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Boston Career Explorer

Transportation and Material Moving

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

Compare with my current job (Motor Vehicle Operators, All Other)
Median pay in Greater Boston
$49,630
$23.86/hr
Jobs in Greater Boston
15,910
Massachusetts 2024–2034
+14.6%
2,550 openings a year
Typical U.S. entry requirement
High school diploma or equivalent
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
$35,340$44,320$49,630$58,260$77,810

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

What you’d do

  • 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.

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 exposure22 of 100

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

  • AIOE 13
  • Language-model AIOE 10
  • GPTs-are-GPTs 43

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

Light truck driving has lower AI exposure, and observed AI use is little or none. AI tools may help with some tasks, such as matching loads to shipping papers or finding routes. Driving, inspecting the vehicle, and handling packages still rely on a person.

Likely to change

  • Matching loads to shipping papers
  • Route directions and map reading

Still relies on people

  • Driving safely in local traffic
  • Inspecting and reporting vehicle problems

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.

  • Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

    Checking loads against papers and driving carry over, and this job has a Boston median of $64,010. It needs a commercial license.

    Pay difference
    +$14,380 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +8.5%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

  • Bus and Truck Mechanics and Diesel Engine Specialists

    Your vehicle inspections and spotting of mechanical problems carry over to a repair job with a Boston median of $75,770.

    Pay difference
    +$26,140 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +5.1%
    To get started
    High school diploma or equivalent

  • Automotive Service Technicians and Mechanics

    Checking brakes, tires, and other parts carries over to car repair work, which has a Boston median of $63,060.

    Pay difference
    +$13,430 median
    AI exposure
    Lower
    MA growth
    +5.7%
    To get started
    Postsecondary nondegree award

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

Related occupations

Talk to a career coach

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