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Garbage truck driver vs haul truck driver

The differences between garbage truck drivers and haul 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 garbage truck driver and a haul truck driver. Additionally, a haul truck driver has an average salary of $60,932, which is higher than the $38,257 average annual salary of a garbage truck driver.

The top three skills for a garbage truck driver include CDL, customer service and post-trip inspections. The most important skills for a haul truck driver are CDL, DOT, and traffic violations.

Garbage truck driver vs haul truck driver overview

Garbage Truck DriverHaul Truck Driver
Yearly salary$38,257$60,932
Hourly rate$18.39$29.29
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs626,774704,286
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 60%High School Diploma, 47%
Average age4848
Years of experience22

What does a garbage truck driver do?

Just as the name implies, a garbage truck driver is someone who drives a truck and uses it to collect trash, waste products, and recycling from dumpsters and trash cans on a set route. Their responsibilities include driving the truck along a designated route and handling lifting devices to collect trash. Furthermore, they may have to operate a front-end loader truck that lifts the waste into a container behind the vehicle.

What does a haul truck driver do?

Haul Truck Drivers are skilled professional drivers. They are licensed to drive around heavy vehicles such as trucks. They usually travel long distances to deliver goods from one place to another. They should be able to meet delivery time expectations. As such, Haul Truck Drivers should have good time management skills. They should also have the presence of mind while driving and must obey all traffic rules. They should know the best routes to take for each particular trip. They must also ensure that their trucks are well-maintained. Haul truck Drivers should be strong enough to assist in loading up the truck or reloading the content.

Garbage truck driver vs haul truck driver salary

Garbage truck drivers and haul truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Garbage Truck DriverHaul Truck Driver
Average salary$38,257$60,932
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $50,000Between $40,000 And $92,000
Highest paying CityNew York, NYTulsa, OK
Highest paying stateAlaskaOklahoma
Best paying companyTrucking PartnersTyson Foods
Best paying industryInsuranceTransportation

Differences between garbage truck driver and haul truck driver education

There are a few differences between a garbage truck driver and a haul truck driver in terms of educational background:

Garbage Truck DriverHaul Truck Driver
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 60%High School Diploma, 47%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Garbage truck driver vs haul truck driver demographics

Here are the differences between garbage truck drivers' and haul truck drivers' demographics:

Garbage Truck DriverHaul Truck Driver
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 92.9% Female, 7.1%Male, 87.4% Female, 12.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 4.0% White, 60.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 19.6% Asian, 3.8% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between garbage truck driver and haul truck driver duties and responsibilities

Garbage truck driver example responsibilities.

  • Manage and expedite the secure transportation and accountability of logistic materials and HAZMAT chemicals to commercial, state and government facilities.
  • Operate automate or semi-automate hoisting devices that raise refuse bins and dump contents into openings in truck bodies.
  • Operate and run routes for garbage pickup.
  • Haul garbage and drive all CDL trucks they have.
  • Acquire CDL while working to be eligible for driver position.
  • Perform maintenance on heavy equipment, run backhoe and do interior painting.
  • Show more

Haul truck driver example responsibilities.

  • Maintain CDL and MSHA safety training.
  • Drop and hook doubles, OTR.
  • Maintain CDL and appropriate endorsements.
  • Attend annual re-licensing to learn about new laws and HAZMAT materials.
  • Move drilling rigs hauling oversize loads and hazmat loads using the winch line and loader to load.
  • Inspect equipment prior to start of run, drop off and pickup of trailers load or empty.
  • Show more

Garbage truck driver vs haul truck driver skills

Common garbage truck driver skills
  • CDL, 47%
  • Customer Service, 31%
  • Post-Trip Inspections, 5%
  • Routine Maintenance, 4%
  • DOT, 3%
  • Safety Checks, 2%
Common haul truck driver skills
  • CDL, 55%
  • DOT, 13%
  • Traffic Violations, 6%
  • Asphalt, 3%
  • Customer Service, 3%
  • OTR, 2%

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