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The differences between flatbed drivers and local 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 local driver. Additionally, a flatbed driver has an average salary of $57,099, which is higher than the $48,160 average annual salary of a local driver.
The top three skills for a flatbed driver include CDL, OTR and customer service. The most important skills for a local driver are CDL, DOT, and post-trip inspections.
| Flatbed Driver | Local Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $57,099 | $48,160 |
| Hourly rate | $27.45 | $23.15 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 781,449 | 786,531 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| 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 local driver is responsible for transporting people and goods and services from the distribution centers to various destinations. Local drivers operate vehicles and inspect the engine for any inconsistencies and system defects that may cause delays with the operations. They also schedule vehicle maintenance and repairs, keeping a record of receipts for the management's validation. A local driver must have excellent driving skills and a clean driving record. Additionally, a local driver should possess excellent communication skills, especially on handling customers' inquiries and concerns and escalating high-level complaints.
Flatbed drivers and local drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Flatbed Driver | Local Driver | |
| Average salary | $57,099 | $48,160 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $83,000 | Between $33,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Chicago, IL | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | Montana |
| Best paying company | Hub Group | Mid-South Management |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a flatbed driver and a local driver in terms of educational background:
| Flatbed Driver | Local Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between flatbed drivers' and local drivers' demographics:
| Flatbed Driver | Local Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% | Male, 91.3% Female, 8.7% |
| 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, 13.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 3.6% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |