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Freight Facts and Figures 2011

Table 4-5. Employment in Selected Freight Transportation and Freight Transportation-Related Occupations: 2000-2010

Freight transportation jobs are not limited to for-hire carriers. Truck driving is by far the largest freight transportation occupation in the United States, and many drivers work for retailers and other establishments with shipper-owned trucks. There were nearly 2.62 million truck drivers in 2010; about 56 percent of these professionals drive heavy/tractor trailer trucks, 30 percent drive light/delivery service trucks, and about 14 percent are driver/sales workers. Several industry analysts believe the number of truck drivers is below demand and driver shortages will worsen in the future.

Table in Excel format | Historical data

Occupation (SOC code) 2000 2008 2009 2010
Vehicle operators, pipeline operators, and primary support
Driver/sales worker (53-3031) 373,660 372,720 363,050 371,670
Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer (53-3032) 1,577,070 1,672,580 1,550,930 1,466,740
Truck drivers, light or delivery services (53-3033) 1,033,220 908,960 834,780 780,260
Locomotive engineers (53-4011) 29,390 42,760 43,560 40,750
Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers (53-4013) 4,020 5,480 5,360 5,600
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators (53-4021) 16,830 24,610 24,270 22,760
Railroad conductors and yardmasters (53-4031) 40,380 39,580 41,540 42,700
Sailors and marine oilers (53-5011) 30,090 32,420 31,950 31,690
Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels (53-5021) 21,080 30,600 30,450 29,280
Ship engineers (53-5031) 7,370 11,190 10,850 9,470
Bridge and lock tenders (53-6011) 4,790 4,490 4,290 3,250
Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators (53-7071) 6,510 4,050 4,160 4,040
Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers (53-7072) 13,730 9,280 10,310 9,440
Transportation equipment manufacturing and maintenance occupations
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (49-3031) 258,800 248,620 232,810 222,770
Rail car repairers (49-3043) 10,620 20,780 20,910 19,280
Transportation infrastructure construction and maintenance occupations
Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators (47-4061) 9,940 15,020 14,880 15,520
Signal and track switch repairers (49-9097) 5,540 6,570 6,450 7,400
Dredge operators (53-7031) 3,100 1,910 1,990 1,720
Secondary support service occupations
Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance (43-5032) 167,180 193,210 185,100 180,540
Postal service mail carriers (43-5052) 354,980 354,570 339,030 324,990
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks (43-5071) 864,530 760,950 715,130 687,850
Transportation inspectors (53-6051) 26,520 24,940 24,250 24,280
Tank car, truck, and ship loaders (53-7121) 17,480 12,330 11,560 10,390

Key: SOC = Standard Occupational Classification.

Source:

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Occupational Employment and Wages, 2010, available at www.bls.gov/oes as of August 19, 2011.

 


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