Career Profile: Light Truck Drivers

Salary and Outlook

According to the US Department of Labor, there are 1,109,700 people employed as light truck drivers in the United States. The median annual salary is $38,280. Entry level employees earn approximately $24,380 per year and senior employees earn approximately $65,500 per year.

Estimates do not include other potential benefits such as health insurance, overtime, or retirement benefits that may be offered by employers.

Job Duties

• Maintain records, such as vehicle logs, records of cargo, or billing statements, in accordance with regulations.
• 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.
• Present bills and receipts and collect payments for goods delivered or loaded.
• Report any mechanical problems encountered with vehicles.
• Perform emergency repairs, such as changing tires or installing light bulbs, fuses, tire chains, or spark plugs.
• Report delays, accidents, or other traffic and transportation situations to bases or other vehicles, using telephones or mobile two-way radios.
• Sell products from truck inventory and keep records of sales.
• Use and maintain the tools or equipment found on commercial vehicles, such as weighing or measuring devices.
• Obey traffic laws and follow established traffic and transportation procedures.
• Turn in receipts and money received from deliveries.
• Read maps and follow written or verbal geographic directions.
• Verify the contents of inventory loads against shipping papers.
• Load and unload trucks, vans, or automobiles.
• Drive vehicles with capacities under three tons to transport materials to and from specified destinations, such as railroad stations, plants, residences, offices, or within industrial yards.

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