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The differences between truck operators and commercial 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 operator and a commercial truck driver. Additionally, a commercial truck driver has an average salary of $64,512, which is higher than the $39,608 average annual salary of a truck operator.
The top three skills for a truck operator include CDL, industrial cleaning and customer service. The most important skills for a commercial truck driver are CDL, good time management, and safety issues.
| Truck Operator | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $39,608 | $64,512 |
| Hourly rate | $19.04 | $31.02 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 667,980 | 719,069 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Truck Operators are individuals making a living by driving trucks and heavy goods vehicles such as articulated trucks, semi-trailers, and tankers. They are responsible for administering goods, loading and unloading into the truck, assessing the goods conditions, scheduling transport operations, arranging transport documentations, and inspecting vehicle conditions before starting work. Other duties include checking tires, fuel, oil filters, and oil levels. Truck Operators also supervise delivery operations, vehicle cleaning, tire maintenance, and refueling.
A commercial truck driver is primarily in charge of transporting and delivering cargo, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. Their responsibilities include driving for long durations, coordinating with logistics staff, handling documentation, and maintaining the safety of cargo. There are also instances where they must liaise with clients, unload and load cargo, and keep records of all transactions. Furthermore, as a commercial truck driver, it is essential to conduct regular maintenance checks on vehicles and adhere to the traffic laws and regulations for a safe and productive work environment.
Truck operators and commercial truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Truck Operator | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $39,608 | $64,512 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $50,000 | Between $41,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Saint Paul, MN | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Washington | New York |
| Best paying company | Mars | Tyson Foods |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a truck operator and a commercial truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Truck Operator | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between truck operators' and commercial truck drivers' demographics:
| Truck Operator | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 3.9% White, 58.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 3.6% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |