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Motor Vehicle Operators

Motor Vehicle Operators transport people, goods, and materials using various types of vehicles ranging from ambulances and school buses to delivery trucks and taxis. These professionals work in diverse settings including hospitals, schools, transportation companies, and delivery services, ensuring safe and timely transport while maintaining proper documentation and vehicle safety standards.

Median Annual Pay
$47,831
Range: $20,800 - $82,660
Training Time
Less than 6 months
AI Resilience
🟠In Transition
Education
High school diploma or equivalent

🎬Career Video

πŸ€–AI Resilience Assessment

AI Resilience Score

Score 3/6: growing job demand, limited human advantage means AI will assist but humans remain essential

🟑AI-Augmented

How we calculated this:

AI Exposure
Medium+1

33% of tasks can be accelerated by AI

Job Growth
Growing+2

+9% projected (2024-2034)

Human Advantage
Weak+0

EPOCH score: 9/25

Total Score3/6
Methodology: v2.0 - GPTs are GPTs / BLS / EPOCH Additive ScoringUpdated: 2026-01-09

πŸ“‹Key Responsibilities

  • β€’Remove and replace soiled linens or equipment to maintain sanitary conditions.
  • β€’Drive ambulances or assist ambulance drivers in transporting sick, injured, or convalescent persons.
  • β€’Report facts concerning accidents or emergencies to hospital personnel or law enforcement officials.
  • β€’Place patients on stretchers, and load stretchers into ambulances, usually with assistance from other attendants.
  • β€’Accompany and assist emergency medical technicians on calls.
  • β€’Replace supplies and disposable items on ambulances.
  • β€’Perform minor maintenance on emergency medical services vehicles, such as ambulances.
  • β€’Clean and wash rigs, ambulances, or equipment.

πŸ’‘Inside This Career

Motor vehicle operators spend their days navigating roads and highways while managing the safe transport of passengers, goods, or essential services. Their work typically begins with pre-trip preparationsβ€”conducting vehicle inspections, checking fluid levels, reviewing route plans, and ensuring all safety equipment is properly functioning. Once on the road, they monitor traffic conditions, weather patterns, and road hazards while maintaining constant awareness of their vehicle's performance and cargo status. Throughout the day, they communicate with dispatchers, clients, or supervisors via radio or mobile devices to coordinate schedules, report delays, and receive updated instructions.

The work environment varies dramatically depending on specialization, ranging from bustling city streets and school zones to cross-country highways and medical facilities. Some operators interact extensively with the publicβ€”helping passengers board safely, providing customer service during deliveries, or offering reassurance during medical transports. Others work more independently, focusing on long-distance freight hauling or specialized cargo delivery. Many collaborate closely with loading crews, medical personnel, school administrators, or retail staff to ensure smooth operations and timely service.

Daily responsibilities extend beyond driving to include maintaining detailed logs of hours worked, routes traveled, and services provided. Operators regularly perform basic vehicle maintenance, handle paperwork such as delivery receipts or incident reports, and adapt to unexpected situations like traffic delays, mechanical issues, or emergency detours. Whether transporting students to school, delivering merchandise to stores, or providing critical medical transport, motor vehicle operators play an essential role in keeping communities connected and commerce flowing smoothly.

πŸ“ˆCareer Progression

What does this mean?

This shows how earnings typically grow with experience. Entry level represents starting salaries, while Expert shows top earners (90th percentile). Most workers reach mid-career earnings within 5-10 years. Figures are national averages and vary by location and employer.

1
Entry (10th %ile)
0-2 years experience
$20,800
$18,720 - $22,880
2
Early Career (25th %ile)
2-6 years experience
$25,900
$23,310 - $28,490
3
Mid-Career (Median)
5-15 years experience
$35,420
$31,878 - $38,962
4
Experienced (75th %ile)
10-20 years experience
$46,640
$41,976 - $51,304
5
Expert (90th %ile)
15-30 years experience
$61,080
$54,972 - $67,188

πŸ“šEducation & Training

Requirements

  • β€’Entry Education: High school diploma or equivalent
  • β€’Experience: Some experience helpful
  • β€’On-the-job Training: Few months to one year

Time & Cost

Education Duration
0-0 years (typically 0)
Estimated Education Cost
$0 - $0
Can earn while learning
Source: college board (2024)
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πŸ’»Technology Skills

GPS/navigationDispatch systemsMicrosoft OfficePatient tracking softwareRoute optimization softwarePOS systemsInventory trackingElectronic logging devices (ELD)Fleet management appsLoad trackingCommunication systemsRoute optimizationDelivery tracking appsFleet management systemsGPS/routing software

⭐Key Abilities

β€’Oral Comprehension
β€’Problem Sensitivity
β€’Oral Expression
β€’Deductive Reasoning
β€’Near Vision
β€’Speech Recognition
β€’Written Comprehension
β€’Inductive Reasoning
β€’Information Ordering
β€’Spatial Orientation

🏷️Also Known As

Motor Vehicle OperatorsAmbulance AttendantAmbulance DriverCare AttendantCertified Emergency Vehicle Technician (CEV Technician)Chair Car DriverClass B DriverCPR Ambulance Driver (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Ambulance Driver)DriverDriver Medic+20 more

πŸ“‘Specializations

This career includes 9 specialized roles with different focuses and compensation levels.

πŸ”—Related Careers

Other careers in transportation

πŸ”—Data Sources

Last updated: 2026-01-09

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