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The differences between cdl class a drivers and local 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 local driver. Additionally, a cdl class a driver has an average salary of $52,203, which is higher than the $48,160 average annual salary of a local driver.
The top three skills for a cdl class a driver include OTR, customer service and hazmat. The most important skills for a local driver are CDL, DOT, and post-trip inspections.
| CDL Class A Driver | Local Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $52,203 | $48,160 |
| Hourly rate | $25.10 | $23.15 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 696,903 | 786,531 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| 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 local driver is responsible for transporting people and goods and services from the distribution centers to various destinations. Local drivers operate vehicles and inspect the engine for any inconsistencies and system defects that may cause delays with the operations. They also schedule vehicle maintenance and repairs, keeping a record of receipts for the management's validation. A local driver must have excellent driving skills and a clean driving record. Additionally, a local driver should possess excellent communication skills, especially on handling customers' inquiries and concerns and escalating high-level complaints.
Cdl class a drivers and local drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| CDL Class A Driver | Local Driver | |
| Average salary | $52,203 | $48,160 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $75,000 | Between $33,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | Montana |
| Best paying company | Mid-South Management | Mid-South Management |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a cdl class a driver and a local driver in terms of educational background:
| CDL Class A Driver | Local Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between cdl class a drivers' and local drivers' demographics:
| CDL Class A Driver | Local Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% | Male, 91.3% Female, 8.7% |
| 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, 13.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 3.6% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |