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The differences between tractor-trailer drivers and drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a tractor-trailer driver has an average salary of $58,498, which is higher than the $34,771 average annual salary of a driver.
The top three skills for a tractor-trailer driver include DOT, CDL and OTR. The most important skills for a driver are math, basic math, and CDL.
| Tractor-Trailer Driver | Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $58,498 | $34,771 |
| Hourly rate | $28.12 | $16.72 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 11% |
| Number of jobs | 690,787 | 1,017,998 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4.33 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 43% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 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.
Drivers are responsible for safely transporting people, packages, or goods from one destination to another. They should be familiar with the different routes that may be taken to reach the desired goal. They should be expert navigators and may use navigation apps to help them along the way. They should also be familiar with the basic mechanics of the vehicle they are using and the proper maintenance and cleaning needed to ensure that the car is running well. Drivers are expected to have excellent customer relation skills, a strong sense of direction, and superb organizations.
Tractor-trailer drivers and drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Tractor-Trailer Driver | Driver | |
| Average salary | $58,498 | $34,771 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $84,000 | Between $22,000 And $53,000 |
| Highest paying City | Atlanta, GA | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | North Dakota | Vermont |
| Best paying company | Exel Inc. | Air Liquide |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a tractor-trailer driver and a driver in terms of educational background:
| Tractor-Trailer Driver | Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 43% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between tractor-trailer drivers' and drivers' demographics:
| Tractor-Trailer Driver | Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% | Male, 83.0% Female, 17.0% |
| 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, 12.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.9% Asian, 3.5% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |