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The differences between flatbed drivers and line haul 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 line haul driver. Additionally, a flatbed driver has an average salary of $57,099, which is higher than the $53,992 average annual salary of a line haul driver.
The top three skills for a flatbed driver include CDL, OTR and customer service. The most important skills for a line haul driver are CDL, hazmat, and safety regulations.
| Flatbed Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $57,099 | $53,992 |
| Hourly rate | $27.45 | $25.96 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 781,449 | 871,646 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| 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 line haul truck driver is in charge of transporting heavy materials using large vehicles such as tractor-trailers, ensuring timeliness and efficiency. Their responsibilities typically revolve around securing documents or invoices, adhering to specific routes, driving for long durations, liaising and building positive relationships with companies, and ensuring the safety and quality of all cargo. Furthermore, as a line haul truck driver, it is essential to abide by all the traffic laws and perform regular vehicle maintenance checks to ensure a safe and productive work environment.
Flatbed drivers and line haul drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Flatbed Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Average salary | $57,099 | $53,992 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $83,000 | Between $37,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chicago, IL | Fargo, ND |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Hub Group | Tyson Foods |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a flatbed driver and a line haul driver in terms of educational background:
| Flatbed Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between flatbed drivers' and line haul drivers' demographics:
| Flatbed Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| 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, 12.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 3.6% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |