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The differences between garbage truck drivers and 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 truck driver. Additionally, a truck driver has an average salary of $60,326, 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 truck driver are CDL, OTR, and DOT.
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.
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.
Garbage truck drivers and truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Garbage Truck Driver | Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $38,257 | $60,326 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $50,000 | Between $40,000 And $90,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | Wilmington, DE |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Trucking Partners | W. R. Grace & Co |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Retail |
There are a few differences between a garbage truck driver and a truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Garbage Truck Driver | Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 60% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between garbage truck drivers' and truck drivers' demographics:
| Garbage Truck Driver | Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1% | Male, 91.6% Female, 8.4% |
| Race ratio | Black 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, 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% |