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The differences between garbage truck drivers and van 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 van driver. Additionally, a garbage truck driver has an average salary of $38,257, which is higher than the $36,254 average annual salary of a van driver.
The top three skills for a garbage truck driver include CDL, customer service and post-trip inspections. The most important skills for a van driver are CDL, customer service, and OTR.
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.
A van driver is responsible for operating a wide and a larger-sized vehicle than a regular car, usually used as a company shuttle to pick up and drop employees to designated areas. Van drivers should have a clean driving record, ensuring the safety and comfortability of the passengers while on the road. They should also be familiar with the location, considering alternative routes for any road complications to avoid delays. A van driver must have comprehensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, inspecting the engine's condition, and perform repairs as necessary.
Garbage truck drivers and van drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Garbage Truck Driver | Van Driver | |
| Average salary | $38,257 | $36,254 |
| Salary range | Between $28,000 And $50,000 | Between $24,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | New York, NY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Trucking Partners | DVFSchool |
| Best paying industry | Insurance | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a garbage truck driver and a van driver in terms of educational background:
| Garbage Truck Driver | Van Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 60% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between garbage truck drivers' and van drivers' demographics:
| Garbage Truck Driver | Van Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.9% Female, 7.1% | Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1% |
| 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, 12.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 3.6% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |