Who wants to drive?

If you’re looking to hop behind the wheel to deliver goods locally, operate a public transit vehicle or school bus, or hit the open road to haul cargo for long distances, the chances are high that you’ll steer your way into a new career.

In the third quarter (July to September) of 2022, there were 37,310 job vacancies nationwide in the motor vehicle and transit drivers occupational group. This was little changed from the second quarter (April to June) of 2022, but a 17.1% increase from the 31,860 vacancies observed the year before.

Transport truck drivers

The 26,905 job openings for transport truck drivers accounted for the highest proportion of these vacancies in the third quarter of 2022. This proportion was a slight decrease from the all-time high of 28,210 job openings observed in the second quarter of 2022, but was more than a threefold increase from 7,260 in the first quarter (January to March) of 2016. 

Transport truck drivers operate various types of heavy trucks, including tractor-trailers, dump trucks, tow trucks, and those with dangerous goods, covering all distances.

In every quarter we’ve tracked going back to 2015, more than 9 in 10 vacancies for transport truck drivers were for full-time positions. In the third quarter of 2022, the average hourly wage offered was $27.80 for full-time positions and $22.25 for part-time.

In another indication of high demand, about 3 in 10 job vacancies (30.5%) in the third quarter of 2022 required less than one year of experience, double the 15.3% of openings in the first quarter of 2016. Roughly one-half (50.2%) of openings in the third quarter of 2022 required one year to less than three years of experience.

Delivery and courier service drivers

There were 6,545 job vacancies for delivery and courier service drivers in the third quarter of 2022, down from the all-time high of 7,395 openings in the fourth quarter (October to December) of 2021.

The average hourly wage offered was $17.85, and about two-thirds (65.9%) of these vacancies were for full-time roles. Compared with transport truck drivers, these roles typically require less experience—about two-thirds (65.8%) of vacancies required less than one year of experience, while 29.0% required one year to less than three years.

Bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators

The rollback of COVID-19 pandemic restrictions has meant an increase in ridership on public transit and other forms of travel and, alongside it, a need for more people to operate all the vehicles.

Since the 1,540 job vacancies for bus drivers, subway operators and other transit operators observed in the first quarter of 2021, there has been an increase in each subsequent quarter to 3,455 in the third quarter of 2022—an all-time high. Almost two-thirds (65.1%) of vacancies in that quarter lasted 90 days or more, up from 58.8% in the first quarter of 2020 (at the onset of COVID-19), a sign that these jobs are harder to fill than they were pre-pandemic.

Taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs

There has been less demand for these services in recent years, while demand for ridesharing services increased. There were 410 job vacancies for taxi and limousine drivers and chauffeurs in the third quarter of 2022, down from 845 in the previous quarter and down from 960 in the same quarter one year earlier.

In the third quarter of 2022, nearly one in two vacant positions (47.7%) went unfilled for 120 days or more.