Sanitation truck driver vs professional truck driver

The differences between sanitation truck drivers and professional truck 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 sanitation truck driver and a professional truck driver. Additionally, a professional truck driver has an average salary of $48,577, which is higher than the $37,044 average annual salary of a sanitation truck driver.

The top three skills for a sanitation truck driver include CDL, safety policies and post-trip. The most important skills for a professional truck driver are CDL, safety regulations, and on-time delivery.

Sanitation truck driver vs professional truck driver overview

	Sanitation Truck Driver	Professional Truck Driver
Yearly salary	$37,044	$48,577
Hourly rate	$17.81	$23.35
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	669,191	739,437
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 61%	High School Diploma, 32%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	2	2

Sanitation truck driver vs professional truck driver salary

Sanitation truck drivers and professional truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Sanitation Truck Driver	Professional Truck Driver
Average salary	$37,044	$48,577
Salary range	Between $28,000 And $48,000	Between $33,000 And $69,000
Highest paying City	-	Boston, MA
Highest paying state	-	Rhode Island
Best paying company	-	Wellpath
Best paying industry	-	Transportation

Differences between sanitation truck driver and professional truck driver education

There are a few differences between a sanitation truck driver and a professional truck driver in terms of educational background:

	Sanitation Truck Driver	Professional Truck Driver
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 61%	High School Diploma, 32%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Sanitation truck driver vs professional truck driver demographics

Here are the differences between sanitation truck drivers' and professional truck drivers' demographics:

	Sanitation Truck Driver	Professional Truck Driver
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 94.7% Female, 5.3%	Male, 84.3% Female, 15.7%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 3.3% White, 56.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 14.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between sanitation truck driver and professional truck driver duties and responsibilities

Sanitation truck driver example responsibilities.

Manage and expedite the secure transportation and accountability of logistic materials and HAZMAT chemicals to commercial, state and government facilities.
Experience in front load box CNG trucks (compress natural gas) trucks
Follow GPS directives and maintain in constant communication with dispatch when necessary.
Follow GPS directives and maintain in constant communication with dispatch when necessary.

Professional truck driver example responsibilities.

Maintain current commercial driver's license (CDL).
Perform equipment inspections, load and unload liquid HazMat.
Select as OTR driver certify in tanker, double and triple.
Diversify freight transportation OTR, as well as business and home delivery.
Train students and company employees in professional truck driving leading to student acquiring CDL.
Truck driving/safety checks on all equipment and cargo/The on time pickup and delivery of cargo

Sanitation truck driver vs professional truck driver skills

Common sanitation truck driver skills

CDL, 28%
Safety Policies, 16%
Post-Trip, 13%
Garbage Collection, 6%
Safety Checks, 5%
Routine Maintenance, 5%

Common professional truck driver skills

CDL, 17%
Safety Regulations, 15%
On-Time Delivery, 10%
OTR, 7%
Vehicle Service, 6%
Semi, 5%

Sanitation Truck Driver vs. similar jobs

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Transportation Industry
Sanitation Truck Driver
Sanitation Truck Driver vs Professional Truck Driver

Updated January 8, 2025

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