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The differences between commercial drivers and fuel 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 fuel truck driver. Additionally, a fuel truck driver has an average salary of $56,767, 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 fuel truck driver are CDL, hazmat, and DOT.
| Commercial Driver | Fuel Truck Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $46,852 | $56,767 |
| Hourly rate | $22.52 | $27.29 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,016,123 | 876,579 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| 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 Fuel Truck Driver transports fuel and other petroleum products from one place to another, ensuring safety and timeliness. Their responsibilities include measuring and calculating fuel deliveries, maintaining records, handling documentation, liaising with clients, preparing progress reports, and overseeing the loading and unloading procedures, ensuring adherence to the company's safety standards and regulations. A Fuel Truck Driver must conduct regular vehicle maintenance checks and abide by the traffic laws and regulations to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
Commercial drivers and fuel truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Driver | Fuel Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $46,852 | $56,767 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $62,000 | Between $38,000 And $83,000 |
| 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 fuel truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Driver | Fuel Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between commercial drivers' and fuel truck drivers' demographics:
| Commercial Driver | Fuel Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.8% Female, 24.2% | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% |
| 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, 11.9% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 22.6% Asian, 3.3% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |