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The differences between heavy truck drivers and tank 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 tank driver. Additionally, a heavy truck driver has an average salary of $54,369, which is higher than the $51,471 average annual salary of a tank driver.
The top three skills for a heavy truck driver include CDL, safety rules and hazmat. The most important skills for a tank driver are CDL, hazmat, and post-trip inspections.
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.
The duties of a tank driver depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, they are responsible for transporting goods or hazardous materials, ensuring timeliness and accuracy. Their tasks often revolve around coordinating with managers or office staff, handling or organizing documentation, managing schedules, and liaising with clients. Furthermore, as a tank driver, it is crucial to abide by all the traffic laws and conduct regular vehicle maintenance checks to ensure everyone's safety.
Heavy truck drivers and tank drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Heavy Truck Driver | Tank Driver | |
| Average salary | $54,369 | $51,471 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $75,000 | Between $35,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bakersfield, CA | Denver, CO |
| Highest paying state | California | Colorado |
| Best paying company | B & B Co. | Kemira Chemicals |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a heavy truck driver and a tank driver in terms of educational background:
| Heavy Truck Driver | Tank Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between heavy truck drivers' and tank drivers' demographics:
| Heavy Truck Driver | Tank 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, 12.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |