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The differences between driver/owner operators and truck drivers class a can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a driver/owner operator and a truck driver class a. Additionally, a driver/owner operator has an average salary of $169,793, which is higher than the $63,270 average annual salary of a truck driver class a.
The top three skills for a driver/owner operator include CDL, DOT and OTR. The most important skills for a truck driver class a are CDL, PET, and OTR.
| Driver/Owner Operator | Truck Driver Class A | |
| Yearly salary | $169,793 | $63,270 |
| Hourly rate | $81.63 | $30.42 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 170,784 | 709,900 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Driver/owner-operators are self-employed commercial truck drivers who operate trucks to transport goods for their customers. Most of these operators started working as drivers for trucking companies to gain experience and decide if it's the right career path for them. They are allowed to haul freelance or agree to a lease agreement dedicating their equipment to one product or customer. To become an owner-operator, one should consider many things, including business set-up, vehicle type, and licenses.
The responsibilities of a Truck Driver Class A mainly revolves around driving heavy vehicles and ensuring that all transported goods meet the expected delivery deadlines and quality. The Driver needs to have a Class A license and be emotionally and physically healthy to qualify. Among the duties of a Truck Driver Class A will also revolve around securing and monitoring the quantity and quality of items, maintaining the vehicle in good condition, abide by the traffic rules and regulations, adhere to the company standards and policies, and have precise coordination with every workforce involved.
Driver/owner operators and truck drivers class a have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Driver/Owner Operator | Truck Driver Class A | |
| Average salary | $169,793 | $63,270 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $417,000 | Between $43,000 And $92,000 |
| Highest paying City | Savannah, GA | Newark, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Texas | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Clean Harbors | Walmart |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a driver/owner operator and a truck driver class a in terms of educational background:
| Driver/Owner Operator | Truck Driver Class A | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between driver/owner operators' and truck drivers class a' demographics:
| Driver/Owner Operator | Truck Driver Class A | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 21.6% Asian, 3.8% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 3.5% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |