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The differences between transportation drivers and tank 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 tank driver. Additionally, a tank driver has an average salary of $51,471, 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 tank driver are CDL, hazmat, and post-trip inspections.
| Transportation Driver | Tank Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $43,236 | $51,471 |
| Hourly rate | $20.79 | $24.75 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,006,562 | 783,401 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| 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.
The duties of a tank driver depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, they are responsible for transporting goods or hazardous materials, ensuring timeliness and accuracy. Their tasks often revolve around coordinating with managers or office staff, handling or organizing documentation, managing schedules, and liaising with clients. Furthermore, as a tank driver, it is crucial to abide by all the traffic laws and conduct regular vehicle maintenance checks to ensure everyone's safety.
Transportation drivers and tank drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Transportation Driver | Tank Driver | |
| Average salary | $43,236 | $51,471 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $70,000 | Between $35,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cheyenne, WY | Denver, CO |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | Colorado |
| Best paying company | West Tennessee Healthcare | Kemira Chemicals |
| Best paying industry | - | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a transportation driver and a tank driver in terms of educational background:
| Transportation Driver | Tank Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between transportation drivers' and tank drivers' demographics:
| Transportation Driver | Tank Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.8% Female, 27.2% | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% |
| 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, 12.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |