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The differences between class a drivers and van 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 van driver. Additionally, a class a driver has an average salary of $56,620, which is higher than the $36,254 average annual salary of a van driver.
The top three skills for a class a driver include CDL, customer service and OTR. The most important skills for a van driver are CDL, customer service, and OTR.
| Class A Driver | Van Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $56,620 | $36,254 |
| Hourly rate | $27.22 | $17.43 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 706,950 | 791,293 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| 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 van driver is responsible for operating a wide and a larger-sized vehicle than a regular car, usually used as a company shuttle to pick up and drop employees to designated areas. Van drivers should have a clean driving record, ensuring the safety and comfortability of the passengers while on the road. They should also be familiar with the location, considering alternative routes for any road complications to avoid delays. A van driver must have comprehensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, inspecting the engine's condition, and perform repairs as necessary.
Class a drivers and van drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Class A Driver | Van Driver | |
| Average salary | $56,620 | $36,254 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $80,000 | Between $24,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Philadelphia, PA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Vermont | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Mid-South Management | DVFSchool |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a class a driver and a van driver in terms of educational background:
| Class A Driver | Van Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between class a drivers' and van drivers' demographics:
| Class A Driver | Van Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2% | Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1% |
| 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, 12.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 3.6% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |