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The differences between flatbed drivers and cdl 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 flatbed driver and a cdl driver. Additionally, a cdl driver has an average salary of $63,112, which is higher than the $57,099 average annual salary of a flatbed driver.
The top three skills for a flatbed driver include CDL, OTR and customer service. The most important skills for a cdl driver are DOT, CDL-A, and customer service.
| Flatbed Driver | CDL Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $57,099 | $63,112 |
| Hourly rate | $27.45 | $30.34 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 781,449 | 784,044 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A flatbed driver is responsible for operating flatbed trucks to manage distribution and deliveries of goods and services from the warehouse to various assigned designations. Flatbed drivers assist in loading and unloading items, maintain a copy of receipt orders, process payments, and respond to the customers' inquiries and concerns. They also inspect the stability and performance of the truck's engine before and after operations and perform necessary repairs to prevent delivery delays and avoid potential road hazards.
A CDL driver is responsible for the transportation of goods from the manufacturing warehouse to specific store locations. CDL drivers' duties include inspecting the items before and after the delivery to ensure that the orders are correct with the right quantity, providing proof of delivery from the receiving customers, following the delivery schedule and report any delays immediately, monitoring the vehicle's engine for efficiency, and escalating concerns of incorrect deliveries and defective items. A CDL driver must have excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills, following safety procedures and road rules at all times.
Flatbed drivers and cdl drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Flatbed Driver | CDL Driver | |
| Average salary | $57,099 | $63,112 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $83,000 | Between $41,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chicago, IL | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | Wyoming |
| Best paying company | Hub Group | GCP Applied Technologies |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Retail |
There are a few differences between a flatbed driver and a cdl driver in terms of educational background:
| Flatbed Driver | CDL Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between flatbed drivers' and cdl drivers' demographics:
| Flatbed Driver | CDL Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% | Male, 92.8% Female, 7.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 3.5% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 3.4% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |