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The differences between commercial drivers and commercial 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 commercial driver and a commercial truck driver. Additionally, a commercial truck driver has an average salary of $64,512, which is higher than the $46,852 average annual salary of a commercial driver.
The top three skills for a commercial driver include customer service, CDL and ladders. The most important skills for a commercial truck driver are CDL, good time management, and safety issues.
| Commercial Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $46,852 | $64,512 |
| Hourly rate | $22.52 | $31.02 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,016,123 | 719,069 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| 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 commercial truck driver is primarily in charge of transporting and delivering cargo, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. Their responsibilities include driving for long durations, coordinating with logistics staff, handling documentation, and maintaining the safety of cargo. There are also instances where they must liaise with clients, unload and load cargo, and keep records of all transactions. Furthermore, as a commercial truck driver, it is essential to conduct regular maintenance checks on vehicles and adhere to the traffic laws and regulations for a safe and productive work environment.
Commercial drivers and commercial truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $46,852 | $64,512 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $62,000 | Between $41,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Auburn, WA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New York |
| Best paying company | Laramie County Community College | Tyson Foods |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a commercial driver and a commercial truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between commercial drivers' and commercial truck drivers' demographics:
| Commercial Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.8% Female, 24.2% | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% |
| 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, 13.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 3.6% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |