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The differences between tank truck drivers and water 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 tank truck driver and a water truck driver. Additionally, a tank truck driver has an average salary of $59,007, which is higher than the $50,440 average annual salary of a water truck driver.
The top three skills for a tank truck driver include CDL, tractor trailer and OTR. The most important skills for a water truck driver are CDL, asphalt, and post-trip inspections.
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.
Water truck drivers are professional drivers who are required to drive trucks to transport water for construction projects, oil rigs, and crews working in remote sites. These drivers must demonstrate their ability by driving their trucks in unpredictable weather conditions and navigating in heavy traffics. They must conduct pre-trip and post-trip inspections while performing preventive maintenance on their trucks to ensure safety while driving. Water truck drivers must also check all load documents to ensure that they are accurate and received the required signatures for pickup and delivery.
Tank truck drivers and water truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tank Truck Driver | Water Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $59,007 | $50,440 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $87,000 | Between $35,000 And $70,000 |
| Highest paying City | Santa Clara, CA | San Diego, CA |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Air Products | MBI Energy Services |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a tank truck driver and a water truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Tank Truck Driver | Water Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 50% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between tank truck drivers' and water truck drivers' demographics:
| Tank Truck Driver | Water Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.5% Female, 5.5% | Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6% |
| 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, 11.3% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 21.4% Asian, 3.7% White, 58.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |