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The differences between transportation drivers and 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 truck driver. Additionally, a truck driver has an average salary of $60,326, 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 truck driver are CDL, OTR, and DOT.
| Transportation Driver | Truck Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $43,236 | $60,326 |
| Hourly rate | $20.79 | $29.00 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 1,006,562 | 827,858 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 4 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| 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 truck driver transports goods and materials by land from and to manufacturing factories or retail businesses and distribution centers with the use of heavy trucks or tractor-trailers. Truck drivers assist and supervise the safe unloading of cargos to the destination. They must always check their cargo if complete and secured with cables, rope, or other materials. They should keep their truck clean, neat, and inspect prior the trip and ensure to be in good working condition to operate safely. It is very important that they follow with all appropriate safety procedures and comply with federal and state regulations. They must also be knowledgable and comfortable in using maps or GPS to navigate the safest and most efficient routes.
Transportation drivers and truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Transportation Driver | Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $43,236 | $60,326 |
| Salary range | Between $26,000 And $70,000 | Between $40,000 And $90,000 |
| Highest paying City | Cheyenne, WY | Wilmington, DE |
| Highest paying state | Wyoming | Delaware |
| Best paying company | West Tennessee Healthcare | W. R. Grace & Co |
| Best paying industry | - | Retail |
There are a few differences between a transportation driver and a truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Transportation Driver | Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between transportation drivers' and truck drivers' demographics:
| Transportation Driver | Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 72.8% Female, 27.2% | Male, 91.6% Female, 8.4% |
| 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, 12.8% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 3.4% White, 59.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |