Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers

Maintain logs of working hours or of vehicle service or repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations.

AI: Fully automatable - Maintaining logs of hours and vehicle service is readily automatable via telematics, scheduling software, and document generation that can be made compliant with regulations.

Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy.

AI: Fully automatable - Document OCR and validation systems can reliably check load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy at scale.

Read bills of lading to determine assignment details.

AI: Fully automatable - AI/NLP systems can parse bills of lading and accurately extract assignment details in most operational contexts.

Collect delivery instructions from appropriate sources, verifying instructions and routes.

AI: Fully automatable - Transportation management systems and AI can aggregate, verify, and reconcile delivery instructions and routes from multiple sources automatically.

Read and interpret maps to determine vehicle routes.

AI: Fully automatable - AI systems already can read and interpret maps and compute optimal routes using up-to-date geospatial and traffic data.

Operate equipment, such as truck cab computers, CB radios, phones, or global positioning systems (GPS) equipment to exchange necessary information with bases, supervisors, or other drivers.

AI: Fully automatable - AI can fully operate in-cab computers and communication systems (including phone/GPS and integrated radio interfaces) via software and voice control where integrated.

Plan or adjust routes based on changing conditions, using computer equipment, global positioning systems (GPS) equipment, or other navigation devices, to minimize fuel consumption and carbon emissions.

AI: Fully automatable - Route planning and dynamic adjustment to minimize fuel use and emissions is well within current AI/optimization and telematics capabilities using real-time data.

Operate idle reduction systems or auxiliary power systems to generate power from alternative sources, such as fuel cells, to reduce idling time, to heat or cool truck cabins, or to provide power for other equipment.

AI: Fully automatable - Onboard vehicle control systems, telematics, and automated engine-management can already control idle-reduction and auxiliary power systems (including battery/fuel-cell management) without human intervention.

Give directions to laborers who are packing goods and moving them onto trailers.

AI: Fully automatable - AI dispatch systems, route/packing optimization software, and voice/visual instructions can fully generate and deliver clear, actionable directions to laborers in loading contexts used in industry today.

Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.

AI: Partial - AI and telematics can monitor systems and run diagnostics to flag issues, but comprehensive physical inspections of mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment still require human hands and judgment in most cases.

Follow appropriate safety procedures for transporting dangerous goods.

AI: Partial - AI can provide procedure checklists, monitoring, routing, and compliance alerts for hazardous materials, but it cannot yet autonomously handle all real‑world safety contingencies and regulatory responsibilities independently.

Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure.

AI: Partial - Computer vision and sensors can detect many signs of insecure loads and aid inspections, but some critical tactile and nuanced checks for cargo security still rely on human inspection or specialized actuators.

Secure cargo for transport, using ropes, blocks, chain, binders, or covers.

AI: Partial - AI can plan and instruct how to secure cargo and even control specialized equipment, but reliably performing the varied manual tasks of tying, chaining, and blocking cargo across contexts is not fully automated.

Follow special cargo-related procedures, such as checking refrigeration systems for frozen foods or providing food or water for livestock.

AI: Partial - Some cargo procedures (e.g., refrigeration monitoring) can be automated, but tasks like providing water or physically tending livestock and other hands-on procedures still require humans.

Maneuver trucks into loading or unloading positions, following signals from loading crew and checking that vehicle and loading equipment are properly positioned.

AI: Partial - AI enables assisted or limited autonomous positioning in controlled environments and can interpret crew signals, but complex, dynamic maneuvering with human loaders in general settings remains partially manual as of 2025.

Report vehicle defects, accidents, traffic violations, or damage to the vehicles.

AI: Partial - Partially automatable via telematics and computer-vision incident detection that can generate reports, but human verification and edge-case judgment remain necessary.

Obtain receipts or signatures for delivered goods and collect payment for services when required.

AI: Partial - Electronic receipts, e-signatures, and digital payments can be automated for many deliveries, but handling cash or contested payments still requires human intervention.

Drive trucks with capacities greater than 3 tons, including tractor-trailer combinations, to transport and deliver products, livestock, or other materials.

AI: Partial - Highway/autonomous long‑haul driving is commercialized in limited geofenced settings but cannot yet safely handle all driving contexts, so only partial automation exists.

Drive trucks to weigh stations before and after loading and along routes in compliance with state regulations.

AI: Partial - Routing, preclearance, and notifications to weigh stations can be automated, but physically driving the vehicle to them requires human drivers or limited autonomy.

Couple or uncouple trailers by changing trailer jack positions, connecting or disconnecting air or electrical lines, or manipulating fifth-wheel locks.

AI: Partial - Physical coupling and uncoupling require dexterous manual work and specialized equipment not widely automated, though AI can guide or control such equipment in limited settings.

Check conditions of trailers after contents have been unloaded to ensure that there has been no damage.

AI: Partial - Automated vision inspections can detect many forms of trailer damage at terminals, but variability in conditions and subtle damage still necessitate human checks.

Inventory and inspect goods to be moved to determine quantities and conditions.

AI: Partial - Inventory counts and basic visual inspection can be automated with RFID/barcode scanners and computer vision, but nuanced condition assessments and exceptions still need human judgment.

Perform basic vehicle maintenance tasks, such as adding oil, fuel, or radiator fluid or performing minor repairs.

AI: Partial - Some maintenance actions like automated fueling or diagnostic alerts can be automated, but most fluid top-ups and minor repairs still require a human technician.

Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles.

AI: Partial - Requires physical manipulation; some trailers have powered landing-gear systems that can be controlled automatically, but many trailers still require human cranking.

Wrap and secure goods using pads, packing paper, containers, or straps.

AI: Partial - Wrapping and securing goods is automated in structured packaging lines, but varied trailer loads often require human dexterity and judgment, so automation is partial.

Load or unload trucks or help others with loading or unloading, using special loading-related equipment or other equipment as necessary.

AI: Partial - Loading/unloading involves diverse physical tasks; forklifts and container handling are automated in some environments but many truck loading scenarios remain manual and only partially automatable.

Remove debris from loaded trailers.

AI: Partial - Removing debris from trailers is primarily a physical cleanup task; limited mechanization exists but most situations still depend on human labor.

Install or remove special equipment, such as tire chains, grader blades, plow blades, or sanders.

AI: Partial - Installing/removing chains, plow blades, and similar equipment is manual and context-dependent; some mechanized aids exist but full automation is uncommon.

Perform emergency roadside repairs, such as changing tires or installing light bulbs, tire chains, or spark plugs.

AI: Partial - Robotic and AI diagnostic guidance can assist and some automated tools exist, but flexible, unpredictable roadside mechanical repairs (changing tires, fitting chains, etc.) still require human dexterity and judgment in many cases.

Drive electric or hybrid-electric powered trucks or alternative fuel-powered trucks to transport and deliver products, livestock, or other materials.

AI: Partial - Autonomous driving for trucks is mature in limited, geofenced or supervised highway contexts, but fully unsupervised driving across all delivery scenarios and conditions is not yet generally achievable by 2025.

Operate trucks equipped with snowplows or sander attachments to maintain roads in winter weather.

AI: Partial - Automated snowplow and sander systems exist for constrained routes and conditions, but reliably operating in varied winter-weather complexity across all road types remains only partially automated.