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Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another. Most tractor-trailer drivers are long-haul drivers and operate trucks with a total weight exceeding 26,000 pounds for the vehicle, passengers, and cargo. These drivers deliver goods over intercity routes that sometimes span several states.
As of May 2020, there were 1,797,710 people employed in this occupation. The average hourly wage was $23.42, and the average annual wage was $48,710.
In private industry for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, there were 43,500 nonfatal injury and illness cases involving days away from work in 2020. The incidence rate per 10,000 full-time equivalent (FTE) workers was 259.7.
Case characteristic[1] | Number of cases |
---|---|
Nature of injury or illness | |
Sprains, strains, tears | 15,520 |
Soreness, pain | 9,810 |
All other natures | 6,660 |
Fractures | 4,700 |
Bruises, contusions | 2,970 |
Part of body affected | |
Back | 6,680 |
Shoulder | 5,070 |
Multiple body parts | 4,760 |
Knee | 4,360 |
Hand | 3,020 |
Source of injury or illness | |
Vehicles | 14,970 |
Worker motion or position | 6,240 |
Parts and materials | 6,050 |
Floors, walkways, ground surfaces | 5,600 |
Containers | 4,550 |
Event or exposure leading to injury or illness | |
Fall to lower level | 5,560 |
Roadway incidents involving motorized land vehicles | 5,190 |
Fall on same level | 5,170 |
Struck by object or equipment | 4,020 |
Overexertion in lifting or lowering | 2,720 |
[1] Data shown correspond to Nature, Part, Source, and Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses |
Fatal work injuries totaled 766 for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers during 2020, compared to 843 during 2019.
Event or exposure[1][2] | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total fatal injuries (number) | 786 | 840 | 831 | 843 | 766 |
Violence and other injuries by persons or animals | 23 | 32 | 24 | 44 | -- |
Transportation incidents | 632 | 661 | 649 | 656 | 590 |
Fires and explosions | 6 | 6 | -- | 9 | -- |
Falls, slips, trips | 41 | 38 | 30 | 36 | -- |
Exposure to harmful substances or environments | 38 | 45 | 55 | 38 | 50 |
Contact with objects and equipment | 46 | 57 | 67 | 60 | -- |
[1] CFOI data by event are only provided if there are fatal case counts in three or more of the six event categories. [2] Data shown correspond to Event codes based on the Occupational Injury and Illness Classification System 2.01 developed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Note: Dashes indicate data do not meet BLS publication guidelines. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries |
Wage and employment estimates come from the Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program. Injury and illness information come from the Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) and Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries (CFOI). For more information on SOII program concepts, see the definitions page and the SOII Handbook of Methods. For more information on CFOI program concepts, see the definitions page and the CFOI Handbook of Methods.
Last Modified Date: February 11, 2022