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Owner/operator vs commercial driver

The differences between owner/operators and commercial 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 owner/operator and a commercial driver. Additionally, an owner/operator has an average salary of $167,288, which is higher than the $46,852 average annual salary of a commercial driver.

The top three skills for an owner/operator include CDL, PET and customer service. The most important skills for a commercial driver are customer service, CDL, and ladders.

Owner/operator vs commercial driver overview

Owner/OperatorCommercial Driver
Yearly salary$167,288$46,852
Hourly rate$80.43$22.52
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs119,5991,016,123
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 42%High School Diploma, 36%
Average age4848
Years of experience22

What does an owner/operator do?

Owners/operators manage the business in all aspects, especially in those related to operations. They ensure that every aspect of the business is running smoothly. They oversee finance, marketing, logistics, sales, and even the human resources of the whole organization. They set business goals, create action plans to achieve them, and make sure that the plans are followed through. They set strategic direction and make business decisions that would be the most beneficial to the organization. They ensure that the business has enough funds to continue operating and that the quality of the products and services they offer continuously improve.

What does a commercial driver do?

A commercial driver is responsible for transporting people, goods, and services from one place to various destinations as required. Commercial drivers must have a clean driving record to ensure the safety and security of the passengers and the merchandise's quality while on the road. They should also know how to operate a vehicle's engine, inspect system defects, and repair system malfunctions to prevent any delays in transportation and deliveries. A commercial driver must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry and report any problems to management.

Owner/operator vs commercial driver salary

Owner/operators and commercial drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Owner/OperatorCommercial Driver
Average salary$167,288$46,852
Salary rangeBetween $105,000 And $264,000Between $35,000 And $62,000
Highest paying CityBridgeport, CTAuburn, WA
Highest paying stateOregonWashington
Best paying companyReddy IceLaramie County Community College
Best paying industryTechnologyTransportation

Differences between owner/operator and commercial driver education

There are a few differences between an owner/operator and a commercial driver in terms of educational background:

Owner/OperatorCommercial Driver
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 42%High School Diploma, 36%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Owner/operator vs commercial driver demographics

Here are the differences between owner/operators' and commercial drivers' demographics:

Owner/OperatorCommercial Driver
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 66.8% Female, 33.2%Male, 75.8% Female, 24.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 3.6% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 3.5% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between owner/operator and commercial driver duties and responsibilities

Owner/operator example responsibilities.

  • Create and manage a free subscription, advertising- base facsimile publication and franchising system.
  • Manage all inventory for eBay store, including its labeling, storage, sales, and overall organization.
  • Design, implement and manage processes base on ITIL best practices, standards and relate support tools across the organization.
  • Direct daily operations of four profit centers, managing all financial functions to include A/R, A/P, payroll and purchasing.
  • Create and manage print and electronic co-op advertising program
  • Manage end to end business operations including hiring, scheduling visits, conducting customer consultations and performing pet visits.
  • Show more

Commercial driver example responsibilities.

  • Haul HAZMAT with roll-off bins, tankers, flatb, dry vans and dumps.
  • Plan delivery route & schedule using maps and GPS devices.
  • Develop and maintain an efficient routing system utilizing GPS and map.
  • Operate a Volvo commercial truck and transport regional and OTR loads.
  • Train and evaluate entry-level drivers while operating as an OTR flatb driver.
  • Determine if they would benefit from coming to school and obtaining their CDL.
  • Show more

Owner/operator vs commercial driver skills

Common owner/operator skills
  • CDL, 57%
  • PET, 16%
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Payroll, 4%
  • Human Resources, 1%
  • Windows, 1%
Common commercial driver skills
  • Customer Service, 19%
  • CDL, 12%
  • Ladders, 12%
  • Customer Orders, 9%
  • DOT, 8%
  • Distribution Centers, 5%

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