Often handed to AI
Task areas most often handled directively in observed AI conversations — candidates to delegate with light review.
- Read and interpret maps to determine vehicle routes. · 0.4%
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Occupation · SOC 53-3032.00
Drive a tractor-trailer combination or a truck with a capacity of at least 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW). May be required to unload truck. Requires commercial drivers' license. Includes tow truck drivers.
Also called: Driver · Line Haul Driver · Over the Road Driver (OTR Driver) · Truck Driver · CDL Driver (Commercial Driver's License Driver) · Log Truck Driver · Production Truck Driver · Road Driver · Semi Truck Driver · Tractor Trailer Driver · Armored Truck Driver · Automotive Carrier Driver (Auto Carrier Driver)
Job family: Transportation and Material Moving Occupations
Take this to your AI
A source-stamped Markdown brief of this occupation — paste it into an agent, or fetch
/roles/role-53-3032-00/context.md directly.
AI work map
A fast read on where AI already shows up in this occupation, where it stays a copilot, where humans remain in the loop, and what the labor market is doing. Built from observed Claude.ai conversations mapped to O*NET tasks and from published research — measures of usage and exposure, not advice or predictions that the job is going away.
Keep a human in the loop
Task areas where a human was still judged necessary in a large share of observed conversations — not a safety ruling, an observed-need signal.
- Read and interpret maps to determine vehicle routes. · 97.6% need a human
Skills it runs on
The capabilities O*NET rates most important for this occupation — the human ground the work is built on.
See all skills →Market signal
Independent published positions, read together — not a forecast.
- About average employment outlook (+4.0% by 2034)
- 237,600 openings/yr
- Moderate AI exposure
- Observed AI use leans automation
- Median pay $57,440/yr
- Work is mostly on-site (not teleworkable)
- 2013 flagged this for computerization (64th); today's AI task-overlap is comparatively low (29th)
29th-percentile task overlap — yet about 237,600 openings a year (+4% projected, BLS), and observed AI use leans 3810% copilot, not hand-off (AEI) . What exposure means →
AI & job outlook
What today's research says about this occupation's exposure to AI, how AI is actually being used in it, and where employment is headed. These are positions within published studies — measures of exposure and usage, not predictions that this job will disappear.
Exposure to current AI
Each study uses its own scale, so the raw scores are not comparable across rows — the percentile (this job's rank among all U.S. occupations with data) is the comparable figure, and sizes the bars.
| Measure | Rank vs all occupations | Percentile | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) Low | 12th | -1.1 | |
| LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) Moderate | 36th | 0.4 | |
| AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) Moderate | 45th | 0.1 |
OpenAI's exposure study scores tasks three ways: with a language model alone (α 0.2), with simple added tooling (β 0.3), and including AI-powered software (γ 0.4). Higher means more of the job's tasks could be done at least twice as fast — not that they will be automated away.
This job mostly cannot be done remotely (Dingel–Neiman) — its hands-on tasks sit outside what software-based AI reaches.
Historical automation estimate (2013)
A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
Frey–Osborne probability 0.8 · 64th percentile among occupations · Moderate
How AI is actually used in this job
Among measured AI assistant conversations mapped to this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15), these task types came up most. These are shares of observed AI conversations — not shares of the job, of worker time, or of what could be automated.
| Read and interpret maps to determine vehicle routes. | 0.8% |
Job outlook
Independent U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics employment projection for 2024–2034 — a labor-market forecast, not an AI-impact forecast.
| Outlook | About average · +4.0% by 2034 |
| Projected annual openings | 237,600 |
| Employment 2024 → 2034 | 2,235,100 → 2,324,400 |
“Annual openings” counts new jobs plus replacements for workers who leave the occupation, so it can be large even when growth is modest.
Where this work sits on the global GenAI gradient
The ILO's 2025 global study scores generative-AI exposure on the international ISCO-08 occupation system, not US SOC. Bridged through the published (and approximate, many-to-many) IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 crosswalk, this US occupation corresponds to the international occupation below. Exposure here means how much of the work's tasks today's AI can attempt — task overlap, not automation, adoption, or jobs lost.
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers sits at the 45th percentile of 427
occupations on the global GenAI task-exposure gradient
— exposure rose from 2023 to 2025. Each dot is one occupation; the
ringed one is this work. Exposure is task overlap, not automation or jobs lost.
25% mean task exposure (2025)
45th percentile of 427 placed occupations
+1 pts shift 2023 → 2025
| International occupation (ISCO-08) | Task exposure (2025) | Most tasks fall in |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy Truck and Lorry Drivers · 8332 | 25% | Minimal |
Read the whole six-band gradient on the GenAI exposure gradient page. The crosswalk is approximate: a US occupation can map to several international ones, and the ILO scores describe the international occupation, not this exact US role.
Working with AI in this job
How people actually apply AI to this occupation's tasks, from Claude.ai (Free and Pro) conversations in the Anthropic Economic Index, 2026-01-15. This is one AI assistant's consumer sample — not all AI, not the whole workforce. Autonomy and the collaboration mix are model-rated estimates; figures below the sample floor are hidden.
| Augmentation vs. automation | 38.1% working with AI · 40.5% handed to AI |
| Most common way people use AI here | Directive · AI does it; you give the instruction |
| Typical AI autonomy | 4.0 / 5 · higher = AI acts more independently |
What people delegate to AI
The role's most common tasks in AI conversations, each tagged with how people work with the AI on it. “Usage” is the share of observed conversations, not of the job.
| Task | How | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Read and interpret maps to determine vehicle routes. | Directive | 0.4% |
Where a human is still needed
Tasks where the model most often judged that a person remained necessary — a useful read on the current boundary, not a guarantee.
| Read and interpret maps to determine vehicle routes. | 97.6% |
What people most often hand AI here
Example prompts phrased from the tasks people most often delegate to AI in this occupation (Anthropic Economic Index). Each shows the underlying measured task and its share of observed AI use. They are suggested phrasings of real tasks — starting points, not endorsed instructions.
-
Help me read and interpret maps to determine vehicle routes.From: Read and interpret maps to determine vehicle routes. · 0.4% of measured AI use · directive
Tasks
All 31 tasks O*NET lists for this occupation, ordered by importance. Each links to its own page with AI-exposure and observed-use detail.
- Follow appropriate safety procedures for transporting dangerous goods. Supplemental · importance 4.7
- Secure cargo for transport, using ropes, blocks, chain, binders, or covers. Supplemental · importance 4.7
- Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy. Core · importance 4.6
- Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure. Core · importance 4.6
- Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order. Core · importance 4.6
- Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles. Core · importance 4.6
- Obtain receipts or signatures for delivered goods and collect payment for services when required. Core · importance 4.6
- Maintain logs of working hours or of vehicle service or repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations. Core · importance 4.6
- Read bills of lading to determine assignment details. Core · importance 4.6
- Report vehicle defects, accidents, traffic violations, or damage to the vehicles. Core · importance 4.5
- Perform basic vehicle maintenance tasks, such as adding oil, fuel, or radiator fluid, performing minor repairs, or washing trucks. Core · importance 4.5
- Couple or uncouple trailers by changing trailer jack positions, connecting or disconnecting air or electrical lines, or manipulating fifth-wheel locks. Core · importance 4.5
- Maneuver trucks into loading or unloading positions, following signals from loading crew and checking that vehicle and loading equipment are properly positioned. Core · importance 4.5
- Collect delivery instructions from appropriate sources, verifying instructions and routes. Core · importance 4.5
- Drive trucks with capacities greater than 3 tons, including tractor-trailer combinations, to transport and deliver products, livestock, or other materials. Core · importance 4.5
- Read and interpret maps to determine vehicle routes. Core · importance 4.4
- Check conditions of trailers after contents have been unloaded to ensure that there has been no damage. Core · importance 4.4
