Jobs in transportation and warehousing have an average Still needs a human score of 77.6 out of 100 (higher is safer), 3.6 points above the average for all jobs of 74.0 and 10th of 37 among the sectors (1st is least exposed). The largest job here is heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (1,161,000 workers, 79/100 ↑ safer), and of the jobs more common here than across the economy, reservation and transportation ticket agents and travel clerks is the most exposed (60/100 ↑ safer).
77.6/100↑ safer
4.5%
10.4%
+3.1%
How the work here could shift
The share of workers in this sector whose job would sit in each band, from today to 2060.
Today
42%
of workers in this sector are in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
0% are in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
By 2045
4%
of workers in this sector would still be in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
43% would be in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
By 2060
4%
of workers in this sector would still be in jobs that mostly need a person (our top band, Nah.)
89% would be in jobs AI could largely do (Largely.)
Each job's score moves towards the bottom band (Largely: AI could largely do the job) by the year it could be largely automated, slowly at first and faster later, as adoption usually goes. Each job is run as ten scenarios across its replacement range, so every figure mixes early and late outcomes. The model stops at 2060. How the timeline works
Will AI replace the job?Largely.Mostly.Partly.A little.Nah.
Show the data
| Year | Largely | Mostly | Partly | A little | Nah |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Today (2026) | 0.0% | 0.0% | 3.1% | 55.1% | 41.9% |
| 2030 | 0.0% | 1.3% | 14.8% | 60.9% | 23.0% |
| 2035 | 7.2% | 9.4% | 33.8% | 43.9% | 5.6% |
| 2040 | 18.1% | 30.8% | 34.7% | 12.0% | 4.4% |
| 2045 | 43.2% | 33.4% | 15.6% | 3.4% | 4.4% |
| 2050 | 64.4% | 24.8% | 3.0% | 3.4% | 4.4% |
| 2055 | 83.9% | 8.3% | 0.0% | 3.4% | 4.4% |
| 2060 | 89.2% | 3.0% | 0.0% | 3.4% | 4.4% |
The largest jobs in transportation and warehousing
| # | Job | Still needs a human | Evidence | Could be largely automated | Workers in the sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers | 79↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2044–2060+ | 1,160,900 |
| 2 | Laborers and Freight, Stock, and Material Movers, Hand | 84↑ saferAI replace? Nah.workers of 2 related jobs | D | 2044–2060+ | 948,600 |
| 3 | Light Truck Drivers | 80↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 468,100 |
| 4 | Stockers and Order Fillers | 79↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2044–2060+ | 449,900 |
| 5 | Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | 88↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 342,600 |
| 6 | Bus Drivers, School | 80↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 141,700 |
| 7 | Flight Attendants | 80↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2043–2060+ | 132,600 |
| 8 | Shipping, Receiving, and Inventory Clerks | 70↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2056 | 128,600 |
| 9 | General and Operations Managers | 72↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2036–2051 | 118,300 |
| 10 | First-Line Supervisors of Helpers, Laborers, and Material Movers, Hand | 71↑ saferAI replace? A little.workers of 2 related jobs | D | 2043–2060+ | 100,400 |
Common jobs here that AI can do most of
| # | Job | Still needs a human | Evidence | Could be largely automated | Workers in the sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Customer Service Representatives | 51↑ saferAI replace? Partly. | D | 2034–2041 | 98,300 |
| 2 | Market Research Analysts and Marketing Specialists | 54↑ saferAI replace? Partly.workers of 2 related jobs | D | 2034–2042 | 9,700 |
| 3 | Sales Representatives of Services, Except Advertising, Insurance, Financial Services, and Travel | 54↑ saferAI replace? Partly. | D | 2034–2042 | 57,800 |
| 4 | Sales Representatives, Wholesale and Manufacturing, Except Technical and Scientific Products | 57↑ saferAI replace? Partly. | D | 2034–2044 | 9,500 |
| 5 | Reservation and Transportation Ticket Agents and Travel Clerks | 60↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2045 | 93,500 |
| 6 | Bookkeeping, Accounting, and Auditing Clerks | 60↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2046 | 39,000 |
| 7 | Human Resources Specialists | 61↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2045 | 26,400 |
| 8 | Secretaries and Administrative Assistants, Except Legal, Medical, and Executive | 61↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2047 | 36,300 |
| 9 | Dispatchers, Except Police, Fire, and Ambulance | 62↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2046 | 83,400 |
| 10 | Billing and Posting Clerks | 62↑ saferAI replace? A little. | D | 2035–2047 | 10,900 |
Common jobs here that most need a human
| # | Job | Still needs a human | Evidence | Could be largely automated | Workers in the sector |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rail-Track Laying and Maintenance Equipment Operators | 89↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2048–2060+ | 11,700 |
| 2 | Industrial Truck and Tractor Operators | 88↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 342,600 |
| 3 | Packaging and Filling Machine Operators and Tenders | 87↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 8,300 |
| 4 | Cleaners of Vehicles and Equipment | 87↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 22,700 |
| 5 | Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers | 87↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 6,900 |
| 6 | Rail Car Repairers | 86↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 16,000 |
| 7 | Railroad Brake, Signal, and Switch Operators and Locomotive Firers | 86↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 9,800 |
| 8 | Janitors and Cleaners, Except Maids and Housekeeping Cleaners | 86↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2046–2060+ | 29,000 |
| 9 | Packers and Packagers, Hand | 86↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 86,200 |
| 10 | Sailors and Marine Oilers | 86↑ saferAI replace? Nah. | D | 2044–2060+ | 22,900 |
Related sectors: Trucking, Warehousing and storage
How this is worked out
- The average weights every job's Still needs a human score by how many people do it in this sector, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' industry employment data. Jobs cover 99.5% of the sector's employment.
- Job scores are national: an accountant in retail scores the same as an accountant anywhere. The sector figure reflects its mix of jobs, not how its employers use AI; the Census figure shows that.