want to register for an interstate CDL. You may have to pass a vision test, a knowledge-based test, and a skills test before you can receive your CDL; but a variety of technical and community colleges throughout the U.S. offer training programs that can prepare you for the latter two tests.
In 2006, the truck transportation industry employed 26 percent of the country’s truck drivers. An additional 25 percent worked for shipping companies involved in wholesale and retail trade. Close to 10 percent were self-employed. Between 2006 and 2016, the number of positions for truck and route drivers within the U.S. is expected to grow by eight percent. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported the median hourly earnings of heavy truck and tractor-trailer drivers in May of 2006 as $16.85. Light and delivery services truck drivers earned an average of $12.17 an hour that same year, while the middle 50 percent of drivers/sales workers made between $7.12 and $15.00 an hour. These hourly rates represent the median salaries for truck drivers in the U.S., but the general rule is that long-distance drivers are paid by the mile.