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The differences between truck drivers and commercial 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 truck driver and a commercial driver. Additionally, a truck driver has an average salary of $60,326, which is higher than the $46,852 average annual salary of a commercial driver.
The top three skills for a truck driver include CDL, OTR and DOT. The most important skills for a commercial driver are customer service, CDL, and ladders.
| Truck Driver | Commercial Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $60,326 | $46,852 |
| Hourly rate | $29.00 | $22.52 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 827,858 | 1,016,123 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A commercial driver is responsible for transporting people, goods, and services from one place to various destinations as required. Commercial drivers must have a clean driving record to ensure the safety and security of the passengers and the merchandise's quality while on the road. They should also know how to operate a vehicle's engine, inspect system defects, and repair system malfunctions to prevent any delays in transportation and deliveries. A commercial driver must have excellent knowledge of the mechanical industry and report any problems to management.
Truck drivers and commercial drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Truck Driver | Commercial Driver | |
| Average salary | $60,326 | $46,852 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $90,000 | Between $35,000 And $62,000 |
| Highest paying City | Wilmington, DE | Auburn, WA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Washington |
| Best paying company | W. R. Grace & Co | Laramie County Community College |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a truck driver and a commercial driver in terms of educational background:
| Truck Driver | Commercial Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 36% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between truck drivers' and commercial drivers' demographics:
| Truck Driver | Commercial Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.6% Female, 8.4% | Male, 75.8% Female, 24.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 23.1% Asian, 3.5% White, 55.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |