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The differences between 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 class a driver and a tank driver. Additionally, a class a driver has an average salary of $56,620, which is higher than the $51,471 average annual salary of a tank driver.
The top three skills for a class a driver include CDL, customer service and OTR. The most important skills for a tank driver are CDL, hazmat, and post-trip inspections.
| Class A Driver | Tank Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $56,620 | $51,471 |
| Hourly rate | $27.22 | $24.75 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 706,950 | 783,401 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| 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.
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.
Class a drivers and tank drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Class A Driver | Tank Driver | |
| Average salary | $56,620 | $51,471 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $80,000 | Between $35,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Philadelphia, PA | Denver, CO |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Colorado |
| Best paying company | Mid-South Management | Kemira Chemicals |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a class a driver and a tank driver in terms of educational background:
| Class A Driver | Tank Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between class a drivers' and tank drivers' demographics:
| Class A Driver | Tank Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2% | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% |
| 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, 12.7% 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% |