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The differences between professional drivers and local 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 professional driver and a local driver. Additionally, a professional driver has an average salary of $49,556, which is higher than the $48,160 average annual salary of a local driver.
The top three skills for a professional driver include safety regulations, vehicle inspections and CDL. The most important skills for a local driver are CDL, DOT, and post-trip inspections.
| Professional Driver | Local Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $49,556 | $48,160 |
| Hourly rate | $23.82 | $23.15 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,043,986 | 786,531 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 27% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A professional driver is responsible for offering driving services as a way of living. Professional drivers are often employed by a company or private household, transporting the employees and clients from one location to another with the utmost safety and comfortability. To be a professional driver, one must have a valid professional driver's license, as well as a clean driving record for efficient job completion. A professional driver should also have comprehensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, especially on inspecting the vehicle's engine and conducting repairs as needed to avoid any delays in services.
A local driver is responsible for transporting people and goods and services from the distribution centers to various destinations. Local drivers operate vehicles and inspect the engine for any inconsistencies and system defects that may cause delays with the operations. They also schedule vehicle maintenance and repairs, keeping a record of receipts for the management's validation. A local driver must have excellent driving skills and a clean driving record. Additionally, a local driver should possess excellent communication skills, especially on handling customers' inquiries and concerns and escalating high-level complaints.
Professional drivers and local drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Professional Driver | Local Driver | |
| Average salary | $49,556 | $48,160 |
| Salary range | Between $33,000 And $73,000 | Between $33,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | - | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | - | Montana |
| Best paying company | - | Mid-South Management |
| Best paying industry | - | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a professional driver and a local driver in terms of educational background:
| Professional Driver | Local Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 27% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between professional drivers' and local drivers' demographics:
| Professional Driver | Local Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.2% Female, 20.8% | Male, 91.3% Female, 8.7% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 3.6% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 3.6% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |