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.
Also called: Bulk Delivery Driver · Delivery Driver · Driver · Light Truck Driver · Package Car Driver · Package Delivery Driver
Median pay (national)
$44,140
$29,580–$79,630 (10th–90th)
Employed (US)
994,410
BLS OEWS, May 2024
Outlook 2024–34
+7.3%
~120,200 openings/yr
Typical entry
High school diploma or equivalent
What the numbers say
Refit analysis ·Pay for light truck drivers shows an unusually wide range: the top 10% earn $79,630 versus $29,580 at the bottom 10% — 2.7x. The median of $44,140 leaves roughly 80% of headroom to the 90th percentile, which is where seniority, specialization, and the skills below tend to pay off.
Refit analysis ·Employment is projected to change +7.3% from 2024 to 2034 — faster than the 3% all-occupation average. Even so, BLS projects about 120,200 openings a year, mostly to replace workers who retire or change careers.
Refit analysis ·Where you work moves the number a lot. Across the 54 states with released data, Alaska pays the most for this role (median $52,000, +18% vs the national median), while Puerto Rico sits lowest at $23,210 — a 124% spread for the same job title.
Refit analysis ·O*NET rates Reading Comprehension, Active Listening, Speaking as the highest-importance skills here — so a resume aimed at this role should lead with evidence of those, not a generic skills list.
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Top skills employers ask for
Ranked by O*NET importance for this occupation.
- Reading Comprehension
- Active Listening
- Speaking
- Monitoring
- Critical Thinking
- Writing
- Mathematics
- Active Learning
- Learning Strategies
- Science
What they actually do
Core O*NET tasks for this role.
- 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.
- Maintain records, such as vehicle logs, records of cargo, or billing statements, in accordance with regulations.
- 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.
- Present bills and receipts and collect payments for goods delivered or loaded.
- Report delays, accidents, or other traffic and transportation situations to bases or other vehicles, using telephones or mobile two-way radios.
Tools & technology
- Microsoft Windows
- Automatic routing software
- Computerized inventory tracking software
- Eko
- FreightDATA
- IBM Domino
- Inventory management systems
- Package location and tracking software
- Recordkeeping software
- Vehicle location and tracking software
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Office software
- Microsoft Outlook
Knowledge areas
- English Language
- Transportation
- Customer and Personal Service
- Public Safety and Security
- Administrative
- Mechanical
- Administration and Management
- Mathematics