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The differences between heavy truck drivers and fuel 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 fuel truck driver. Additionally, a fuel truck driver has an average salary of $56,767, 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 fuel truck driver are CDL, hazmat, and DOT.
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 Fuel Truck Driver transports fuel and other petroleum products from one place to another, ensuring safety and timeliness. Their responsibilities include measuring and calculating fuel deliveries, maintaining records, handling documentation, liaising with clients, preparing progress reports, and overseeing the loading and unloading procedures, ensuring adherence to the company's safety standards and regulations. A Fuel Truck Driver must conduct regular vehicle maintenance checks and abide by the traffic laws and regulations to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
Heavy truck drivers and fuel truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Heavy Truck Driver | Fuel Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $54,369 | $56,767 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $75,000 | Between $38,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bakersfield, CA | - |
| Highest paying state | California | - |
| Best paying company | B & B Co. | - |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | - |
There are a few differences between a heavy truck driver and a fuel truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Heavy Truck Driver | Fuel Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between heavy truck drivers' and fuel truck drivers' demographics:
| Heavy Truck Driver | Fuel Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.1% Female, 5.9% | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% |
| 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, 11.9% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 22.6% Asian, 3.3% White, 57.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |