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The differences between tractor-trailer drivers and class a 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 tractor-trailer driver and a class a driver. Additionally, a tractor-trailer driver has an average salary of $58,498, which is higher than the $56,620 average annual salary of a class a driver.
The top three skills for a tractor-trailer driver include DOT, CDL and OTR. The most important skills for a class a driver are CDL, customer service, and OTR.
| Tractor-Trailer Driver | Class A Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $58,498 | $56,620 |
| Hourly rate | $28.12 | $27.22 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 690,787 | 706,950 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A tractor-trailer driver is responsible for picking up and delivering goods and services from distribution centers and warehouses to different locations across the country as required. Tractor-trailer drivers manage the best route planning to prevent delays. They should also have extensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, inspecting the vehicle's condition regularly, repairing any inconsistencies, and replacing defective components to ensure smooth operations. A tractor-trailer driver must have excellent communication and organizational skills, responding to the clients' inquiries and concerns and escalating complaints to management for immediate resolution.
A Class A driver is an individual driver who has acquired a commercial driver's license (CDL) to operate trucks or commercial vehicles to transport materials and heavy equipment. Class A drivers are required to plan over-the-road (OTR) travel by using GPS and ensure that they follow bulk cargo transportation laws, regulations, and guidelines. They must conduct proper maintenance of the company vehicles and provide accurate daily logs to stay in compliance with the company's regulations. Class A drivers should also know how to operate equipment such as citizen band (CB) radios and telephones.
Tractor-trailer drivers and class a drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tractor-Trailer Driver | Class A Driver | |
| Average salary | $58,498 | $56,620 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $84,000 | Between $39,000 And $80,000 |
| Highest paying City | Atlanta, GA | Philadelphia, PA |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Exel Inc. | Mid-South Management |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a tractor-trailer driver and a class a driver in terms of educational background:
| Tractor-Trailer Driver | Class A Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between tractor-trailer drivers' and class a drivers' demographics:
| Tractor-Trailer Driver | Class A Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% | Male, 94.8% Female, 5.2% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 3.6% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 22.7% Asian, 3.7% White, 56.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |