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Trailer truck driver vs professional truck driver

The differences between trailer 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 trailer truck driver and a professional truck driver. Additionally, a trailer truck driver has an average salary of $57,200, which is higher than the $48,577 average annual salary of a professional truck driver.

The top three skills for a trailer truck driver include CDL, commodities and DOT. The most important skills for a professional truck driver are CDL, safety regulations, and on-time delivery.

Trailer truck driver vs professional truck driver overview

Trailer Truck DriverProfessional Truck Driver
Yearly salary$57,200$48,577
Hourly rate$27.50$23.35
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs703,458739,437
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 46%High School Diploma, 32%
Average age4848
Years of experience22

Trailer truck driver vs professional truck driver salary

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

Trailer Truck DriverProfessional Truck Driver
Average salary$57,200$48,577
Salary rangeBetween $37,000 And $87,000Between $33,000 And $69,000
Highest paying CityNew Brunswick, NJBoston, MA
Highest paying stateNew JerseyRhode Island
Best paying companyCopartWellpath
Best paying industryAutomotiveTransportation

Differences between trailer truck driver and professional truck driver education

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

Trailer Truck DriverProfessional Truck Driver
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 46%High School Diploma, 32%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Trailer truck driver vs professional truck driver demographics

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

Trailer Truck DriverProfessional Truck Driver
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 93.7% Female, 6.3%Male, 84.3% Female, 15.7%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 14.3% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 3.9% White, 57.4% 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 Percentage4%4%

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

Trailer truck driver example responsibilities.

  • Manage and expedite the secure transportation and accountability of logistic materials and HAZMAT chemicals to commercial, state and government facilities.
  • Used GPS and/or maps to familiarize routes effectively.
  • Pick up and deliver brewery items to distributorwork local routes as well as otr routesdrove deliveries to las vegas and beyond
  • Report to dispatch receive orders of the day or night complete tank-trailer inspection maintain OTR paper logs records and tanks service
  • Check all load documentation for accuracy, inspect load and receive required signatures for pickup and delivery.
  • Look after the maintenance of general commodities such as steel, pipes, and associate LTL loads.
  • Show more

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
  • Show more

Trailer truck driver vs professional truck driver skills

Common trailer truck driver skills
  • CDL, 55%
  • Commodities, 16%
  • DOT, 7%
  • OTR, 5%
  • Tractor-Trailer Combination, 2%
  • Asphalt, 1%
Common professional truck driver skills
  • CDL, 17%
  • Safety Regulations, 15%
  • On-Time Delivery, 10%
  • OTR, 7%
  • Vehicle Service, 6%
  • Semi, 5%

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