Diesel Truck Drivers - At a Glance

Heavy truck drivers drive large trucks or tractor-trailers to transport goods and materials.

Quick Facts: Heavy Truck Drivers
Wages	Earn $60,194 per year
Employment	Very large occupation
10 Year Growth	Average growth
Annual Openings	Very High

A heavy truck driver typically needs to:

have a high school diploma or equivalent
be at least 18 years old (for in-state driving) or 21 years old (for driving across state borders)
complete a formal training program
complete short-term, on-the-job training
have a commercial driver's license (CDL)

In a typical work setting, heavy truck drivers:

Communicate with others by telephone on a daily basis. They also communicate by face-to-face discussions, but far less frequently.
Work inside an enclosed vehicle while driving and outdoors while loading and unloading.
Must be exact in their work and be sure all details are done. Errors could cause accidents on the road that could injure themselves or others.
Work at least 40 hours per week.

In Illinois, heavy truck drivers earn a median wage of $60,194 per year.

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$100

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Illinois

$ amounts are in thousands of dollars.

In Illinois, 74,624 heavy truck drivers work in this very large occupation.

Location	Employment	10 Year Growth	Annual Openings
Illinois	74,624 Very large	10% Average	9,263 Very High