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The differences between cdl drivers and commercial 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 driver and a commercial driver. Additionally, a cdl driver has an average salary of $63,112, which is higher than the $46,852 average annual salary of a commercial driver.
The top three skills for a cdl driver include DOT, CDL-A and customer service. The most important skills for a commercial driver are customer service, CDL, and ladders.
| CDL Driver | Commercial Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $63,112 | $46,852 |
| Hourly rate | $30.34 | $22.52 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 784,044 | 1,016,123 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A CDL driver is responsible for the transportation of goods from the manufacturing warehouse to specific store locations. CDL drivers' duties include inspecting the items before and after the delivery to ensure that the orders are correct with the right quantity, providing proof of delivery from the receiving customers, following the delivery schedule and report any delays immediately, monitoring the vehicle's engine for efficiency, and escalating concerns of incorrect deliveries and defective items. A CDL driver must have excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills, following safety procedures and road rules at all times.
A commercial driver is responsible for transporting people, goods, and services from one place to various destinations as required. Commercial drivers must have a clean driving record to ensure the safety and security of the passengers and the merchandise's quality while on the road. They should also know how to operate a vehicle's engine, inspect system defects, and repair system malfunctions to prevent any delays in transportation and deliveries. A commercial driver must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry and report any problems to management.
Cdl drivers and commercial drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| CDL Driver | Commercial Driver | |
| Average salary | $63,112 | $46,852 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $96,000 | Between $35,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Washington, DC | Auburn, WA |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | Washington |
| Best paying company | GCP Applied Technologies | Laramie County Community College |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a cdl driver and a commercial driver in terms of educational background:
| CDL Driver | Commercial Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between cdl drivers' and commercial drivers' demographics:
| CDL Driver | Commercial Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.8% Female, 7.2% | Male, 75.8% Female, 24.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 3.4% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 3.5% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |