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The differences between commercial drivers and line haul 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 line haul driver. Additionally, a line haul driver has an average salary of $53,992, 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 line haul driver are CDL, hazmat, and safety regulations.
| Commercial Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $46,852 | $53,992 |
| Hourly rate | $22.52 | $25.96 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,016,123 | 871,646 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| 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 line haul truck driver is in charge of transporting heavy materials using large vehicles such as tractor-trailers, ensuring timeliness and efficiency. Their responsibilities typically revolve around securing documents or invoices, adhering to specific routes, driving for long durations, liaising and building positive relationships with companies, and ensuring the safety and quality of all cargo. Furthermore, as a line haul truck driver, it is essential to abide by all the traffic laws and perform regular vehicle maintenance checks to ensure a safe and productive work environment.
Commercial drivers and line haul drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Average salary | $46,852 | $53,992 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $62,000 | Between $37,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Auburn, WA | Fargo, ND |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Laramie County Community College | Tyson Foods |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a commercial driver and a line haul driver in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between commercial drivers' and line haul drivers' demographics:
| Commercial Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.8% Female, 24.2% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| 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, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 3.6% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |