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The differences between transportation drivers and line haul 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 line haul driver. Additionally, a line haul driver has an average salary of $53,992, 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 line haul driver are CDL, hazmat, and safety regulations.
| Transportation Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $43,236 | $53,992 |
| Hourly rate | $20.79 | $25.96 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,006,562 | 871,646 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| 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 line haul truck driver is in charge of transporting heavy materials using large vehicles such as tractor-trailers, ensuring timeliness and efficiency. Their responsibilities typically revolve around securing documents or invoices, adhering to specific routes, driving for long durations, liaising and building positive relationships with companies, and ensuring the safety and quality of all cargo. Furthermore, as a line haul truck driver, it is essential to abide by all the traffic laws and perform regular vehicle maintenance checks to ensure a safe and productive work environment.
Transportation drivers and line haul drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Transportation Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Average salary | $43,236 | $53,992 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $70,000 | Between $37,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cheyenne, WY | Fargo, ND |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | West Tennessee Healthcare | Tyson Foods |
| Best paying industry | - | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a transportation driver and a line haul driver in terms of educational background:
| Transportation Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between transportation drivers' and line haul drivers' demographics:
| Transportation Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.8% Female, 27.2% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| 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, 12.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 3.6% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |