As of June 2026, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers has an AI-exposure score of 51/100 (Elevated exposure) on the AI-Safe Careers index, blending O*NET tasks, the Anthropic Economic Index, the Penn/OpenAI study, and BLS data. This is an estimate of task exposure, not a prediction of job loss.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
More exposed than 36% of the roles we track. Median pay ~US$58,640. About 237,600 projected openings a year (BLS 2024–34 — growth plus replacement).
Pay & demand figures are US medians (BLS, in USD) — your local figures will differ. Your exposure score applies broadly.
How you compare to similar Transportation roles
Your tasks, by AI exposure
- Operate equipment, such as truck cab computers, CB radios, phones, or global positioning systems (GPS) equipment to exchange necessary information with bases, supervisors, or other drivers.
- Plan or adjust routes based on changing conditions, using computer equipment, global positioning systems (GPS) equipment, or other navigation devices, to minimize fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
- Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy.
- Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles.
- Drive trucks to weigh stations before and after loading and along routes in compliance with state regulations.
- Maneuver trucks into loading or unloading positions, following signals from loading crew and checking that vehicle and loading equipment are properly positioned.
- Drive trucks with capacities greater than 13 tons, including tractor-trailer combinations, to transport and deliver products, livestock, or other materials.
- Read bills of lading to determine assignment details.
- Report vehicle defects, accidents, traffic violations, or damage to the vehicles.
- Collect delivery instructions from appropriate sources, verifying instructions and routes.
- Maintain logs of working hours or of vehicle service or repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations.
- Perform emergency roadside repairs, such as changing tires or installing light bulbs, tire chains, or spark plugs.
- Load or unload trucks or help others with loading or unloading, using special loading-related equipment or other equipment as necessary.
- Perform basic vehicle maintenance tasks, such as adding oil, fuel, or radiator fluid, performing minor repairs, or washing trucks.
- Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.
- Read and interpret maps to determine vehicle routes.
- Check conditions of trailers after contents have been unloaded to ensure that there has been no damage.
- Obtain receipts or signatures for delivered goods and collect payment for services when required.
- Couple or uncouple trailers by changing trailer jack positions, connecting or disconnecting air or electrical lines, or manipulating fifth-wheel locks.
- Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure.
No durable tasks identified for this role — its real, individually-assessed tasks consistently read as augmentable (95%).
Safer adjacent roles
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Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers — median pay by US state (BLS OEWS, USD)
Median annual wage, in USD. US national: US$58,640. More states are being added.