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The differences between tank truck drivers and lead 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 tank truck driver and a lead driver. Additionally, a tank truck driver has an average salary of $59,007, which is higher than the $43,769 average annual salary of a lead driver.
The top three skills for a tank truck driver include CDL, tractor trailer and OTR. The most important skills for a lead driver are DOT, work ethic, and CDL.
A tank truck driver is responsible for delivering a large volume of products to the customers or warehouse centers, such as gasoline, oil, and other related chemicals. Tank truck drivers ensure the regular maintenance of the truck's engine, immediately repairing inconsistencies and glitches to avoid potential hazards and delays in deliveries. They should also abide by road regulations at all times, requiring them to have a clean driving record to handle their duties under strict conditions and deadlines.
Lead drivers are professionals who are responsible for supervising the staff drivers of either a logistics or trucking company. These lead drivers must manage the communication between drivers and personnel while generating dispatch reports base on their drivers' tracking logs. They must ensure that vehicles are fit for use according to the standards of the Department of Transportation (DOT) by checking engines and maintaining sufficient fluid levels of all vehicles. Lead drivers must also train and supervise new drivers about the company's policy and safety regulations.
Tank truck drivers and lead drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tank Truck Driver | Lead Driver | |
| Average salary | $59,007 | $43,769 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $87,000 | Between $27,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Clara, CA | Newark, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Air Products | Univar |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Technology |
There are a few differences between a tank truck driver and a lead driver in terms of educational background:
| Tank Truck Driver | Lead Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between tank truck drivers' and lead drivers' demographics:
| Tank Truck Driver | Lead Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.5% Female, 5.5% | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 3.5% White, 58.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 58.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |