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The differences between commercial drivers and local 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 local driver. Additionally, a local driver has an average salary of $48,160, 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 local driver are CDL, DOT, and post-trip inspections.
| Commercial Driver | Local Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $46,852 | $48,160 |
| Hourly rate | $22.52 | $23.15 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,016,123 | 786,531 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| 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 local driver is responsible for transporting people and goods and services from the distribution centers to various destinations. Local drivers operate vehicles and inspect the engine for any inconsistencies and system defects that may cause delays with the operations. They also schedule vehicle maintenance and repairs, keeping a record of receipts for the management's validation. A local driver must have excellent driving skills and a clean driving record. Additionally, a local driver should possess excellent communication skills, especially on handling customers' inquiries and concerns and escalating high-level complaints.
Commercial drivers and local drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Driver | Local Driver | |
| Average salary | $46,852 | $48,160 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $62,000 | Between $33,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Auburn, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Montana |
| Best paying company | Laramie County Community College | Mid-South Management |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a commercial driver and a local driver in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Driver | Local Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between commercial drivers' and local drivers' demographics:
| Commercial Driver | Local Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.8% Female, 24.2% | Male, 91.3% Female, 8.7% |
| 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, 13.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 3.6% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |