Post job

Haul truck driver vs professional truck driver

The differences between haul truck drivers and professional 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 haul truck driver and a professional truck driver. Additionally, a haul truck driver has an average salary of $60,932, which is higher than the $48,577 average annual salary of a professional truck driver.

The top three skills for a haul truck driver include CDL, DOT and traffic violations. The most important skills for a professional truck driver are CDL, safety regulations, and on-time delivery.

Haul truck driver vs professional truck driver overview

Haul Truck DriverProfessional Truck Driver
Yearly salary$60,932$48,577
Hourly rate$29.29$23.35
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs704,286739,437
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 47%High School Diploma, 32%
Average age4848
Years of experience22

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.

What does a professional truck driver do?

Professional truck drivers have skills in communication, organization, and navigation, as well as a motivated personality and a good sense of responsibility. Their services are absolutely essential, with the most basic task being driving commercial trucks for transportation of goods and materials to distribution centers. Truck drivers transport everything from automobiles to produce to machinery.

Haul truck driver vs professional truck driver salary

Haul truck drivers and professional truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Haul Truck DriverProfessional Truck Driver
Average salary$60,932$48,577
Salary rangeBetween $40,000 And $92,000Between $33,000 And $69,000
Highest paying CityTulsa, OKBoston, MA
Highest paying stateOklahomaRhode Island
Best paying companyTyson FoodsWellpath
Best paying industryTransportationTransportation

Differences between haul truck driver and professional truck driver education

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

Haul Truck DriverProfessional Truck Driver
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 47%High School Diploma, 32%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Haul truck driver vs professional truck driver demographics

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

Haul Truck DriverProfessional Truck Driver
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 87.4% Female, 12.6%Male, 84.3% Female, 15.7%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 14.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

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

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

Professional truck driver example responsibilities.

  • Maintain current commercial driver's license (CDL).
  • Perform equipment inspections, load and unload liquid HazMat.
  • Select as OTR driver certify in tanker, double and triple.
  • Diversify freight transportation OTR, as well as business and home delivery.
  • Train students and company employees in professional truck driving leading to student acquiring CDL.
  • Truck driving/safety checks on all equipment and cargo/The on time pickup and delivery of cargo
  • Show more

Haul truck driver vs professional truck driver skills

Common haul truck driver skills
  • CDL, 55%
  • DOT, 13%
  • Traffic Violations, 6%
  • Asphalt, 3%
  • Customer Service, 3%
  • OTR, 2%
Common professional truck driver skills
  • CDL, 17%
  • Safety Regulations, 15%
  • On-Time Delivery, 10%
  • OTR, 7%
  • Vehicle Service, 6%
  • Semi, 5%

Browse transportation jobs