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The differences between class a drivers and class b 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 class a driver and a class b driver. Additionally, a class a driver has an average salary of $56,620, which is higher than the $44,233 average annual salary of a class b driver.
The top three skills for a class a driver include CDL, customer service and OTR. The most important skills for a class b driver are CDL, DOT, and customer service.
| Class A Driver | Class B Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $56,620 | $44,233 |
| Hourly rate | $27.22 | $21.27 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 706,950 | 703,020 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A Class A driver is an individual driver who has acquired a commercial driver's license (CDL) to operate trucks or commercial vehicles to transport materials and heavy equipment. Class A drivers are required to plan over-the-road (OTR) travel by using GPS and ensure that they follow bulk cargo transportation laws, regulations, and guidelines. They must conduct proper maintenance of the company vehicles and provide accurate daily logs to stay in compliance with the company's regulations. Class A drivers should also know how to operate equipment such as citizen band (CB) radios and telephones.
A Class B driver is responsible for operating vehicles with weight requirements, usually used for commercial and industrial purposes. Class B drivers are typically employed as a school bus driver, delivery truck driver, public transit driver, ensuring that they meet a clean driving record. They should also have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry, especially on inspecting the vehicle's engine condition and set maintenance repairs as necessary. A Class B driver must adhere to the safe road regulations at all times to prevent accidents and avoid delays in operation.
Class a drivers and class b drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Class A Driver | Class B Driver | |
| Average salary | $56,620 | $44,233 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $80,000 | Between $35,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | Philadelphia, PA | Kent, WA |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Washington |
| Best paying company | Mid-South Management | Ilitch Holdings |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Construction |
There are a few differences between a class a driver and a class b driver in terms of educational background:
| Class A Driver | Class B Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between class a drivers' and class b drivers' demographics:
| Class A Driver | Class B Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2% | Male, 90.1% Female, 9.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 22.7% Asian, 3.7% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.4% Asian, 3.8% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |