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Boston Career Explorer

Transportation and Material Moving

Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

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: CDL Driver (Commercial Driver's License Driver), Driver, Line Haul Driver, Log Truck Driver, Over the Road Driver (OTR Driver), Production Truck Driver

Compare with my current job (Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors)
Median pay in Greater Boston
$64,010
$30.78/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
20,090
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+8.5%
3,910 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
Postsecondary nondegree award
plus Short-term on-the-job training

Greater Boston: Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, May 2025. Growth and openings: Massachusetts statewide projection.

Pay range in Greater Boston

Yearly pay in Greater Boston by percentile
10th25thMedian75th90th
$47,950$57,070$64,010$73,460$78,770

10% of workers earn less than the first figure and 10% earn more than the last.

What you’d do

  • Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy.
  • Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure.
  • Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.
  • Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles.
  • Obtain receipts or signatures for delivered goods and collect payment for services when required.
  • Maintain logs of working hours or of vehicle service or repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations.

AI and this job

AI exposure: how much of this job’s work AI tools can do or help with, based on national research. It is not a forecast of job loss.

Lower exposure17 of 100

The index averages three national research measures, each shown as a percentile of all jobs:

  • AIOE 11
  • Language-model AIOE 5
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 34

Observed AI use today: Little or none (Anthropic Economic Index)

Heavy truck driving has lower AI exposure, and observed AI use is little or none. AI tools may help with some paperwork, such as checking load documents. They do not touch the hands-on work of driving, securing cargo, checking the truck, and cranking landing gear.

Likely to change

  • Checking load paperwork for errors
  • Recording delivery receipts and signatures

Still relies on people

  • Inspecting that cargo is secure
  • Driving and checking the truck by hand

Written with AI from the data on this page. Check with a career coach before making a decision.

Next steps from here

Related jobs that build on what you already do.

  • Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

    Your habit of checking brakes and vehicle equipment carries over to this job, which pays a Boston median of $75,770.

    Pay difference
    +$11,760 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +5.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Crane and Tower Operators

    Securing loads and working safely around heavy equipment carry over, and this job has a Boston median of $98,140 and 16.1% growth.

    Pay difference
    +$34,130 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +16.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Electrical Power-Line Installers and Repairers

    Driving work vehicles and following safety routines carry over to a job with a Boston median of $111,490 and 13.3% growth.

    Pay difference
    +$47,480 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +13.3%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

Training near Boston

College and school programs in the Boston metro area that lead to this job, with 2023-24 completions (IPEDS).

1 program near Boston

Who employs heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers on Boston construction projects

Hours worked on projects covered by the Boston Residents Jobs Policy over the last 24 months. This shows who has employed heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, not who has openings.

6,775 worker hours from Oct 20, 2024 to Oct 19, 2026 (trades: Truck Driver).

9.6%
of hours by boston residents
34.5%
of hours by people of color
1.3%
of hours by women
Top employers by worker hours
EmployerWorker hoursBoston resident shareProjects
Mario Susi & Son Inc,3,03416.2%7
Cavalieri Construction Co., Inc. (BRJP)1,2300.0%4

Related occupations

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