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The differences between flatbed truck drivers and commercial 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 truck driver and a commercial truck driver. Additionally, a commercial truck driver has an average salary of $64,512, which is higher than the $61,065 average annual salary of a flatbed truck driver.
The top three skills for a flatbed truck driver include CDL, flatbed and OTR. The most important skills for a commercial truck driver are CDL, good time management, and safety issues.
A flatbed truck driver is primarily responsible for the transport and delivery of goods, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. Their duties mainly revolve around coordinating with logistics staff, planning deliveries, managing paperwork, responding to calls and inquiries from clients, and maintaining their vehicles in good condition by regularly conducting maintenance checks. There are are also instances when a driver must collect and process payments, making sure to keep records of all transactions. Furthermore, it is essential to load and unload goods to the location of deliveries and abide by all the traffic laws and regulations.
A commercial truck driver is primarily in charge of transporting and delivering cargo, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. Their responsibilities include driving for long durations, coordinating with logistics staff, handling documentation, and maintaining the safety of cargo. There are also instances where they must liaise with clients, unload and load cargo, and keep records of all transactions. Furthermore, as a commercial truck driver, it is essential to conduct regular maintenance checks on vehicles and adhere to the traffic laws and regulations for a safe and productive work environment.
Flatbed truck drivers and commercial truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Flatbed Truck Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $61,065 | $64,512 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $91,000 | Between $41,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Dover, NH | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Montana | New York |
| Best paying company | Jordan Company | Tyson Foods |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a flatbed truck driver and a commercial truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Flatbed Truck Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between flatbed truck drivers' and commercial truck drivers' demographics:
| Flatbed Truck Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8% | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 3.6% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 3.6% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |