How to become a Truck Driver
Official title: Truck Driver (General)
Drives a rigid truck, requiring a specially endorsed class of licence, to transport goods, usually over short distances.
Main tasks
- Drives and manoeuvres a truck into position for loading and unloading goods
- Drives a truck to transport goods to designated locations
- Communicates with dispatchers and other truck drivers to coordinate deliveries
- Maintains accurate records of goods transported, including delivery times and locations
- Performs routine maintenance on the truck, such as checking oil and tyre pressure
Ways in
- TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Driving Operations (TLI31222); Certificate II in Driving Operations (TLI21221); Certificate IV in Specialist Driving Operations (TLI40122)
- Licence or registration: Registration or licensing is required.
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $101,920 a year
- About 189,200 people work in this job group now, and about 196,900 are projected by 2035. (+4%)
- AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Truck Driver?
Ways in include: Certificate III in Driving Operations; Certificate II in Driving Operations.
How much does a Truck Driver earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $101,920 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is a Truck Driver a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 4% by 2035, from about 189,200 to about 196,900 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become a Truck Driver?
Usually not. Only 5% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Driving Operations; Certificate II in Driving Operations.
Will AI change the work of a Truck Driver?
AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04