AI exposure Transportation and material moving
Will AI replace truck drivers?
Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers. US occupation 53-3032.
The reading
0.0%
of the time truck drivers spend on their work goes on tasks where AI is already being used to do that work.of truck drivers' working hours go on tasks AI has already started taking off their plate.
Ranked 346 of 756 US occupations. No AI use seen in the work yet, along with 410 other occupations.No handover started yet, along with 410 other occupations.
Per cent of working time Square-law scale
Average US job 7.7%
Among the least exposed jobs there are.Still waiting for liberation.
What AI already does for truck driversWhat truck drivers no longer do alone
O*NET lists 28 tasks for truck drivers. None of them shows meaningful AI use at work yet.
What it does not touch, yetWhat still needs a human
28 of the 28 tasks show no AI use at work in the data.
- Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy.Core task
- Check conditions of trailers after contents have been unloaded to ensure that there has been no damage.Core task
- Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.Core task
- Collect delivery instructions from appropriate sources, verifying instructions and routes.Core task
- Couple or uncouple trailers by changing trailer jack positions, connecting or disconnecting air or electrical lines, or manipulating fifth-wheel locks.Core task
- Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles.Core task
Show the other 22
- Drive trucks to weigh stations before and after loading and along routes in compliance with state regulations.Core task
- Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure.Core task
- Load or unload trucks or help others with loading or unloading, using special loading-related equipment or other equipment as necessary.Core task
- Maintain logs of working hours or of vehicle service or repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations.Core task
- Maneuver trucks into loading or unloading positions, following signals from loading crew and checking that vehicle and loading equipment are properly positioned.Core task
- Obtain receipts or signatures for delivered goods and collect payment for services when required.Core task
- 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.Core task
- Perform basic vehicle maintenance tasks, such as adding oil, fuel, or radiator fluid, performing minor repairs, or washing trucks.Core task
- Perform emergency roadside repairs, such as changing tires or installing light bulbs, tire chains, or spark plugs.Core task
- 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.Core task
- Read and interpret maps to determine vehicle routes.Core task
- Read bills of lading to determine assignment details.Core task
- Remove debris from loaded trailers.Core task
- Report vehicle defects, accidents, traffic violations, or damage to the vehicles.Core task
- Follow appropriate safety procedures for transporting dangerous goods.
- Follow special cargo-related procedures, such as checking refrigeration systems for frozen foods or providing food or water for livestock.
- Give directions to laborers who are packing goods and moving them onto trailers.
- Install or remove special equipment, such as tire chains, grader blades, plow blades, or sanders.
- Inventory and inspect goods to be moved to determine quantities and conditions.
- 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.
- Secure cargo for transport, using ropes, blocks, chain, binders, or covers.
- Wrap and secure goods using pads, packing paper, containers, or straps.
How that compares
Among the 44 transportation and material moving occupations, truck drivers rank 20. The group averages 0.6%, and its most exposed job is Passenger Attendants at 11.7%. The average US occupation sits at 7.7%.
Level with 0.0%
What this does and does not mean
Exposure is observed use, not a forecast. Anthropic maps work conversations with Claude onto the tasks O*NET lists for each job and asks, of the tasks AI could speed up, which are actually being used for at work. A use that does the task outright counts in full and a use that assists a person counts half. The task scores are averaged into the occupation figure by the share of time spent on each task.
A high figure means AI is already part of how this work gets done. It does not mean anyone has been replaced. Anthropic's own reading of the labour market finds no systematic rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting exposed jobs.No measurable rise in unemployment among exposed workers so far, and about 14% fewer 22 to 25 year olds starting these jobs. Gap years for everyone. Labor market impacts, 5 March 2026.
Task list and titles from O*NET 31.0 by the US Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, used under the CC BY 4.0 licence. Scores from the Anthropic Economic Index (CC BY). Checked 1 November 2026. How the ranking works.