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The differences between commercial truck 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 truck driver and a van driver. Additionally, a commercial truck driver has an average salary of $64,512, which is higher than the $36,254 average annual salary of a van driver.
The top three skills for a commercial truck driver include CDL, good time management and safety issues. The most important skills for a van driver are CDL, customer service, and OTR.
| Commercial Truck Driver | Van Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $64,512 | $36,254 |
| Hourly rate | $31.02 | $17.43 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 719,069 | 791,293 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| 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 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 truck drivers and van drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Commercial Truck Driver | Van Driver | |
| Average salary | $64,512 | $36,254 |
| Salary range | Between $41,000 And $100,000 | Between $24,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New York | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Tyson Foods | DVFSchool |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a commercial truck driver and a van driver in terms of educational background:
| Commercial Truck Driver | Van Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 35% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between commercial truck drivers' and van drivers' demographics:
| Commercial Truck Driver | Van Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% | Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1% |
| 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, 12.2% 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% |