Best Jobs For Former Truck Drivers [2026]

Transitioning from a career in truck driving can be challenging, especially as the industry faces increasing pressures and changes. Many former truck drivers are reassessing their career paths, leading to a shift in the job market.

While educational programs for aspiring truck drivers remain steady, the number of individuals entering this profession is declining, prompting an exploration of alternative career options.

This raises an essential question:

What are former truck drivers pursuing instead?

To find out, we analyzed the resumes of individuals who have transitioned away from truck driving. From thousands of entries, we focused on the top 100 jobs that they moved into.

Given the fascinating insights this analysis revealed, we are excited to share some standout career options for those leaving the truck driving profession.

Top Career Opportunities for Former Truck Drivers

While some of these roles may offer varying degrees of appeal, they represent viable options for those seeking to pivot from truck driving.

The comprehensive list of these career options can be found below.

Ranking of Common Career Paths for Former Truck Drivers

Rank	Job Title	%
1	Driver	5.29%
2	Delivery Driver	2.36%
3	Truck Driver Class A	1.97%
4	Equipment Operator	1.6%
5	Machine Operator	1.17%
6	Owner/operator	1.16%
7	Heavy Equipment Operator	1.0%
8	Forklift Operator	0.97%
9	Security Officer	0.92%
10	CDL Driver	0.83%
11	Customer Service Representative	0.75%
12	Bus Driver	0.73%
13	Local Truck Driver	0.73%
14	Over The Road Driver	0.73%
15	Supervisor	0.65%
16	Material Handler	0.65%
17	Maintenance Technician	0.65%
18	CDL Class A Driver	0.64%
19	Operator	0.63%
20	Welder	0.63%
21	Route Driver	0.63%
22	Operator and Truck Driver	0.62%
23	Owner	0.55%
24	Mechanic	0.55%
25	Technician	0.55%
26	Sales Associate	0.51%
27	Dump Truck Driver	0.5%
28	Company Driver	0.48%
29	Operations Manager	0.46%
30	Security Guard	0.45%
31	Tank Driver	0.45%
32	School Bus Driver	0.43%
33	Tractor-Trailer Driver	0.43%
34	Motor Coach Operator	0.41%
35	Service Technician	0.41%
36	Warehouse Worker	0.39%
37	Transportation Driver	0.37%
38	Class A Driver	0.36%
39	Driver Trainer	0.35%
40	Dispatcher	0.35%
41	Sales Representative	0.35%
42	Delivery Truck Driver	0.32%
43	Assembler	0.31%
44	Manager	0.29%
45	Farm Hand	0.29%
46	Oil Truck Driver	0.29%
47	Motor Transport Operator	0.29%
48	Machinist	0.28%
49	Local Driver	0.27%
50	Motor Vehicle Operator	0.27%
51	Cashier	0.27%
52	Crane Operator	0.27%
53	Warehouse Associate	0.26%
54	Tank Truck Driver	0.26%
55	Foreman	0.26%
56	Production Worker	0.26%
57	Diesel Mechanic	0.25%
58	Driver/Owner Operator	0.25%
59	Self-Employed	0.23%
60	Correction Officer	0.23%
61	Assistant Manager	0.23%
62	Line Haul Driver	0.23%
63	Truck Operator	0.23%
64	Forklift Driver	0.22%
65	Bus Operator	0.22%
66	Team Leader	0.22%
67	Water Truck Driver	0.21%
68	Electrician	0.21%
69	Instructor	0.2%
70	Custodian	0.2%
71	Yard Jockey	0.2%
72	Shuttle Driver	0.2%
73	Production Supervisor	0.2%
74	Truck Driver/Warehouse	0.2%
75	Class B Driver	0.19%
76	Fuel Truck Driver	0.19%
77	Tow Truck Driver	0.18%
78	Ship Worker	0.18%
79	Specialist	0.18%
80	Operation Supervisor	0.18%
81	Crew Leader	0.18%
82	Carpenter	0.18%
83	Store Manager	0.18%
84	Sales Person	0.17%
85	Press Operator	0.17%
86	Field Service Technician	0.17%
87	Computer Numerical Controller Machinist	0.17%
88	Sheet Metal Mechanic	0.17%
89	Order Selector	0.17%
90	Cab Driver	0.17%
91	Customer Service Trainer	0.17%
92	Helper/Driver	0.16%
93	Warehouse Manager	0.16%
94	Police Officer	0.16%
95	Handyman	0.16%
96	Associate	0.16%
97	Commercial Truck Driver	0.16%
98	Inspector	0.15%
99	Haul Truck Driver	0.15%
100	Heavy Truck Driver	0.15%

Most Common Career Paths for Former Truck Drivers

All of these positions represent solid career options, either leveraging skills acquired during truck driving or serving as a gateway to new opportunities.

Methodology for Identifying Top Jobs for Former Truck Drivers

Utilizing data from our extensive database of over 7 million resumes, we examined those that included truck driver in their work history. We then identified the most common job transitions that occurred after their truck driving tenure, ranking them by frequency.

The most intriguing job options were determined by filtering for positions that:

Appeared in less than 1% of all new job postings
Were not included in the top 100 most common jobs from our analysis

By focusing on these criteria, we could highlight unique opportunities for former truck drivers looking to navigate their next career move.

In conclusion, as the job landscape continues to evolve, former truck drivers are finding diverse and rewarding career paths. Whether returning to driving in a different capacity or exploring entirely new fields, there are plenty of options available.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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