Table 4-4: Employment in Selected Freight Transportation and Freight Transportation-Related Occupations
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 more than 3 million truck drivers in 2006; about 56 percent of these professionals drive heavy/tractor trailer trucks, 31 percent drive light/delivery service trucks, and about 13 percent are driver/sales workers. Many industry analysts believe the number of truck drivers is below demand and that driver shortages will worsen in the future.
Table in Excel format | Historical data
| Occupation (SOC code) | 2000 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle operators, pipeline operators, and primary support |  | |||
| Driver/sales worker (53-3031) | 373,660 | 406,910 | 400,530 | 396,680 |
| Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer (53-3032) | 1,577,070 | 1,553,370 | 1,624,740 | 1,673,950 |
| Truck drivers, light or delivery services (53-3033) | 1,033,220 | 938,730 | 938,280 | 941,590 |
| Locomotive engineers (53-4011) | 29,390 | 31,180 | 37,390 | 36,870 |
| Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers (53-4013) | 4,020 | 6,170 | 6,970 | 5,820 |
| Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators (53-4021) | 16,830 | 16,410 | 20,700 | 22,810 |
| Railroad conductors and yardmasters (53-4031) | 40,380 | 35,720 | 38,330 | 37,110 |
| Sailors and marine oilers (53-5011) | 30,090 | 27,570 | 31,090 | 31,690 |
| Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels (53-5021) | 21,080 | 25,200 | 28,570 | 29,170 |
| Ship engineers (53-5031) | 7,370 | 10,330 | 13,240 | 14,190 |
| Bridge and lock tenders (53-6011) | 4,790 | 3,500 | 3,620 | 3,700 |
| Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators (53-7071) | 6,510 | 4,680 | 3,950 | 3,900 |
| Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers (53-7072) | 13,730 | 9,810 | 9,970 | 10,030 |
| Transportation equipment manufacturing and maintenance occupations | | |||
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (49-3031) | 258,800 | 251,430 | 248,280 | 254,850 |
| Rail car repairers (49-3043) | 10,620 | 18,140 | 24,270 | 23,810 |
| Transportation Infrastructure construction and maintenance occupations | | |||
| Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators (47-4061) | 9,940 | 10,430 | 13,510 | 13,680 |
| Signal and track switch repairers (49-9097) | 5,540 | 7,780 | 6,100 | 5,980 |
| Dredge operators (53-7031) | 3,100 | 1,730 | 1,720 | 1,780 |
| Secondary support service occupations | | |||
| Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance (43-5032) | 167,180 | 165,910 | 172,550 | 185,410 |
| Postal service mail carriers (43-5052) | 354,980 | 344,050 | 347,180 | 346,990 |
| Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks (43-5071) | 864,530 | 747,270 | 759,910 | 763,350 |
| Transportation inspectors (53-6051) | 26,520 | 24,140 | 25,570 | 23,790 |
| Tank car, truck, and ship loaders (53-7121) | 17,480 | 16,530 | 15,950 | 15,360 |
Key: SOC = Standard Occupational Classification.
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, 2005 (Washington, DC: May 2005), available at http://www.bls.gov/oes as of June 3, 2007.
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