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trade school and technical college programs typically fall in the
6-12-month range and award certificates.
Heavy truck drivers or tractor-trailer truck
drivers
The job: It’s aboard large trucks that most goods still make their
way to the grocery stores, retailers, restaurants, gas stations, and
other businesses around you. Heavy truck drivers or tractor-trailer
truck drivers are the people behind the wheels of these trucks,
charged with making sure their cargo reaches its destination in a
safe and timely fashion.
The pay: The median salary for truck drivers in the U.S. is just over
$54,320 annually.
The prospects: While autonomous vehicles are on the rise, that
doesn’t mean the freight and logistics industry is going to pivot in
that direction entirely. On the contrary, our country’s supply chains
are likely to stay reliant on human truck drivers for the foreseeable
future. BLS is projecting four percent job growth in this career
between 2022 and 2032, equating to more than 89,000 new jobs.
The education: Most freight and logistics companies require their
truck drivers to have a high school diploma or the equivalent as
well as a commercial driver’s license (CDL) that is in good standing.
Many people who pursue jobs in this field also attend brief
post-secondary truck driving schools. These programs typically
last three to six months, give truck drivers the skills and knowledge
they need to operate large vehicles, and provide helpful preparation
for passing the CDL test.
Heavy equipment operators
The job: Though sometimes categorized as a construction trade,
heavy equipment operators ultimately do work in capacities that
range outside of the typical construction role, from factories to
mining operations to farms. These individuals are experts in driving,