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The differences between local 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 local truck driver and a cdl driver. Additionally, a cdl driver has an average salary of $63,112, which is higher than the $59,069 average annual salary of a local truck driver.
The top three skills for a local truck driver include CDL, customer service and OTR. The most important skills for a cdl driver are DOT, CDL-A, and customer service.
A local truck driver is an employee who drives a company truck to transport goods to and from specified locations within a designated geographic area. Local truck drivers must ensure that the transported goods are well-secured and not damaged during the transit. They must liaise with dispatch to communicate any traffic issues and delays as well as notify the management of any accidents or vehicle damage. Local truck drivers must also assist in loading and unloading of goods by using hand trucks and electric lifts as required.
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.
Local truck drivers and cdl drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Local Truck Driver | CDL Driver | |
| Average salary | $59,069 | $63,112 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $86,000 | Between $41,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, DE | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Wyoming |
| Best paying company | Walmart | GCP Applied Technologies |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Retail |
There are a few differences between a local truck driver and a cdl driver in terms of educational background:
| Local Truck Driver | CDL Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between local truck drivers' and cdl drivers' demographics:
| Local Truck Driver | CDL Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3% | Male, 92.8% Female, 7.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 60.7% 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% |