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The differences between transportation drivers and commercial 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 transportation driver and a commercial truck driver. Additionally, a commercial truck driver has an average salary of $64,512, which is higher than the $43,236 average annual salary of a transportation driver.
The top three skills for a transportation driver include CDL, DOT and tractor trailer. The most important skills for a commercial truck driver are CDL, good time management, and safety issues.
| Transportation Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $43,236 | $64,512 |
| Hourly rate | $20.79 | $31.02 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,006,562 | 719,069 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
A transportation driver is responsible for transporting people and goods from one place to another. A transportation driver must have a clean driving record to operate vehicles carefully and efficiently. Transportation drivers must ensure that the passengers are safe and comfortable during the trip and that goods are in proper condition to avoid damage and defects. They should strictly adhere to the transport schedules and assigned routes to avoid delays of operations. A transportation driver should also understand maintenance basics of vehicles to perform repair and reconditioning of any engine malfunction.
A commercial truck driver is primarily in charge of transporting and delivering cargo, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. Their responsibilities include driving for long durations, coordinating with logistics staff, handling documentation, and maintaining the safety of cargo. There are also instances where they must liaise with clients, unload and load cargo, and keep records of all transactions. Furthermore, as a commercial truck driver, it is essential to conduct regular maintenance checks on vehicles and adhere to the traffic laws and regulations for a safe and productive work environment.
Transportation drivers and commercial truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Transportation Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $43,236 | $64,512 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $70,000 | Between $41,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cheyenne, WY | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | New York |
| Best paying company | West Tennessee Healthcare | Tyson Foods |
| Best paying industry | - | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a transportation driver and a commercial truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Transportation Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between transportation drivers' and commercial truck drivers' demographics:
| Transportation Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.8% Female, 27.2% | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 3.6% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 3.6% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |