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, Route Driver, Service Provider, Truck Driver, Warehouse Driver, Car Escort, Commercial Driver, Deliverer, Delivery Person, Delivery Truck Driver, Directories Distributor, Directory Carrier, Distributor Operator, DSP Driver (Delivery Service Partner Driver), Errand Runner, Escort Vehicle Driver, Explosives Truck Driver, Food Service Driver, Grocery Light Truck Driver, Independent Driver, Local Driver, Local Truck Driver, Mail Messenger Contractor, Order Worker, Parcel Post Truck Driver, Parcel Truck Driver, Parts Driver, Parts Runner, Pharmacy Delivery Driver, Pick Up Driver, Pick Up Truck Driver, Residential Driver, Route Deliverer, Route Delivery Service Driver, Route Rider, Routeman, Seasonal Personal Vehicle Package Driver, Service Car Driver, Servicer, Special Delivery Worker, Store Driver, Telephone Directory Distributor Driver, Transportation Driver, Van Driver, Wagon Person

This is a career information profile, not an advertised job opening.

What the worker does

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.

Skills, machines and equipment

Reading Comprehension
Active Listening
Speaking
Monitoring
Operation and Control
Critical Thinking
Time Management
Writing
Social Perceptiveness
Service Orientation
Operations Monitoring
Complex Problem Solving

Education and training

Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (73.97% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. 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. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.

Apprenticeships

Ask an employer or registered apprenticeship sponsor about current programs, eligibility, training and pay. A career profile does not confirm that a program is available.

Salary reference

37,270–52,310 USD per year · United States · 2025. Source: BLS OEWS via O*NET · 25th–75th percentiles · SOC 53-3033.

Occupational-group wage references are not guaranteed pay for this specialty or an employer's offer.

Career advancement

Develop inventory, scheduling, planning, and supply-chain analysis experience; explore coordinator, planner, or logistics-lead responsibilities.
Ask employers which demonstrated skills, education, or credentials are needed for the next role. Related careers are exploration options, not automatic promotions.

How Do I Get This Job?

Review the skills and responsibilities above.
Most frequently reported education in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED) (73.97% of responses). This is survey context, not a universal hiring requirement. Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.
O*NET Job Zone 2: Ranges from a few days to one year of on-the-job training. 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. This is broad occupational preparation context; confirm the requirements for a specific employer or apprenticeship.
Compare real openings and confirm requirements directly with the employer.

View available jobs — availability is not guaranteed; sample listings are not real openings.

Related career information

Sources and limitations

O*NET® 31.0 Database, U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, under CC BY 4.0. ShopFloor adapted occupational grouping, selected manufacturing-relevant occupations, and retained seven legacy guide titles. Specialties and alternative titles are grouped under O*NET occupations; these occupations can also occur outside manufacturing. Source: https://www.onetcenter.org/database.html. No wage, vacancy, certification, or video data is implied. ShopFloor advancement suggestions are general editorial guidance, not O*NET findings or guaranteed career progression. BLS wage ranges, when available, are national 25th–75th percentiles for the source occupational grouping, across industries; they are not local, apprentice, entry-level, or specialty-specific offers.

Light Truck Drivers