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Coal hauler vs tractor-trailer driver

The differences between coal haulers and tractor-trailer 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 coal hauler and a tractor-trailer driver. Additionally, a tractor-trailer driver has an average salary of $58,498, which is higher than the $46,345 average annual salary of a coal hauler.

The top three skills for a coal hauler include safety procedures, DOT and . The most important skills for a tractor-trailer driver are DOT, CDL, and OTR.

Coal hauler vs tractor-trailer driver overview

Coal HaulerTractor-Trailer Driver
Yearly salary$46,345$58,498
Hourly rate$22.28$28.12
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs269690,787
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 50%High School Diploma, 44%
Average age4848
Years of experience22

Coal hauler vs tractor-trailer driver salary

Coal haulers and tractor-trailer drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Coal HaulerTractor-Trailer Driver
Average salary$46,345$58,498
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $93,000Between $40,000 And $84,000
Highest paying City-Atlanta, GA
Highest paying state-North Dakota
Best paying company-Exel Inc.
Best paying industry-Transportation

Differences between coal hauler and tractor-trailer driver education

There are a few differences between a coal hauler and a tractor-trailer driver in terms of educational background:

Coal HaulerTractor-Trailer Driver
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 50%High School Diploma, 44%
Most common majorGeneral StudiesBusiness
Most common college--

Coal hauler vs tractor-trailer driver demographics

Here are the differences between coal haulers' and tractor-trailer drivers' demographics:

Coal HaulerTractor-Trailer Driver
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 100.0% Female, 0.0%Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 2.8% White, 62.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 3.6% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between coal hauler and tractor-trailer driver duties and responsibilities

Coal hauler example responsibilities.

  • Drive a truck with a capacity of at least 80,000 GVW, to transport coal and rock in loose form.
  • Offload sand to a mover where it's process.

Tractor-trailer driver example responsibilities.

  • Experience in semi driving, logging, managing bills of lading, light maintenance, vehicle inspections.
  • Maintain air brake certification and CDL with tank endorsement.
  • Maintain communication with dispatcher via GPS capable cellular phones.
  • Lease purchase, OTR driver, all lower 48 and Canada.
  • Perform duties of that require as an owner operator OTR truck driver.
  • Attend annual re-licensing to learn about new laws and HAZMAT industry procedures.
  • Show more

Coal hauler vs tractor-trailer driver skills

Common coal hauler skills
  • Safety Procedures, 61%
  • DOT, 39%
Common tractor-trailer driver skills
  • DOT, 38%
  • CDL, 21%
  • OTR, 15%
  • Customer Service, 5%
  • Post-Trip Inspections, 3%
  • Vehicle Inspections, 3%

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