Truck Driver

Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:

• Follow safety procedures for vehicle operation.
• Operate vehicles or material-moving equipment.
• Inspect cargo areas for cleanliness or condition.
• Inspect motor vehicles.
• Monitor cargo area conditions.
• Read maps to determine routes.
• Review work orders or schedules to determine operations or procedures.
• Operate communications equipment or systems.
• Choose optimal transportation routes or speeds.
• Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards.

Typical Working Conditions

• Working in a closed vehicle or equipment.
• Meeting strict deadlines.
• Working in very hot or cold temperatures.
• Having telephone conversations.
• Using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Making decisions that impact co-workers or company results.
• The importance of being accurate or exact.
• Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
• Dealing with external customers.

Tools & Technology used by Truck Drivers

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Most Important Skills for Truck Drivers

• Operating Equipment—Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
• Monitoring Equipment—Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Listening—Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
• Managing Time—Managing one’s own time and the time of others.
• Monitoring Performance—Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Reading—Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Speaking—Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Thinking Critically—Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
• Solving Complex Problems—Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Controlling Quality—Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Most Important Knowledge Areas for Truck Drivers

• Transportation—Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
• Customer and Personal Service—Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Public Safety and Security—Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
• Mechanical—Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• English Language—Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• Education and Training—Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
• Geography—Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
• Administration and Management—Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
• Mathematics—Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• Law and Government—Knowledge of laws, legal codes, court procedures, precedents, government regulations, executive orders, agency rules, and the democratic political process.

Interests
Different careers may be a good fit for your personality or interests. This career is:

• Realistic—Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
• Conventional—Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

Low indicates 25% of workers earn less and 75% earn more. Median indicates 50% of workers earn less and 50% earn more. High indicates 75% of workers earn less and 25% earn more.

Demand
This career is seeing high growth compared to other careers. There will be a 4.3% growth new for Truck Drivers to meet market demand between 2018-2028. This includes the demand due to replacement (workers leaving the occupation or retiring) as well as growth.

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise

This career is best for those with at least a high school degree, and some professionals attend college. This job requires a license and certifications that could aid in showcasing knowledge.

Visit the Minnesota State Transportation Center of Excellence for more information about this career, as well as links to education and training programs in Minnesota.

View the local post-secondary education options from our partners: Central Lakes College & MSTATE.

Helpful High School Courses
Examples of helpful classes that help you prepare for this career:

• Accounting
• Algebra I and II
• Automobile and Diesel Mechanics
• Business English
• Chemistry
• Industrial Technology
• Manufacturing System
• Metalworking
• Physics
• Pre-Calculus
• Transportation Technology
• Trigonometry

Source: Minnesota CAREERwise