卡车司机职业描述
Truck Driver
Produced OCTOBER 2003
Truck drivers operate gasoline or diesel-powered trucks, tractor-trailers and similar vehicles to transport goods and materials over local routes or long distances.
NOC Number(s): 7411.1
Educational Requirements: Education/training requirements vary
Employment Outlook: Employment turnover plus average occupational growth in Alberta
Interests: M O d
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Duties | Working Conditions | Personal Characteristics | Education | Employment | Salary | Other Information | Related Occupations | Related School Subjects | Related Field of Study
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Duties
Duties and responsibilities vary from one position to another but, in general, truck drivers:
operate trucks and sometimes maneuver them in tight spaces
routinely inspect brakes, tires, lights, horns, and cooling and refrigeration equipment before leaving the warehouse or terminal
load trucks to maximize the use of space and distribute weight accordingly, and to ensure safety on the road
secure cargo on the truck and place protective padding around articles to prevent damage during transit
conduct security checks and inspections en route
make emergency roadside adjustments and repairs
follow local and interprovincial highway safety regulations
have the weight of the entire unit checked as directed by weighing officials at highway scales
keep records of loads delivered and picked up, arrival and departure times, and maintain vehicle log books (fuel consumption, mileage).
Some truck drivers specialize in operating special types of vehicles such as:
heavy trucks for overweight loads
tank trucks which transport bulk liquids
gravel trucks
tractor-trailers (two or more vehicles hooked together)
industrial trucks (involving special equipment)
garbage trucks (for more information, see the Refuse Truck Driver occupational profile)
log and muskeg trucks
extended length vehicles.
Many truck drivers are owner-operators who own their own vehicles and lease their services and trucks to other companies.
Working Conditions
Truck drivers often work long hours, primarily behind the wheel. They drive in all kinds of weather, traffic and road conditions.
Truck drivers' work loads and schedules vary depending on the goods being transported and the distances travelled. Some local truck drivers start out in the morning with a loaded truck and make deliveries all day, returning with an empty truck to the warehouse or plant at the end of the day. With other products such as lumber local drivers may return to the yard to reload after each delivery.
Long distance truck drivers move goods between cities and across the continent. They often work long hours and travel at night. On relatively short runs, drivers may transport loaded trailers to nearby cities, pick up different loads for the return trip, and return to their starting points in the same day. On longer runs, drivers may be away for a week or longer. Sitting for long periods of time can be hard on the back.
Depending on the products being transported, truck drivers may or may not be responsible for loading and unloading the truck. If the driver is expected to unload, there may be a helper to assist with the job. Loading and unloading may require lifting over 25 kilograms.
Personal Characteristics
Truck drivers need the following characteristics:
good health and vision
the ability to learn how to use the on-board computer devices commonly used in the transportation industry
the ability to remain alert and maintain a high level of concentration
good interpersonal skills and a customer service orientation
good judgement and the ability to react quickly in emergency situations
the mechanical ability required to make minor repairs.
They should enjoy taking a methodical approach to recording information and obtaining required documentation, driving and talking to others involved in loading and receiving shipments.
Educational Requirements
Truck drivers must have air brakes certification and should have at least Grade 10 English reading and writing skills. Employers may require drivers to have first aid and CPR certification, WHMIS (Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System) training, TDG (Transportation of Dangerous Goods) training or H2S Alive training.
Drivers who haul to the United States must be at least 21 years of age and able to pass U.S. drug testing requirements. Employers generally prefer to hire drivers who do not have a criminal record, have no more than six demerits and are insurable at a reasonable cost (25 years of age or older).
Truck drivers must be able to maneuver trucks through narrow streets and alleys, into tight parking spaces, and up to loading docks. In Alberta, a system of Classified Driver Licensing sets strict requirements for handling specific types of trucks and combination vehicles, in addition to rigid medical standards. Trucking companies can only hire drivers who have qualified under this system.
Many people get started in the trucking industry by taking training courses offered by public colleges or private truck driving schools. Program length, content, costs and admission requirements vary. Before enrolling in a program, prospective students should visit several schools and compare their facilities for classroom instruction, the vehicles used for instruction and the qualifications of the instructors. Another good way to evaluate a school is to talk to former students and ask local trucking companies if they hire graduates from that school.
Applicants for a Class 1 license must be at least 18 years of age and have a valid Alberta class 5 driver's licence. Truck driving schools may require students to also have a clear driving record or minimum number of demerits or a medical examination.
Employment and Advancement section revised FEBRUARY 2005
Truck drivers may work as employees or self-employed contractors for:
transportation companies
manufacturing and distribution companies
retail outlets
moving companies.
Some trucker drivers start work in entry-level jobs such as yard worker, dock handler, checker or clerk and advance to driving positions after they acquire the required operator's license and a driving position becomes available.
Many local drivers and a few long distance drivers have regularly assigned runs. Drivers who work for smaller companies are more likely to be assigned regular runs early in their employment. In large companies, drivers usually start on the "extra board" where they bid for runs on the basis of seniority.
Once they have gained some truck driving experience, drivers may be assigned to long haul or highway driving. As long as their driving records remain acceptable and they maintain good health, they can continue driving as long as they wish. They may also move into related areas such as operations (freight handling, dock supervision, dispatching) or communications (tracking the movement of shipments and trucks). Drivers who have business knowledge and skills may choose to purchase their own trucks or fleet of trucks.
In Alberta, over 75 per cent of people employed as truck drivers work in the following industries:
Transportation and Warehousing
Construction
Oil and Gas Extraction.
The employment outlook in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
trends and events affecting overall employment (especially in the industries listed above)
location in Alberta
employment turnover (work opportunities generated by people leaving existing positions)
occupational growth (work opportunities resulting from the creation of new positions that never existed before)
size of the occupation.
Over 35,450 Albertans are employed in the Truck Drivers occupational group which is expected to grow 1.4 to 2.4 per cent each year from 2004 to 2009 in Alberta. It is forecasted that over 600 new positions will be created each year in addition to job openings created by employment turnover.
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next five to ten years.
Salary section revised OCTOBER 2005
Wages in the trucking industry vary, depending on the type of work, load and vehicle.
According to the 2005 Alberta Wage and Salary Survey, Albertans in the Truck Drivers occupational group working part-time or full-time earned from $15,200 to $109,100 a year. The average salary was $49,200 a year.
Other Sources of Information section revised JUNE 2005
Alberta construction industry "Trade Up! " website:
www.careersconstruction.com
Careers in Transportation website:
www.transpocity.ca
Related Occupational Profiles
Bus Driver
Chauffeur
Driving Instructor
Municipal Recycling Truck Driver
Refuse Truck Driver
Surface Mining Equipment Operator
Taxi Driver
Traffic Manager
Vending Machine Route Worker
Related High School Subjects
Community Health; Language Arts; Mechanics; and Physical Education
Related Post-Secondary Field of Study
Driver Training
Top of Profile
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For more information on career planning, occupations and educational programs, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service (ALIS) website at
www.alis.gov.ab.ca, call the Alberta Career Information Hotline toll-free in Alberta at 1-800-661-3753 or 422-4266 in Edmonton (deaf and hard of hearing individuals can call 1-800-232-7215 toll-free for message relay or 422-5283 in Edmonton), or visit an Alberta Human Resources and Employment service centre near you.
The information contained in this profile was current as of the dates shown. Salaries, employment outlook and educational programs may change. Please check the information before making any career decisions.
Copyright © 2005 Alberta Human Resources and Employment