Table 4-4: Employment in Selected Freight Transportation and Freight-Transportation Related Occupations
Freight transportation is a major employer, with truck driving by far the largest freight transportation occupation in the United States. There were approximately 2.9 million truck drivers in 2004; about 54 percent of these professionals drive heavy/tractor trailer trucks, 32 percent drive light/delivery service trucks, and about 14 percent are driver/sales workers.
Table in Excel format | Historical data
| Occupation (SOC code) | 1999 | 2000 | 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle operators, pipeline operators, and primary support |  | ||
| Driver/sales worker (53-3031) | 385,210 | 373,660 | 406,910 |
| Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer (53-3032) | 1,558,400 | 1,577,070 | 1,553,370 |
| Truck drivers, light or delivery services (53-3033) | 1,085,050 | 1,033,220 | 938,730 |
| Locomotive engineers (53-4011) | 19,940 | 29,390 | 31,180 |
| Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers (53-4013) | 5,070 | 4,020 | 6,170 |
| Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators (53-4021) | 14,500 | 16,830 | 16,410 |
| Railroad conductors and yardmasters (53-4031) | 36,680 | 40,380 | 35,720 |
| Sailors and marine oilers (53-5011) | 27,200 | 30,090 | 27,570 |
| Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels (53-5021) | 20,660 | 21,080 | 25,200 |
| Ship engineers (53-5031) | 6,800 | 7,370 | 10,330 |
| Bridge and lock tenders (53-6011) | 6,970 | 4,790 | 3,500 |
| Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators (53-7071) | 6,940 | 6,510 | 4,680 |
| Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers (53-7072) | 13,480 | 13,730 | 9,810 |
| Transportation equipment manufacturing and maintenance occupations | | ||
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (49-3031) | 273,320 | 258,800 | 251,430 |
| Rail car repairers (49-3043) | 7,230 | 10,620 | 18,140 |
| Transportation Infrastructure construction and maintenance occupations | | ||
| Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators (47-4061) | 8,620 | 9,940 | 10,430 |
| Signal and track switch repairers (49-9097) | 3,720 | 5,540 | 7,780 |
| Dredge operators (53-7031) | 1,910 | 3,100 | 1,730 |
| Secondary support service occupations | | ||
| Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance (43-5032) | 171,560 | 167,180 | 165,910 |
| Postal service mail carriers (43-5052) | 352,550 | 354,980 | 344,050 |
| Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks (43-5071) | 886,230 | 864,530 | 747,270 |
| Transportation inspectors (53-6051) | 22,440 | 26,520 | 24,140 |
| Tank car, truck, and ship loaders (53-7121) | 20,830 | 17,480 | 16,530 |
Key: SOC = Standard Occupational Classification.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, 2004 (Washington, DC: May 2004), available at http://www.bls.gov/oes as of July 5, 2005.
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