SOC 53-3033.00Bright outlook

    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.

    Median pay
    $44,860
    Growth
    +6.3%
    Faster than average
    Openings a year
    107,200
    Typical education
    High school diploma

    Data verified Nov 2026 · CollegesRef 2026–27 edition

    Source: BLS 2025 wages · 2025–35 projections

    See the pathway

    Annual pay range

    Lowest 10% earn less than
    $30,800
    Median
    $44,860
    Highest 10% earn more than
    $80,310
    National wages for all workers in this occupation. BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025.

    983,300 people work in this occupation.

    In short

    Light truck drivers operate delivery vans and small trucks to transport merchandise and packages. The career offers a median annual pay of $44,860, with opportunities for steady employment and faster-than-average job growth.

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What light truck drivers do

    Job Zone 2: Some preparation

    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.

    Usually a high school diploma; some on-the-job training or experience.

    What the work is like

    Light truck drivers spend their days operating vehicles under 26,001 pounds to transport and deliver goods from distribution hubs to various destinations. Their daily tasks involve handling and moving objects, which includes loading and unloading packages, as well as performing general physical activities. Drivers must inspect their vehicles and equipment regularly to ensure safety on the road. Monitoring their surroundings and identifying potential hazards are critical to maintaining public safety and security.

    This role requires strong skills in operation and control, time management, and active listening. Because drivers frequently interact with customers and dispatchers, knowledge of customer and personal service, English language, and basic administration is highly valuable. Key work styles for this occupation include dependability, attention to detail, cautiousness, and self-control. This career strongly appeals to individuals with realistic interests who enjoy hands-on, practical work.

    How to get there

    Entering this field typically requires a high school diploma. Most workers prepare for the job through some on-the-job training or prior experience, which helps them learn specific delivery routes and company procedures. Students interested in this career path can look into college majors in ground transportation.

    While a high school education is the standard entry requirement, some states list specific licensing for this work. Additionally, drivers can pursue professional credentials to enhance their employment prospects. For example, the National Automatic Merchandising Association offers a Route Driver Certification. Helpful related careers that share similar skill sets include heavy truck drivers, couriers, shuttle drivers, and industrial truck operators.

    Pay and outlook explained

    In 2025, the median annual pay for light truck drivers was $44,860. Earnings can vary significantly based on experience and location, with the lowest 10% earning less than $30,800 and the highest 10% earning more than $80,310. The field employed 983,300 people. Between 2025 and 2035, employment is projected to grow by 6.3%, which is faster than average. This growth, combined with routine turnover, is expected to result in 107,200 job openings each year.

    Interest profile

    Realistic (R) · strongest
    98 / 100
    Investigative (I)
    9 / 100
    Artistic (A)
    0 / 100
    Social (S)
    6 / 100
    Enterprising (E)
    18 / 100
    Conventional (C)
    57 / 100
    How strongly each interest area describes the work, from O*NET (scores rescaled to 0–100). The interest code lists the strongest areas in order.

    Interest code RCE. Compare it with yours

    What you'd do

    Handling and Moving Objects
    89
    Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment
    85
    Performing General Physical Activities
    85
    Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials
    84
    Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
    80
    Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events
    78
    Getting Information
    69
    Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings
    69
    Documenting/Recording Information
    68
    Making Decisions and Solving Problems
    68
    Work activities rated by importance for this occupation, O*NET (0–100).

    Skills and strengths

    Skills

    • Active Listening
    • Monitoring
    • Operation and Control
    • Reading Comprehension
    • Speaking
    • Critical Thinking
    • Time Management
    • Operations Monitoring
    • Service Orientation
    • Social Perceptiveness

    Knowledge

    • English Language
    • Transportation
    • Customer and Personal Service
    • Public Safety and Security
    • Administrative
    • Mechanical
    • Administration and Management
    • Mathematics
    • Production and Processing
    • Education and Training

    Abilities

    • Far Vision
    • Multilimb Coordination
    • Spatial Orientation
    • Near Vision
    • Problem Sensitivity
    • Control Precision
    • Deductive Reasoning
    • Manual Dexterity
    • Oral Comprehension
    • Oral Expression

    Work styles

    • Dependability
    • Attention to Detail
    • Cautiousness
    • Integrity
    • Self-Control
    • Stress Tolerance
    • Perseverance
    • Social Orientation
    • Achievement Orientation
    • Cooperation

    Also called

    Bulk Delivery Driver · Car Escort · Commercial Driver · Deliverer · Delivery Driver · Delivery Person · Delivery Truck Driver · Directories Distributor · Directory Carrier · Distributor Operator

    Career pathway

    From your interests to light truck drivers

    Interests that fit the work, the career, majors that lead there and colleges whose graduates in those majors earn the most. Hover or focus a step to follow one path.

    1. Interests

    2. This career

      • Light Truck Drivers$44,860 median pay

    3. Majors

    4. Colleges

    College Scorecard program outcomes

    Colleges with strong outcomes

    Programs that lead to this career, ranked by what their graduates earn four years after finishing. Earnings are for graduates who received federal aid.

    1. 1
      Pennsylvania College of Technology

      Williamsport, PA · Ground Transportation · Associate

      1 yr after
      $54,938
      4 yrs after
      $62,389
      Median debt
      $12,000

    Source: U.S. Department of Education College Scorecard field-of-study data, 2025. Programs with few graduates are not listed.

    NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk

    Majors that lead here

    Related programs by four-digit CIP code. They are common routes in, not the only ones.

    CareerOneStop

    Certifications, licenses and pay by state

    What light truck drivers may need beyond a degree, where a license is required, and what the work pays in each state.

    Certifications

    Core certifications employers recognise for this work.

    Search all certifications on CareerOneStop

    Training

    Programs of study that prepare people for this work.

    • Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor

    Find training near you on CareerOneStop

    Licenses by state

    9 states list a license for this work. Open your state for the license and the agency that issues it.

    Check license requirements on CareerOneStop

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Your plan

    Build my pathway plan

    Courses, majors, colleges, scholarships and a timeline for this career, built from your profile.

    Related careers

    Careers with similar work, interests or skills.

    All careers

    Questions about light truck drivers

    Written with AI from the BLS, O*NET and CareerOneStop data on this page. Every figure is checked against that data before it is published.

    What is the typical education required to become a light truck driver?

    Most people enter this career with a high school diploma. They usually receive some on-the-job training or have prior experience to help them learn the specific demands of the job.

    Are there any certifications or licenses available for this career?

    Yes, some states list a license for this type of driving work. Additionally, drivers can earn the Route Driver Certification through the National Automatic Merchandising Association.

    What is the job outlook and annual opening count for this occupation?

    Employment is projected to grow by 6.3% from 2025 to 2035, which is faster than average. This growth is expected to generate 107,200 openings each year.

    Sources and attribution

    Every figure on this page comes from these public datasets. Missing values are shown as not reported, never estimated.

    O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. CollegesRef has modified all or some of this information.

    Data from CareerOneStop, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor (Employment and Training Administration, with the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development). Retrieved November 9, 2026.

    Page data updated November 5, 2026.