Transportation and Logistics · Career brief

Light Truck Drivers

Is it a good career to pursue?

The 30-second read

Light Truck Drivers at a glance

Six signals to look at before you spend time on the full guide.

1Pay

$44,860

Lower national median pay

2025 national median. Bottom quarter for pay among careers on ChooseField.

2Demand

6.3%

Steady projected growth

Projected employment growth for 2025–2035. Top quarter for growth among careers on ChooseField.

3Openings

107,200

Exceptional hiring volume

Average openings per year in 2025–2035, including replacement hiring. Top 10% for openings among careers on ChooseField.

4Route in

High school

A four-year degree is not the typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent. Prior related work is not typically required.

5The work

Hands-on

Practical work with tools, systems, or physical environments

Obey traffic laws and follow established traffic and transportation procedures.

6The catch

Know this first

What could make this a poor fit

Operating or riding in vehicles is a recurring part of the work rather than an occasional trip.

ChooseField take

The strongest national signals are growth and opening volume; each ranks in the top quarter of ChooseField careers. It makes the most sense if hands-on work appeals to you and you are comfortable with a high-school entry path. Main tradeoff: Operating or riding in vehicles is a recurring part of the work rather than an occasional trip.

Before choosing, compare:Bus Drivers, School Rail Yard Engineers, Dinkey Operators, and Hostlers Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers

National labor-market measures: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 projections. Work-profile signals: O*NET. See sources and caveats.

Compare Light Truck Drivers with another field Explore rankings in Transportation and Logistics Open shareable infographic

Want the evidence behind the snapshot?

Market and path

Pay, outlook, and the route in

National median pay (2025)

$44,860

A midpoint for workers nationwide, not a starting salary.

2025–2035 outlook

6.3%employment growth107,200openings per year

Openings include replacement hiring, not only newly created jobs.

Typical entry route

High school diploma or equivalent; One month or less of on-the-job training, in addition to any qualifying education or licensing

BLS reports the usual education, related experience, and on-the-job training, not a guaranteed minimum for every employer.

2025 employment

1,068,500

Estimated workers in this occupation across the United States.

Source: BLS 2025 wages and 2025–2035 occupational projections ↗ · Light truck drivers (53-3033).

Actual responsibilities

What you would be trusted to own

Selected O*NET task statements, not a list of traits that applies to almost every career.

Obey traffic laws and follow established traffic and transportation procedures.
Inspect and maintain vehicle supplies and equipment, such as gas, oil, water, tires, lights, or brakes, to ensure that vehicles are in proper working condition.
Read maps and follow written or verbal geographic directions.
Present bills and receipts and collect payments for goods delivered or loaded.

Decision-changing realities

What could make this a poor fit

Operating or riding in vehicles is a recurring part of the work rather than an occasional trip.
Hands-on manipulation of tools, controls, or objects occupies a meaningful part of the workday.
Deadline pressure is a recurring condition rather than an occasional emergency.

Work profile

What the work emphasizes

O*NET importance scores. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Handling and Moving Objects4.5
Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment4.4
Performing General Physical Activities4.4
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials4.4
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates4.2

Interest profile

Career interests

O*NET interest scores describe work someone may enjoy, not personality requirements. Bars are relative to the highest score shown within this chart.

Relative mix of the interest scores below, not percentages of your workday.

Realistic6.9
Conventional4.4
Enterprising2.1
Investigative1.5
Social1.4
Artistic1.0

Preparation

What the training must make you competent at

Subject matter

Transportation Public Safety and Security Mechanical Mathematics

Before choosing the major or training

Run a cheaper test first

Plan a realistic route or delivery problem with time, cost, safety, and disruption constraints, then revise it when one assumption changes.
Ask an early-career worker which beginner task consumes the most time, what makes new hires quit, and what school or training failed to simulate.

The fuller career guide

How the evidence fits together

Light truck drivers move packages or merchandise in vehicles under 26,001 pounds, combining driving with loading, vehicle checks, delivery records, and frequent customer contact.

The tradeoff that matters most

The entry path is relatively short and openings are numerous, but the job is not only driving. O*NET tasks include checking loads, inspecting vehicle supplies and equipment, following traffic procedures, reporting mechanical problems, and navigating delivery routes accurately.

Common questions

Questions people ask about this career

What is a light truck driver?

A light truck driver operates a truck or van under 26,001 pounds gross vehicle weight, usually to pick up and deliver packages or merchandise. The work can also include loading, unloading, route navigation, delivery records, customer contact, and vehicle checks.

What are the responsibilities of a light truck driver?

Typical responsibilities include following traffic and transportation procedures, checking loads against shipping papers, inspecting tires, lights, brakes, fuel, and other supplies, reporting mechanical problems, navigating routes, and loading or delivering goods.

How much do light truck drivers make?

The national median annual pay in the current ChooseField dataset is $44,860. Actual earnings vary by location, employer, route, schedule, experience, overtime, and incentive structure.

Do light truck drivers need a degree?

BLS lists a high school diploma or equivalent as the typical entry education and short-term on-the-job training as the usual preparation. Employers may add driving-record, license, age, background-check, or physical requirements.

Adjacent options