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The differences between commercial 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 commercial driver and a class b driver. Additionally, a commercial driver has an average salary of $46,852, which is higher than the $44,233 average annual salary of a class b driver.
The top three skills for a commercial driver include customer service, CDL and ladders. The most important skills for a class b driver are CDL, DOT, and customer service.
| Commercial Driver | Class B Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $46,852 | $44,233 |
| Hourly rate | $22.52 | $21.27 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,016,123 | 703,020 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A commercial driver is responsible for transporting people, goods, and services from one place to various destinations as required. Commercial drivers must have a clean driving record to ensure the safety and security of the passengers and the merchandise's quality while on the road. They should also know how to operate a vehicle's engine, inspect system defects, and repair system malfunctions to prevent any delays in transportation and deliveries. A commercial driver must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry and report any problems to management.
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.
Commercial drivers and class b drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Driver | Class B Driver | |
| Average salary | $46,852 | $44,233 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $62,000 | Between $35,000 And $55,000 |
| Highest paying City | Auburn, WA | Kent, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Washington |
| Best paying company | Laramie County Community College | Ilitch Holdings |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Construction |
There are a few differences between a commercial driver and a class b driver in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Driver | Class B Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 46% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between commercial drivers' and class b drivers' demographics:
| Commercial Driver | Class B Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.8% Female, 24.2% | Male, 90.1% Female, 9.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 3.5% White, 55.6% 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% |