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The differences between commercial truck drivers and contract 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 truck driver and a contract driver. Additionally, a commercial truck driver has an average salary of $64,512, which is higher than the $34,999 average annual salary of a contract driver.
The top three skills for a commercial truck driver include CDL, good time management and safety issues. The most important skills for a contract driver are DOT, CDL, and tractor trailer.
| Commercial Truck Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $64,512 | $34,999 |
| Hourly rate | $31.02 | $16.83 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 719,069 | 1,007,663 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | High School Diploma, 30% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A commercial truck driver is primarily in charge of transporting and delivering cargo, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. Their responsibilities include driving for long durations, coordinating with logistics staff, handling documentation, and maintaining the safety of cargo. There are also instances where they must liaise with clients, unload and load cargo, and keep records of all transactions. Furthermore, as a commercial truck driver, it is essential to conduct regular maintenance checks on vehicles and adhere to the traffic laws and regulations for a safe and productive work environment.
A contract driver mainly provides transport services on a contractual basis. Their duties typically depend on their contract or place of employment; they may deliver goods or provide private transport to clients. When it comes to delivering goods, a contract driver must adhere to schedules and guidelines, maintain documents, and coordinate with clients. Furthermore, a contract driver must perform regular maintenance checks on their vehicles and abide by the traffic laws and regulations to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
Commercial truck drivers and contract drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Truck Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Average salary | $64,512 | $34,999 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $100,000 | Between $23,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | - |
| Highest paying state | New York | - |
| Best paying company | Tyson Foods | - |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | - |
There are a few differences between a commercial truck driver and a contract driver in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Truck Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | High School Diploma, 30% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between commercial truck drivers' and contract drivers' demographics:
| Commercial Truck Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 3.6% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 13.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 4.0% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |