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The differences between flatbed truck 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 truck driver and a local driver. Additionally, a flatbed truck driver has an average salary of $61,065, which is higher than the $48,160 average annual salary of a local driver.
The top three skills for a flatbed truck driver include CDL, flatbed and OTR. The most important skills for a local driver are CDL, DOT, and post-trip inspections.
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 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 truck drivers and local drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Flatbed Truck Driver | Local Driver | |
| Average salary | $61,065 | $48,160 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $91,000 | Between $33,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Dover, NH | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Montana | Montana |
| Best paying company | Jordan Company | Mid-South Management |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a flatbed truck driver and a local driver in terms of educational background:
| Flatbed Truck Driver | Local Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between flatbed truck drivers' and local drivers' demographics:
| Flatbed Truck Driver | Local Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8% | Male, 91.3% Female, 8.7% |
| 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, 13.4% 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% |