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The differences between flatbed drivers and local truck 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 truck driver. Additionally, a local truck driver has an average salary of $59,069, 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 local truck driver are CDL, customer service, and OTR.
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 truck driver is an employee who drives a company truck to transport goods to and from specified locations within a designated geographic area. Local truck drivers must ensure that the transported goods are well-secured and not damaged during the transit. They must liaise with dispatch to communicate any traffic issues and delays as well as notify the management of any accidents or vehicle damage. Local truck drivers must also assist in loading and unloading of goods by using hand trucks and electric lifts as required.
Flatbed drivers and local truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Flatbed Driver | Local Truck Driver | |
| Average Salary | $57,099 | $59,069 |
| Salary Range | Between $39,000 And $83,000 | Between $40,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest Paying City | Chicago, IL | Newark, DE |
| Highest Paying State | North Dakota | Delaware |
| Best Paying Company | Hub Group | Walmart |
| Best Paying Industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a flatbed driver and a local truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Flatbed Driver | Local Truck Driver | |
| Most Common Degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most Common Major | Business | Business |
| Most Common College | - | - |
Here are the differences between flatbed drivers' and local truck drivers' demographics:
| Flatbed Driver | Local Truck Driver | |
| Average Age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender Ratio | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% | Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3% |
| 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, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |