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The differences between heavy truck drivers and commercial 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 heavy truck driver and a commercial truck driver. Additionally, a commercial truck driver has an average salary of $64,512, 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 commercial truck driver are CDL, good time management, and safety issues.
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 commercial truck driver is primarily in charge of transporting and delivering cargo, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. Their responsibilities include driving for long durations, coordinating with logistics staff, handling documentation, and maintaining the safety of cargo. There are also instances where they must liaise with clients, unload and load cargo, and keep records of all transactions. Furthermore, as a commercial truck driver, it is essential to conduct regular maintenance checks on vehicles and adhere to the traffic laws and regulations for a safe and productive work environment.
Heavy truck drivers and commercial truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Heavy Truck Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $54,369 | $64,512 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $75,000 | Between $41,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bakersfield, CA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | California | New York |
| Best paying company | B & B Co. | Tyson Foods |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a heavy truck driver and a commercial truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Heavy Truck Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between heavy truck drivers' and commercial truck drivers' demographics:
| Heavy Truck Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.1% Female, 5.9% | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% |
| 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, 13.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 3.6% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |