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The differences between commercial drivers and contract 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 contract driver. Additionally, a commercial driver has an average salary of $46,852, which is higher than the $34,999 average annual salary of a contract driver.
The top three skills for a commercial driver include customer service, CDL and ladders. The most important skills for a contract driver are DOT, CDL, and tractor trailer.
| Commercial Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $46,852 | $34,999 |
| Hourly rate | $22.52 | $16.83 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,016,123 | 1,007,663 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 30% |
| 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 contract driver mainly provides transport services on a contractual basis. Their duties typically depend on their contract or place of employment; they may deliver goods or provide private transport to clients. When it comes to delivering goods, a contract driver must adhere to schedules and guidelines, maintain documents, and coordinate with clients. Furthermore, a contract driver must perform regular maintenance checks on their vehicles and abide by the traffic laws and regulations to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
Commercial drivers and contract drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Average salary | $46,852 | $34,999 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $62,000 | Between $23,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Auburn, WA | - |
| Highest paying state | Washington | - |
| Best paying company | Laramie County Community College | - |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | - |
There are a few differences between a commercial driver and a contract driver in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 30% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between commercial drivers' and contract drivers' demographics:
| Commercial Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.8% Female, 24.2% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| 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, 13.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 4.0% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |