Light Truck Drivers
Drive a light vehicle, such as a truck or van, with a capacity of less than 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), primarily to pick up merchandise or packages from a distribution center and deliver. May load and unload vehicle.
What it pays
Light Truck Drivers earn a median of $21.57/hr — about $45,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $14.81/hr; the top 10% earn $38.61/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
Light Truck Drivers earn a median of $21.57/hr — about $45,000 a year. The lowest-paid 10% earn $14.81/hr; the top 10% earn $38.61/hr. (Annual figures are approximate: hourly × 2,080.)
What you'd actually do
- Obey traffic laws and follow established traffic and transportation procedures.
- Report any mechanical problems encountered with vehicles.
- Verify the contents of inventory loads against shipping papers.
- 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.
- Load and unload trucks, vans, or automobiles.
How you get there
Typical entry-level education: High school diploma. Overall preparation: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
The feel of the work
Much of the work happens outdoors; time pressure is a real part of the job. (Compared against the other 818 careers in the guide.)
Working for yourself
About 6.8% of light truck drivers are self-employed.
Who it tends to fit
This work tends to fit people who are hands-on and organized and detail-focused.
Work a simulated shift in this job — freeMake the real decisions this job involves, then see what your choices say about you.Related careers
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Quick questions
- How much does a light truck driver make?
- The median pay is $21.57 per hour — roughly $45,000 a year, with the real range running from about $14.81/hr (10th percentile) to $38.61/hr (90th percentile). Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Do you need a degree to be a light truck driver?
- The typical entry-level education is: High school diploma. Overall preparation level: some preparation (Job Zone 2 of 5).
- What does a light truck driver actually do all day?
- Obey traffic laws and follow established traffic and transportation procedures. Report any mechanical problems encountered with vehicles. Verify the contents of inventory loads against shipping papers.
Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS. Tasks & interests: O*NET. Career pathways shown in the app are draft archetypes — verify before relying on them. Trailhead is a free career guide for students — honest numbers, no hype.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.
Trailhead is operated by FLEXVermont LLC. It is intended for high-school students age 13 and older, and the educators and families who support them, and is not directed to children under 13. Trailhead is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not offer professional, financial, or career advice, and its wage figures and pathways are estimates that may not fit your situation — they should not be relied on as the sole basis for any decision.