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The differences between operators and truck driver and cdl class a drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an operator and truck driver and a cdl class a driver. Additionally, an operator and truck driver has an average salary of $250,847, which is higher than the $52,203 average annual salary of a cdl class a driver.
The top three skills for an operator and truck driver include CDL, OTR and DOT. The most important skills for a cdl class a driver are OTR, customer service, and hazmat.
| Operator And Truck Driver | CDL Class A Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $250,847 | $52,203 |
| Hourly rate | $120.60 | $25.10 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 483,014 | 696,903 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 51% | High School Diploma, 39% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
An operator and truck driver is responsible for the safe and efficient transport of goods and services within a particular area. One must have the skills and credentials, such as a license for driving large vehicles, and stamina for the long drives. Aside from this, they must also abide by the traffic rules and regulations at all times, even conducting regular maintenance checks to ensure that the vehicle is in good condition. Furthermore, an operator and truck driver must coordinate with clients and other workers to ensure that all deliveries are accurate and timely.
A CDL Class A driver is a driver with a Class A commercial driver's license. A commercial driver's license is necessary to operate large, heavy, and placarded vehicles. There are several classifications of a commercial driver's license, and Class A is for a car towing a trailer with a gross vehicle weight of more than 10,000 pounds (5 t). Drivers with this type of license are entitled to operate a commercial motor vehicle such as passenger buses, tractor-trailers, semi-trucks, and dump trucks. They have the choice to add endorsements to their CDL, which allows them to operate particular types of commercial motor vehicles.
Operators and truck driver and cdl class a drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Operator And Truck Driver | CDL Class A Driver | |
| Average salary | $250,847 | $52,203 |
| Salary range | Between $126,000 And $497,000 | Between $36,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Portland, OR | Newark, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | York | Mid-South Management |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between an operator and truck driver and a cdl class a driver in terms of educational background:
| Operator And Truck Driver | CDL Class A Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 51% | High School Diploma, 39% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between operators and truck driver' and cdl class a drivers' demographics:
| Operator And Truck Driver | CDL Class A Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.7% Female, 5.3% | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.7% Asian, 3.9% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 13.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.7% Asian, 3.6% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |