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The differences between commercial truck drivers and tank 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 tank driver. Additionally, a commercial truck driver has an average salary of $64,512, which is higher than the $51,471 average annual salary of a tank driver.
The top three skills for a commercial truck driver include CDL, good time management and safety issues. The most important skills for a tank driver are CDL, hazmat, and post-trip inspections.
| Commercial Truck Driver | Tank Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $64,512 | $51,471 |
| Hourly rate | $31.02 | $24.75 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 719,069 | 783,401 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| 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.
The duties of a tank driver depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, they are responsible for transporting goods or hazardous materials, ensuring timeliness and accuracy. Their tasks often revolve around coordinating with managers or office staff, handling or organizing documentation, managing schedules, and liaising with clients. Furthermore, as a tank driver, it is crucial to abide by all the traffic laws and conduct regular vehicle maintenance checks to ensure everyone's safety.
Commercial truck drivers and tank drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Truck Driver | Tank Driver | |
| Average salary | $64,512 | $51,471 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $100,000 | Between $35,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Denver, CO |
| Highest paying state | New York | Colorado |
| Best paying company | Tyson Foods | Kemira Chemicals |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a commercial truck driver and a tank driver in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Truck Driver | Tank Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between commercial truck drivers' and tank drivers' demographics:
| Commercial Truck Driver | Tank Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% |
| 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, 12.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |