How to become a heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver
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.
Steps to get there
Most employers expect usually requires a high school diploma or ged, though some occupations may not..Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
What heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers do
- Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure.
- Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.
- Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles.
- Read bills of lading to determine assignment details.
- Collect delivery instructions from appropriate sources, verifying instructions and routes.
- Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy.
Skills that matter most
- Monitoring
- Reading Comprehension
- Speaking
- Critical Thinking
- Active Listening
- Writing
- Active Learning
- Mathematics
Is heavy and tractor-trailer truck driver a good career?
On the numbers, this job pays above the typical job. Median pay is 15% above the all-occupation median. Whether it fits you depends on the work itself, the schooling you are willing to do and where you want to live.
Where it pays most
- Alaska $70,100
- Washington $64,760
- District of Columbia $64,170
- New Jersey $63,570
- Massachusetts $63,030
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers salary by state and city
Sources: O*NET® 31.0 (CC BY 4.0, USDOL/ETA) and BLS Employment Projections 2025–35. Pay: BLS OEWS May 2025.