- Drive trucks to weigh stations before and after loading and along routes in compliance with state regulations. Core · importance 4.3
- 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. Core · importance 4.3
- Inventory and inspect goods to be moved to determine quantities and conditions. Supplemental · importance 4.3
- Load or unload trucks or help others with loading or unloading, using special loading-related equipment or other equipment as necessary. Core · importance 4.2
- 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. Core · importance 4.1
- Follow special cargo-related procedures, such as checking refrigeration systems for frozen foods or providing food or water for livestock. Supplemental · importance 4.1
- Install or remove special equipment, such as tire chains, grader blades, plow blades, or sanders. Supplemental · importance 4.1
- Perform emergency roadside repairs, such as changing tires or installing light bulbs, tire chains, or spark plugs. Core · importance 4.0
- Wrap and secure goods using pads, packing paper, containers, or straps. Supplemental · importance 3.9
- Operate idle reduction systems or auxiliary power systems to generate power from alternative sources, such as fuel cells, to reduce idling time, to heat or cool truck cabins, or to provide power for other equipment. Supplemental · importance 3.8
- Remove debris from loaded trailers. Core · importance 3.8
- Give directions to laborers who are packing goods and moving them onto trailers. Supplemental · importance 3.6
- Drive electric or hybrid-electric powered trucks or alternative fuel-powered trucks to transport and deliver products, livestock, or other materials. Supplemental
- Operate trucks equipped with snowplows or sander attachments to maintain roads in winter weather. Supplemental
Work activities
- Follow safety procedures for vehicle operation.
- Inspect motor vehicles.
- Record operational or production data.
- Record service or repair activities.
- Collect fares or payment from customers.
- Operate vehicles or material-moving equipment.
- Secure cargo.
- Review work orders or schedules to determine operations or procedures.
- Report vehicle or equipment malfunctions.
- Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards.
- Read maps to determine routes.
- Connect cables or electrical lines.
- Verify information or specifications.
- Inspect cargo areas for cleanliness or condition.
- Maintain vehicles in good working condition.
- Acquire supplies or equipment.
- Remove debris or damaged materials.
- Monitor cargo area conditions.
- Direct material handling or moving activities.
- Install parts, assemblies, or attachments in transportation or material handling equipment.
- Operate green energy production equipment.
- Choose optimal transportation routes or speeds.
- Adjust routes or speeds as necessary.
- Inspect cargo to ensure it is properly loaded or secured.
- Review documents or materials for compliance with policies or regulations.
- Operate communications equipment or systems.
- Load shipments, belongings, or materials.
- Package materials or products.
Knowledge, skills & abilities
O*NET importance rating, from 1 (not important) to 5 (extremely important).
Abilities
| Far Vision | 4.1 | |
| Spatial Orientation | 3.9 | |
| Control Precision | 3.9 | |
| Multilimb Coordination | 3.9 | |
| Response Orientation | 3.9 | |
| Rate Control | 3.9 | |
| Reaction Time | 3.8 | |
| Problem Sensitivity | 3.6 | |
| Near Vision | 3.5 | |
| Depth Perception | 3.5 | |
| Selective Attention | 3.3 | |
| Oral Comprehension | 3.1 | |
| Deductive Reasoning | 3.1 | |
| Written Comprehension | 3.0 | |
| Oral Expression | 3.0 | |
| Information Ordering | 3.0 | |
| Category Flexibility | 3.0 | |
| Flexibility of Closure | 3.0 | |
| Visualization | 3.0 | |
| Time Sharing | 3.0 | |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | 3.0 | |
| Manual Dexterity | 3.0 | |
| Static Strength | 3.0 | |
| Night Vision | 3.0 | |
| Peripheral Vision | 3.0 | |
| Glare Sensitivity | 3.0 | |
| Hearing Sensitivity | 3.0 |
Knowledge
| Transportation | 4.0 | |
| Public Safety and Security | 3.9 | |
| Customer and Personal Service | 3.7 | |
| English Language | 3.6 | |
| Law and Government | 3.0 |
Transferable skills
| Operations Monitoring | 3.8 | |
| Operation and Control | 3.8 | |
| Troubleshooting | 3.0 | |
| Time Management | 3.0 |
Essential skills
| Monitoring | 3.1 | |
| Reading Comprehension | 3.0 | |
| Speaking | 3.0 | |
| Critical Thinking | 3.0 |
Skills in demand
Skills employers ask for in job postings for this occupation (Lightcast), with whether each is a common or specialized skill.
Tools & technology
Work context
How characteristic each condition is of the job, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale (higher = more present in day-to-day work). Each condition links to how it varies across all occupations.
How to get in
- Job zone
- Zone 2 — Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed
- Education
- Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
- Typical entry-level education
- Postsecondary nondegree award · BLS, the typical path — not a requirement
- Related experience
- Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.
- Preparation level
- SVP (Below 6.0) — total schooling plus on-the-job experience.
What to study: Transportation and Materials Moving . Fields of study crosswalked to this occupation (NCES CIP–SOC), not a requirement.
Education of current workers
Share of people in this occupation at each level of education.
| High School Diploma | 54.3% | |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 25.9% | |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 18.5% | |
| Some College Courses | 1.2% |
Interests & work styles
The interests and personal qualities O*NET associates with people who do this work.
Career interests (Holland / RIASEC)
| Realistic | 7.0 | |
| Conventional | 4.1 | |
| Investigative | 1.9 |
Interest areas
| Transportation/Machine Operation | 7.0 | |
| Physical/Manual Labor | 4.2 | |
| Mechanics/Electronics | 2.8 | |
| Engineering | 1.5 | |
| Protective Service | 1.4 | |
| Accounting | 1.3 |
Work styles
| Dependability | 3.0 | |
| Cautiousness | 2.6 | |
| Attention to Detail | 2.1 | |
| Integrity | 1.9 | |
| Perseverance | 1.8 | |
| Stress Tolerance | 1.6 | |
| Self-Control | 1.5 |
Wages & employment
U.S. · annual wages (BLS OEWS)
| 10th percentile | $38,640 |
| 25th percentile | $47,230 |
| Median (50th) | $57,440 |
| 75th percentile | $65,520 |
| 90th percentile | $78,800 |
| People employed | 2,070,480 |
Industries that employ this occupation
Where these workers are employed, by number of jobs (national, BLS OEWS). Pay shown is the occupation's national median, not industry-specific.
| Industry | Workers | National median pay |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing · Sector | 1,183,530 | $59,200 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 268,970 | $57,260 |
| Manufacturing · Sector | 159,360 | $54,860 |
| Construction · Sector | 133,840 | $54,170 |
| Administrative and Support and Waste Management and Remediation Services · Sector | 111,170 | $53,620 |
| Retail Trade · Sector | 70,560 | $48,850 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction · Sector | 32,730 | $55,720 |
| Real Estate and Rental and Leasing · Sector | 29,640 | $55,690 |
| Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services · Sector | 17,040 | $60,320 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting · Sector | 13,550 | $48,610 |
| Other Services (except Public Administration) · Sector | 12,670 | $48,620 |
| Temporary Help Services · National industry | 12,100 | $48,170 |
Where this work is most concentrated
Industries where this occupation is far more common than in the economy as a whole. The location quotient is how many times more concentrated it is here (a value of 5 means five times its economy-wide share).
| Industry | Concentration | Workers |
|---|---|---|
| Transportation and Warehousing · Sector | 11.92× | 1,183,530 |
| Mining, Quarrying, and Oil and Gas Extraction · Sector | 4.25× | 32,730 |
| Wholesale Trade · Sector | 3.32× | 268,970 |
| Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting · Sector | 2.38× | 13,550 |
| Poured Concrete Foundation and Structure Contractors · National industry | 1.57× | 5,460 |
| Farm and Garden Machinery and Equipment Merchant Wholesalers · National industry | 1.46× | 2,230 |
| Construction · Sector | 1.23× | 133,840 |
| Power and Communication Line and Related Structures Construction · National industry | 1.01× | 3,180 |
Related occupations
Part of the Supply Chain & Transportation career cluster.
- Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators · 53-7051.00 Compare →
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- Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists · 49-3031.00 Compare →
- Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining · 47-5044.00 Compare →
- Refuse and Recyclable Material Collectors · 53-7081.00 Compare →
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Side-by-side comparisons place two occupations’ pay, preparation, skills, and AI exposure on the same page — same data, same scale, no forecast.
What you can do with this
Options the data surfaces for Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers — not advice or a forecast. Each is a real cross-link you can follow into the evidence.
Skills that travel
Capabilities this work builds that are used across many other occupations.
Adjacent roles
Occupations O*NET rates as related — the nearby moves on the map.
Paths in
How people typically prepare for this work.
- Postsecondary nondegree award · typical entry level
- Job zone 2 — Job Zone 1-2: Very Little to Some Preparation Needed · preparation tier
- Transportation and Materials Moving · field of study
Zoom out
On the global GenAI exposure gradient this work sits around the 45th percentile of 427 international occupations.
Write a report on thisheadline · factoids · citation
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers show 29th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 237,600 annual U.S. openings
- Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers rank in the 29th percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated.Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE
- The occupation is projected to see about 237,600 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- BLS projects employment to be about average (+4%) from 2024 to 2034.BLS Employment Projections 2024–34
- Median annual pay is $57,440, across about 2,070,480 U.S. workers.BLS OEWS (May 2024)
- Of the AI use actually observed for this work, 38% looks like augmentation (drafting, iterating, checking) rather than hands-off automation — from a Claude.ai usage sample, not a census.2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2
Copy the whole kit
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers show 29th-percentile AI task overlap — and about 237,600 annual U.S. openings • Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers rank in the 29th percentile (Low band) for AI task overlap across U.S. occupations — a measure of how much of the work today's AI can attempt, not how much is automated. (Eloundou et al. (GPTs are GPTs) + Felten AIOE) • The occupation is projected to see about 237,600 U.S. job openings per year (2024–34), counting growth and replacement — a labor-demand projection made independently of AI. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • BLS projects employment to be about average (+4%) from 2024 to 2034. (BLS Employment Projections 2024–34) • Median annual pay is $57,440, across about 2,070,480 U.S. workers. (BLS OEWS (May 2024)) • Of the AI use actually observed for this work, 38% looks like augmentation (drafting, iterating, checking) rather than hands-off automation — from a Claude.ai usage sample, not a census. (2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2) Source: Singulariki — "Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers". https://singulariki.com/roles/role-53-3032-00 Note: AI task overlap measures what today's AI can attempt, not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
AssetsShare imageMethodology & sourcesPress & newsroomThe newsroom
Every line is built only from figures this page already shows and cites. AI task overlap means what today's AI can attempt — not automation, job loss, or a forecast.
Sources for this page
Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.
- O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27) Anthropic
- Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai Microsoft Research
- “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic
- AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans academic
- ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025 International Labour Organization
- IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022 Institute for Structural Research (IBS)
- Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation academic
- Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome academic
Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.
Cite this page
Plain
Singulariki. "Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers." Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Built from O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026. https://singulariki.com/roles/role-53-3032-00
APA
Singulariki. (2026). Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers. Singulariki: a source-backed encyclopedia of work. Retrieved June 7, 2026, from https://singulariki.com/roles/role-53-3032-00
BibTeX
@misc{singulariki-role-53-3032-00,
title = {Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers},
author = {{Singulariki}},
year = {2026},
note = {O*NET 30.3; BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) May 2024; BLS Employment Projections 2024–2034; Anthropic Economic Index v4 (2026-01-15) + v2 (2025-03-27); Microsoft “Working with AI” working-with-ai; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130; AI Occupational Exposure (AIOE) Felten, Raj & Seamans; ILO / Gmyrek et al. GenAI exposure gradient 2025; IBS O*NET-SOC ↔ ISCO-08 occupation crosswalk 2022; Frey & Osborne (2013) frey-osborne-automation; Dingel & Neiman (2020) dingel-neiman-workathome. Accessed June 7, 2026},
url = {https://singulariki.com/roles/role-53-3032-00}
} Citations name the underlying public dataset releases — they reflect what this page is built from, not just the URL.