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The differences between cdl class a drivers and line haul drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a cdl class a driver and a line haul driver. Additionally, a line haul driver has an average salary of $53,992, which is higher than the $52,203 average annual salary of a cdl class a driver.
The top three skills for a cdl class a driver include OTR, customer service and hazmat. The most important skills for a line haul driver are CDL, hazmat, and safety regulations.
| CDL Class A Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $52,203 | $53,992 |
| Hourly rate | $25.10 | $25.96 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 696,903 | 871,646 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A CDL Class A driver is a driver with a Class A commercial driver's license. A commercial driver's license is necessary to operate large, heavy, and placarded vehicles. There are several classifications of a commercial driver's license, and Class A is for a car towing a trailer with a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds (5 t). Drivers with this type of license are entitled to operate a commercial motor vehicle such as passenger buses, tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, and dump trucks. They have the choice to add endorsements to their CDL, which allows them to operate particular types of commercial motor vehicles.
A line haul truck driver is in charge of transporting heavy materials using large vehicles such as tractor-trailers, ensuring timeliness and efficiency. Their responsibilities typically revolve around securing documents or invoices, adhering to specific routes, driving for long durations, liaising and building positive relationships with companies, and ensuring the safety and quality of all cargo. Furthermore, as a line haul truck driver, it is essential to abide by all the traffic laws and perform regular vehicle maintenance checks to ensure a safe and productive work environment.
Cdl class a drivers and line haul drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| CDL Class A Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Average salary | $52,203 | $53,992 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $75,000 | Between $37,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Fargo, ND |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Mid-South Management | Tyson Foods |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a cdl class a driver and a line haul driver in terms of educational background:
| CDL Class A Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between cdl class a drivers' and line haul drivers' demographics:
| CDL Class A Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 3.6% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 3.6% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |