Also called: Fleet Owner, Motor Carrier Owner
Owns and runs a trucking business, from a few trucks to hundreds, finding freight, hiring drivers, and managing money.
You might start the day checking where every truck is on a map, then negotiate rates with a shipper, then deal with a broken-down truck in Nebraska. Many owners began as drivers themselves and still jump in a cab when needed.
Highly variable: small fleets can earn little in a bad freight market; large fleet owners can earn much more.
Approximate: anchored on Bureau of Labor Statistics data for a broader job group.
High school diploma, about 8 years after high school. No degree required; most build experience as drivers or dispatchers. Business and accounting skills are essential.
Ways in: On-the-job training, Self-taught, 4-year college. Training cost: Under $15k.
Majors to look at: Business Administration, Supply Chain Management.
Growing about average. Depends on the freight cycle; many small carriers open and close each year.
Low risk for 10 years. AI load boards and route tools cut paperwork; finding customers, hiring drivers and managing cash stay human.
Classes: Business or accounting, Economics, Driver's education.
Official data: O*NET occupation 11-1021.
Career Universe is an early version. Pay, training and AI-risk figures are estimates to start your own research, not verified facts. The research was written with AI research assistants, checked by validation scripts and spot-checked by hand. Check anything important with schools, employers and official sources. How the numbers work.