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The differences between commercial drivers and local 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 local truck driver. Additionally, a local truck driver has an average salary of $59,069, 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 truck driver are CDL, customer service, and OTR.
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 truck driver is an employee who drives a company truck to transport goods to and from specified locations within a designated geographic area. Local truck drivers must ensure that the transported goods are well-secured and not damaged during the transit. They must liaise with dispatch to communicate any traffic issues and delays as well as notify the management of any accidents or vehicle damage. Local truck drivers must also assist in loading and unloading of goods by using hand trucks and electric lifts as required.
Commercial drivers and local truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Driver | Local Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $46,852 | $59,069 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $62,000 | Between $40,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Auburn, WA | Newark, DE |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Laramie County Community College | Walmart |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a commercial driver and a local truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Driver | Local Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between commercial drivers' and local truck drivers' demographics:
| Commercial Driver | Local Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.8% Female, 24.2% | Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3% |
| 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, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |