Motor Vehicle Operators

How to become a Light Truck Driver

Official title: Light Truck Drivers

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

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.

Main tasks

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.

How to become one

Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter these occupations. However, some opportunities exist for those without a high school diploma. Workers undergo 1 month or less of on-the-job training. They must have a driver's license from the state in which they work and have a clean driving record.

Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent

Read the full guide from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Ways in

Licence: A licence is required in 9 states.

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

Median pay: $44,860 a year The middle half earn $37,270 to $52,310.
About 1,068,500 people work in this job now, and about 1,136,400 are projected by 2035. (+6.3%)
People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Questions people ask

How do I become a Light Truck Driver?

How much does a Light Truck Driver earn in the US?

Median full-time pay is $44,860 a year (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics). The middle half earn $37,270 to $52,310.

Is a Light Truck Driver a growing career in the US?

Yes. Employment is projected to grow 6% by 2035, from about 1,068,500 to about 1,136,400 people (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

Do you need a degree to become a Light Truck Driver?

Usually not. Only 9% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Light Truck Driver?

People use generative AI for relatively little of this work so far. Microsoft Research rates its AI applicability as low.

Sources

Microsoft Research: Working with AI: AI applicability by occupation (2025-12-22 (built on O*NET 29.0)), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Employment Projections (2025-35 (released 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook (2025-35 edition (published 2026-08-27)), Public domain (BLS); photographs excluded, retrieved 2026-10-03
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (May 2025), Public domain (BLS), retrieved 2026-10-03

Updated 2026-10-03

This page includes information from the 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. O*NET is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.