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The differences between truck drivers and professional 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 truck driver and a professional truck driver. Additionally, a truck driver has an average salary of $60,326, which is higher than the $48,577 average annual salary of a professional truck driver.
The top three skills for a truck driver include CDL, OTR and DOT. The most important skills for a professional truck driver are CDL, safety regulations, and on-time delivery.
| Truck Driver | Professional Truck Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $60,326 | $48,577 |
| Hourly rate | $29.00 | $23.35 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 827,858 | 739,437 |
| Job satisfaction | 4 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| 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.
Professional truck drivers have skills in communication, organization, and navigation, as well as a motivated personality and a good sense of responsibility. Their services are absolutely essential, with the most basic task being driving commercial trucks for transportation of goods and materials to distribution centers. Truck drivers transport everything from automobiles to produce to machinery.
Truck drivers and professional truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Truck Driver | Professional Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $60,326 | $48,577 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $90,000 | Between $33,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Wilmington, DE | Boston, MA |
| Highest paying state | Delaware | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | W. R. Grace & Co | Wellpath |
| Best paying industry | Retail | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a truck driver and a professional truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Truck Driver | Professional Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 48% | High School Diploma, 32% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between truck drivers' and professional truck drivers' demographics:
| Truck Driver | Professional Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 91.6% Female, 8.4% | Male, 84.3% Female, 15.7% |
| 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, 14.4% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.9% Asian, 3.7% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |