Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers
Also known as: Armored Truck Driver, Automotive Carrier Driver (Auto Carrier Driver), Automotive Crane Driver (Auto Crane Driver) (+154 more)
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.
Take the free 15-minute assessment to compare this role with your profile, your current fit, and nearby alternatives
What You'll Do
- Follow appropriate safety procedures for transporting dangerous goods.
- Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.
- Maintain logs of working hours or of vehicle service or repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations.
- Obtain receipts or signatures for delivered goods and collect payment for services when required.
- 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.
- Secure cargo for transport, using ropes, blocks, chain, binders, or covers.
- Read bills of lading to determine assignment details.
- Report vehicle defects, accidents, traffic violations, or damage to the vehicles.
- Read and interpret maps to determine vehicle routes.
Essential Skills
Career Fit Overview
Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.
Top passions
- Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
- Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
- Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
Common styles
Dependability, Cautiousness, Attention to Detail, Integrity, Perseverance
Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.
Key Abilities
This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:
Technologies & Tools
Work Environment & Strengths
Common Strengths for This Career
- Dependability (High importance: 4.77/5)
- Cautiousness (High importance: 4.75/5)
- Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.41/5)
- Integrity (High importance: 4.24/5)
- Perseverance (High importance: 4.18/5)
Want to see how YOUR strengths align with this career?
Take Free 15-Min Assessment →How to Become One
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.
Similar Careers to Explore
Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers
100.0% similar profile
Logging Equipment Operators
99.9% similar profile
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
99.9% similar profile
Maintenance Workers, Machinery
99.9% similar profile
Meat, Poultry, and Fish Cutters and Trimmers
99.9% similar profile
Food Cooking Machine Operators and Tenders
99.9% similar profile
Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
99.9% similar profile
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
99.9% similar profile
Also Known As
This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:
Career Fit FAQs
Is this career a good fit for me
This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.
Can this help if I want to stay in my field
Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.
What should I compare first
Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.
Ready to Compare This Career to Your Profile?
Use the assessment to compare your current role, inspect nearby options, and see whether this career is a stronger fit for how you work.
Take Free Assessment (15 min) →