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 and freight transportation-related occupation in the United States. In 2002, there were approximately 2.9 million truck drivers, including driver/sales workers. Of these 2.9 million drivers about 53 percent drive heavy/tractor trailer trucks, 34 percent drive light/delivery service trucks, and about 13 percent are drivers/sales workers.
| Occupation (SOC code) | 1999 | 2001 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle operators, pipeline operators, and primary support |  |
||
| Driver/sales worker (53-3031) | 385,210 | 378,220 | 368,730 |
| Truck drivers, heavy and tractor-trailer (53-3032) | 1,558,400 | 1,548,480 | 1,520,880 |
| Truck drivers, light or delivery services (53-3033) | 1,085,050 | 996,000 | 977,920 |
| Locomotive engineers (53-4011) | 19,940 | 30,730 | 28,250 |
| Rail yard engineers, dinkey operators, and hostlers (53-4013) | 5,070 | 4,840 | 4,600 |
| Railroad brake, signal, and switch operators (53-4021) | 14,500 | 17,070 | 15,030 |
| Railroad conductors and yardmasters (53-4031) | 36,680 | 40,910 | 38,070 |
| Sailors and marine oilers (53-5011) | 27,200 | 28,650 | 25,360 |
| Captains, mates, and pilots of water vessels (53-5021) | 20,660 | 22,180 | 22,530 |
| Ship engineers (53-5031) | 6,800 | 7,470 | 8,020 |
| Bridge and lock tenders (53-6011) | 6,970 | 4,500 | 3,900 |
| Gas compressor and gas pumping station operators (53-7071) | 6,940 | 6,070 | 6,920 |
| Pump operators, except wellhead pumpers (53-7072) | 13,480 | 12,920 | 12,360 |
|
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| Transportation equipment manufacturing and maintenance occupations | |
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| Bus and truck mechanics and diesel engine specialists (49-3031) | 273,320 | 254,420 | 254,470 |
| Rail car repairers (49-3043) | 7,230 | 11,860 | 13,520 |
|
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| Transportation Infrastructure construction and maintenance occupations | |
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| Paving, surfacing, and tamping equipment operators (47-2071) | 58,410 | 57,880 | 58,760 |
| Highway maintenance workers (47-4051) | 139,540 | 148,390 | 146,290 |
| Rail-track laying and maintenance equipment operators (47-4061) | 8,620 | 11,680 | 10,450 |
| Signal and track switch repairers (49-9097) | 3,720 | 8,550 | 7,990 |
| Dredge operators (53-7031) | 1,910 | 2,920 | 2,850 |
|
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| Secondary support service occupations | |
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| Dispatchers, except police, fire, and ambulance (43-5032) | 171,560 | 170,050 | 168,380 |
| Postal service mail carriers (43-5052) | 352,550 | 355,120 | 347,420 |
| Shipping, receiving, and traffic clerks (43-5071) | 886,230 | 802,600 | 792,470 |
| Transportation inspectors (53-6051) | 22,440 | 27,670 | 28,340 |
| Tank car, truck, and ship loaders (53-7121) | 20,830 | 19,430 | 16,960 |
Key: SOC = Standard Occupational Classification.
Source: U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wages, 2002 (Washington, DC: November 2003), available at http://www.bls.gov/oes as of July 6, 2004.
