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The differences between heavy truck drivers and cdl 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 heavy truck driver and a cdl driver. Additionally, a cdl driver has an average salary of $63,112, which is higher than the $54,369 average annual salary of a heavy truck driver.
The top three skills for a heavy truck driver include CDL, safety rules and hazmat. The most important skills for a cdl driver are DOT, CDL-A, and customer service.
A heavy truck driver delivers goods and other heavy loads for clients. They transport these goods within a designated route from the manufacturing warehouse to designated store locations. In addition to driving, they determine if their truck complies with the weight or height restrictions on certain bridges and tunnels and modifies routes as necessary.
A CDL driver is responsible for the transportation of goods from the manufacturing warehouse to specific store locations. CDL drivers' duties include inspecting the items before and after the delivery to ensure that the orders are correct with the right quantity, providing proof of delivery from the receiving customers, following the delivery schedule and report any delays immediately, monitoring the vehicle's engine for efficiency, and escalating concerns of incorrect deliveries and defective items. A CDL driver must have excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills, following safety procedures and road rules at all times.
Heavy truck drivers and cdl drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Heavy Truck Driver | CDL Driver | |
| Average salary | $54,369 | $63,112 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $75,000 | Between $41,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bakersfield, CA | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | California | Wyoming |
| Best paying company | B & B Co. | GCP Applied Technologies |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Retail |
There are a few differences between a heavy truck driver and a cdl driver in terms of educational background:
| Heavy Truck Driver | CDL Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between heavy truck drivers' and cdl drivers' demographics:
| Heavy Truck Driver | CDL Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.1% Female, 5.9% | Male, 92.8% Female, 7.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.8% Asian, 3.9% White, 57.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 3.4% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |