Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between cdl class a drivers and tank 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 tank driver. Additionally, a cdl class a driver has an average salary of $52,203, which is higher than the $51,471 average annual salary of a tank driver.
The top three skills for a cdl class a driver include OTR, customer service and hazmat. The most important skills for a tank driver are CDL, hazmat, and post-trip inspections.
| CDL Class A Driver | Tank Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $52,203 | $51,471 |
| Hourly rate | $25.10 | $24.75 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 696,903 | 783,401 |
| 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.
The duties of a tank driver depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, they are responsible for transporting goods or hazardous materials, ensuring timeliness and accuracy. Their tasks often revolve around coordinating with managers or office staff, handling or organizing documentation, managing schedules, and liaising with clients. Furthermore, as a tank driver, it is crucial to abide by all the traffic laws and conduct regular vehicle maintenance checks to ensure everyone's safety.
Cdl class a drivers and tank drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| CDL Class A Driver | Tank Driver | |
| Average salary | $52,203 | $51,471 |
| Salary range | Between $36,000 And $75,000 | Between $35,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Denver, CO |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | Colorado |
| Best paying company | Mid-South Management | Kemira Chemicals |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a cdl class a driver and a tank driver in terms of educational background:
| CDL Class A Driver | Tank 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 tank drivers' demographics:
| CDL Class A Driver | Tank Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% |
| 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, 12.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |