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The differences between forklift drivers and truck drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a forklift driver, becoming a truck driver takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a truck driver has an average salary of $60,326, which is higher than the $33,476 average annual salary of a forklift driver.
The top three skills for a forklift driver include pallets, electric pallet jack and safety procedures. The most important skills for a truck driver are CDL, OTR, and DOT.
| Forklift Driver | Truck Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $33,476 | $60,326 |
| Hourly rate | $16.09 | $29.00 |
| Growth rate | 7% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 116,516 | 827,858 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 61% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Average age | 43 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
A forklift operator is responsible for managing and operating industrial trucks and machines to ensure its performance safety and stability. Forklift operators' duties include safely handling of deliveries, securely moving items to storage areas, monitoring inventories and supplies, running diagnostic tests, reporting inspected malfunctions and deficiencies, performing basic troubleshooting, and adhering to safety procedures. It is a requirement that a forklift operator must have excellent time-management skills, as well as the ability to multi-task for daily operations.
The truck driver transports goods and materials by land from and to manufacturing factories or retail businesses and distribution centers with the use of heavy trucks or tractor-trailers. Truck drivers assist and supervise the safe unloading of cargos to the destination. They must always check their cargo if complete and secured with cables, rope, or other materials. They should keep their truck clean, neat, and inspect prior the trip and ensure to be in good working condition to operate safely. It is very important that they follow with all appropriate safety procedures and comply with federal and state regulations. They must also be knowledgable and comfortable in using maps or GPS to navigate the safest and most efficient routes.
Forklift drivers and truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Forklift Driver | Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $33,476 | $60,326 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $41,000 | Between $40,000 And $90,000 |
| Highest paying City | Shakopee, MN | Wilmington, DE |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Delaware |
| Best paying company | BD | W. R. Grace & Co |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Retail |
There are a few differences between a forklift driver and a truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Forklift Driver | Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 61% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between forklift drivers' and truck drivers' demographics:
| Forklift Driver | Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 43 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% | Male, 91.6% Female, 8.4% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 15.7% Unknown, 4.4% Hispanic or Latino, 20.2% Asian, 2.5% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 3.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |