Freight Facts and Figures 2009
Table 4-4. Employment in Selected Freight Transportation and Freight Transportation-Related Occupations: 2000-2008
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 3 million truck drivers in 2008; 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 driver shortages will worsen in the future.
Table in Excel format | Historical data
| Occupation (SOC code) |
2000 |
2005 |
2007 |
2008 |
| Vehicle operators, pipeline operators, and primary support |
| Driver/sales worker (53-3031) |
373,660 |
396,680 |
382,360 |
372,720 |
| Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer (53-3032) |
1,577,070 |
1,673,950 |
1,693,590 |
1,672,580 |
| Truck drivers, light or delivery services (53-3033) |
1,033,220 |
941,590 |
922,900 |
908,960 |
| Locomotive engineers (53-4011) |
29,390 |
36,870 |
41,760 |
42,760 |
| Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers (53-4013) |
4,020 |
5,820 |
4,950 |
5,480 |
| Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators (53-4021) |
16,830 |
22,810 |
23,120 |
24,610 |
| Railroad conductors and yardmasters (53-4031) |
40,380 |
37,110 |
37,540 |
39,580 |
| Sailors and marine oilers (53-5011) |
30,090 |
31,690 |
32,520 |
32,420 |
| Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels (53-5021) |
21,080 |
29,170 |
30,540 |
30,600 |
| Ship engineers (53-5031) |
7,370 |
14,190 |
13,710 |
11,190 |
| Bridge and lock tenders (53-6011) |
4,790 |
3,700 |
4,750 |
4,490 |
| Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators (53-7071) |
6,510 |
3,900 |
4,230 |
4,050 |
| Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers (53-7072) |
13,730 |
10,030 |
10,400 |
9,280 |
| Transportation equipment manufacturing and maintenance occupations |
| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (49-3031) |
258,800 |
254,850 |
250,370 |
248,620 |
| Rail car repairers (49-3043) |
10,620 |
23,810 |
23,190 |
20,780 |
| Transportation infrastructure construction and maintenance occupations |
| Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators (47-4061) |
9,940 |
13,680 |
14,050 |
15,020 |
| Signal and track switch repairers (49-9097) |
5,540 |
5,980 |
6,090 |
6,570 |
| Dredge operators (53-7031) |
3,100 |
1,780 |
1,910 |
1,910 |
| Secondary support service occupations |
| Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance (43-5032) |
167,180 |
185,410 |
190,190 |
193,210 |
| Postal service mail carriers (43-5052) |
354,980 |
346,990 |
348,070 |
354,570 |
| Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks (43-5071) |
864,530 |
763,350 |
755,790 |
760,950 |
| Transportation inspectors (53-6051) |
26,520 |
23,790 |
24,130 |
24,940 |
| Tank car, truck, and ship loaders (53-7121) |
17,480 |
15,360 |
14,870 |
12,330 |
Key: SOC = Standard Occupational Classification.
Source:
U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Occupational Employment and Wages, 2008 (Washington, DC: May 2009), available at www.bls.gov/oes as of May 13, 2009.
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