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The differences between flatbed drivers and contract 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 contract driver. Additionally, a flatbed driver has an average salary of $57,099, which is higher than the $34,999 average annual salary of a contract driver.
The top three skills for a flatbed driver include CDL, OTR and customer service. The most important skills for a contract driver are DOT, CDL, and tractor trailer.
| Flatbed Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $57,099 | $34,999 |
| Hourly rate | $27.45 | $16.83 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 781,449 | 1,007,663 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 30% |
| 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 contract driver mainly provides transport services on a contractual basis. Their duties typically depend on their contract or place of employment; they may deliver goods or provide private transport to clients. When it comes to delivering goods, a contract driver must adhere to schedules and guidelines, maintain documents, and coordinate with clients. Furthermore, a contract driver must perform regular maintenance checks on their vehicles and abide by the traffic laws and regulations to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
Flatbed drivers and contract drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Flatbed Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Average salary | $57,099 | $34,999 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $83,000 | Between $23,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chicago, IL | - |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | - |
| Best paying company | Hub Group | - |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | - |
There are a few differences between a flatbed driver and a contract driver in terms of educational background:
| Flatbed Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 30% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between flatbed drivers' and contract drivers' demographics:
| Flatbed Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| 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, 13.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 4.0% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |