Office of Operations Freight Management and Operations

Freight Facts and Figures 2012

Table 4-5. Employment in Selected Freight Transportation and Freight Transportation-Related Occupations: 2000 and 2009-2011

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 approximately 2.67 million truck drivers in 2011; about 57 percent of these professionals drive heavy/tractor trailer trucks, 29 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 may be an issue in the future.

Table in Excel format | Historical data

Occupation (SOC code) 2000 2009 2010 2011
Vehicle operators, pipeline operators, and primary support
Driver/sales worker (53-3031) 373,660 363,050 371,670 387,950
Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer (53-3032) 1,577,070 1,550,930 1,466,740 1,508,620
Truck drivers, light or delivery services (53-3033) 1,033,220 834,780 780,260 771,210
Locomotive engineers (53-4011) 29,390 43,560 40,750 38,790
Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers (53-4013) 4,020 5,360 5,600 5,060
Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators (53-4021) 16,830 24,270 22,760 23,830
Railroad conductors and yardmasters (53-4031) 40,380 41,540 42,700 44,280
Sailors and marine oilers (53-5011) 30,090 31,950 31,690 31,280
Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels (53-5021) 21,080 30,450 29,280 30,220
Ship engineers (53-5031) 7,370 10,850 9,470 10,010
Bridge and lock tenders (53-6011) 4,790 4,290 3,250 3,420
Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators (53-7071) 6,510 4,160 4,040 3,870
Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers (53-7072) 13,730 10,310 9,440 12,150
Transportation equipment manufacturing and maintenance occupations
Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (49-3031) 258,800 232,810 222,770 222,940
Rail car repairers (49-3043) 10,620 20,910 19,280 19,480
Transportation infrastructure construction and maintenance occupations
Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators (47-4061) 9,940 14,880 15,520 15,590
Signal and track switch repairers (49-9097) 5,540 6,450 7,400 8,300
Dredge operators (53-7031) 3,100 1,990 1,720 1,590
Secondary support service occupations
Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance (43-5032) 167,180 185,100 180,540 182,310
Postal service mail carriers (43-5052) 354,980 339,030 324,990 315,330
Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks (43-5071) 864,530 715,130 687,850 687,940
Transportation inspectors (53-6051) 26,520 24,250 24,280 24,810
Tank car, truck, and ship loaders (53-7121) 17,480 11,560 10,390 10,960

Key: SOC = Standard Occupational Classification

Source:

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, National Occupational Employment and Wages, 2011, available at www.bls.gov/oes as of July 16, 2012.

 


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