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The differences between commercial drivers and van 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 van driver. Additionally, a commercial driver has an average salary of $46,852, which is higher than the $36,254 average annual salary of a van driver.
The top three skills for a commercial driver include customer service, CDL and ladders. The most important skills for a van driver are CDL, customer service, and OTR.
| Commercial Driver | Van Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $46,852 | $36,254 |
| Hourly rate | $22.52 | $17.43 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,016,123 | 791,293 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| 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 van driver is responsible for operating a wide and a larger-sized vehicle than a regular car, usually used as a company shuttle to pick up and drop employees to designated areas. Van drivers should have a clean driving record, ensuring the safety and comfortability of the passengers while on the road. They should also be familiar with the location, considering alternative routes for any road complications to avoid delays. A van driver must have comprehensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, inspecting the engine's condition, and perform repairs as necessary.
Commercial drivers and van drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Driver | Van Driver | |
| Average salary | $46,852 | $36,254 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $62,000 | Between $24,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Auburn, WA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Laramie County Community College | DVFSchool |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a commercial driver and a van driver in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Driver | Van Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 36% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between commercial drivers' and van drivers' demographics:
| Commercial Driver | Van Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 75.8% Female, 24.2% | Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1% |
| 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, 12.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 3.6% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |