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The differences between driver/technicians and truck drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a truck driver has an average salary of $60,326, which is higher than the $38,110 average annual salary of a driver/technician.
The top three skills for a driver/technician include patients, DOT and CDL. The most important skills for a truck driver are CDL, OTR, and DOT.
| Driver/Technician | Truck Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $38,110 | $60,326 |
| Hourly rate | $18.32 | $29.00 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 78,422 | 827,858 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Average age | 36 | 48 |
| Years of experience | - | 2 |
A driver/technician's responsibility mainly focuses on driving heavy equipment like forklifts and loaders while ensuring that the equipment is in good condition by doing systematic maintenance and repair. They also perform quality checks on new equipment to ensure they are in good condition and are safe to use. They recommend maintenance, repair, and replacements of machinery and equipment. They are also trained to monitor deliveries and evaluate staff for their performance.
The truck driver transports goods and materials by land from and to manufacturing factories or retail businesses and distribution centers with the use of heavy trucks or tractor-trailers. Truck drivers assist and supervise the safe unloading of cargos to the destination. They must always check their cargo if complete and secured with cables, rope, or other materials. They should keep their truck clean, neat, and inspect prior the trip and ensure to be in good working condition to operate safely. It is very important that they follow with all appropriate safety procedures and comply with federal and state regulations. They must also be knowledgable and comfortable in using maps or GPS to navigate the safest and most efficient routes.
Driver/technicians and truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Driver/Technician | Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $38,110 | $60,326 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $51,000 | Between $40,000 And $90,000 |
| Highest paying City | Olympia, WA | Wilmington, DE |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Precision Drilling | W. R. Grace & Co |
| Best paying industry | Government | Retail |
There are a few differences between a driver/technician and a truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Driver/Technician | Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 42% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between driver/technicians' and truck drivers' demographics:
| Driver/Technician | Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 36 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.8% Female, 7.2% | Male, 91.6% Female, 8.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 6.4% Unknown, 5.3% Hispanic or Latino, 15.2% Asian, 4.5% White, 67.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 3.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 4% |