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The differences between cdl class a drivers and local truck 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 truck driver. Additionally, a local truck driver has an average salary of $59,069, 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 local truck driver are CDL, customer service, and OTR.
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 truck driver is an employee who drives a company truck to transport goods to and from specified locations within a designated geographic area. Local truck drivers must ensure that the transported goods are well-secured and not damaged during the transit. They must liaise with dispatch to communicate any traffic issues and delays as well as notify the management of any accidents or vehicle damage. Local truck drivers must also assist in loading and unloading of goods by using hand trucks and electric lifts as required.
Cdl class a drivers and local truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| CDL Class A Driver | Local Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $52,203 | $59,069 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $75,000 | Between $40,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Newark, DE |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Mid-South Management | Walmart |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a cdl class a driver and a local truck driver in terms of educational background:
| CDL Class A Driver | Local Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 39% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between cdl class a drivers' and local truck drivers' demographics:
| CDL Class A Driver | Local Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% | Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3% |
| 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, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |