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The differences between 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 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 $56,620 average annual salary of a class a driver.
The top three skills for a class a driver include CDL, customer service and OTR. The most important skills for a local truck driver are CDL, customer service, and OTR.
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 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.
Class a drivers and local truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Class A Driver | Local Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $56,620 | $59,069 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $80,000 | Between $40,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Philadelphia, PA | Newark, DE |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Mid-South Management | Walmart |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a class a driver and a local truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Class A Driver | Local Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between class a drivers' and local truck drivers' demographics:
| Class A Driver | Local Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2% | Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3% |
| 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, 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% |