Transportation & Logistics
Light Truck Drivers
Also called: Bulk Delivery Driver, Delivery Driver, Driver, Light Truck Driver
US median pay
$44,860
per year, 2025
Job growth 2025–35
+6.3%
faster than average
Openings a year (US)
107,200
1,068,500 employed
Typical entry education
High school diploma or equivalent
Preparation 2/5 · Some preparation
What this job is
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.
What they do day to day
- 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.
- Present bills and receipts and collect payments for goods delivered or loaded.
- 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.
- Turn in receipts and money received from deliveries.
Skills and knowledge that matter most
Skills
- Operation and Control3.1/5
- Time Management3.0/5
- Social Perceptiveness2.8/5
- Service Orientation2.8/5
- Operations Monitoring2.8/5
- Judgment and Decision Making2.6/5
- Complex Problem Solving2.6/5
- Coordination2.5/5
Knowledge
- English Language3.8/5
- Transportation3.4/5
- Customer and Personal Service3.4/5
- Public Safety and Security2.9/5
- Administrative2.6/5
- Mechanical2.5/5
Importance rated by people working in the job (1 = not important, 5 = extremely important).
Education and preparation
Preparation level 2 of 5 — Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma; some previous work experience or training helps.
Typical entry education (BLS): High school diploma or equivalent.
Highest education of people in this job:
- High school diploma74%
- Less than high school25%
Who this job suits
Mostly Realistic
Hands-on work with tools, machines, plants or animals
Conventional
Organising data, details and procedures
Based on the Holland (RIASEC) interest profile for this occupation.