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The differences between heavy truck drivers and truck drivers class a 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 truck driver class a. Additionally, a truck driver class a has an average salary of $63,270, 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 truck driver class a are CDL, PET, and OTR.
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 responsibilities of a Truck Driver Class A mainly revolves around driving heavy vehicles and ensuring that all transported goods meet the expected delivery deadlines and quality. The Driver needs to have a Class A license and be emotionally and physically healthy to qualify. Among the duties of a Truck Driver Class A will also revolve around securing and monitoring the quantity and quality of items, maintaining the vehicle in good condition, abide by the traffic rules and regulations, adhere to the company standards and policies, and have precise coordination with every workforce involved.
Heavy truck drivers and truck drivers class a have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Heavy Truck Driver | Truck Driver Class A | |
| Average salary | $54,369 | $63,270 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $75,000 | Between $43,000 And $92,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bakersfield, CA | Newark, NJ |
| Highest paying state | California | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | B & B Co. | Walmart |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a heavy truck driver and a truck driver class a in terms of educational background:
| Heavy Truck Driver | Truck Driver Class A | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between heavy truck drivers' and truck drivers class a' demographics:
| Heavy Truck Driver | Truck Driver Class A | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.1% Female, 5.9% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| 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, 13.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 3.5% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |