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Residential driver vs owner/operator

The differences between residential drivers and owner/operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a residential driver and an owner/operator. Additionally, an owner/operator has an average salary of $167,288, which is higher than the $36,713 average annual salary of a residential driver.

The top three skills for a residential driver include CDL, safety equipment and clean waste. The most important skills for an owner/operator are CDL, PET, and customer service.

Residential driver vs owner/operator overview

Residential DriverOwner/Operator
Yearly salary$36,713$167,288
Hourly rate$17.65$80.43
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs751,657119,599
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Average age4848
Years of experience22

What does a residential driver do?

The duties of a residential driver depend on their line of work or employer. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around providing private transport to clients or providing public transportation services within residential areas. There are instances where they must communicate with clients, establish contracts, or be on call any time of the day. Furthermore, as a residential driver, it is essential to abide by all the traffic laws and perform regular vehicle maintenance checks to ensure a safe and healthy service to clients.

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.

Residential driver vs owner/operator salary

Residential drivers and owner/operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

Residential DriverOwner/Operator
Average salary$36,713$167,288
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $48,000Between $105,000 And $264,000
Highest paying CityPlymouth, MABridgeport, CT
Highest paying stateAlaskaOregon
Best paying companyWaste ManagementReddy Ice
Best paying industryGovernmentTechnology

Differences between residential driver and owner/operator education

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

Residential DriverOwner/Operator
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 47%Bachelor's Degree, 42%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Residential driver vs owner/operator demographics

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

Residential DriverOwner/Operator
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 94.7% Female, 5.3%Male, 66.8% Female, 33.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.2% Asian, 3.7% White, 57.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black 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%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between residential driver and owner/operator duties and responsibilities

Residential driver example responsibilities.

  • DOT logs are done and turn in daily.
  • Operate hoisting device to lift and empty bins or containers into truck hopper.
  • Operate compression equipment as well as automated or semi-automate hoisting devices.
  • Conduct deliveries of medical equipment throughout Florida, collect payments, and ensure proper cleanliness of medical equipment
  • Return to shop, perform post trip inspection, turn in all company tools require for the job.

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

Residential driver vs owner/operator skills

Common residential driver skills
  • CDL, 16%
  • Safety Equipment, 8%
  • Clean Waste, 8%
  • Safety Issues, 7%
  • Safety Policies, 7%
  • Productivity Standards, 7%
Common owner/operator skills
  • CDL, 57%
  • PET, 16%
  • Customer Service, 12%
  • Payroll, 4%
  • Human Resources, 1%
  • Windows, 1%

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