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The differences between truck operators and truck drivers class a 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 truck driver class a. Additionally, a truck driver class a has an average salary of $63,270, 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 truck driver class a are CDL, PET, and OTR.
| Truck Operator | Truck Driver Class A | |
| Yearly salary | $39,608 | $63,270 |
| Hourly rate | $19.04 | $30.42 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 667,980 | 709,900 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| 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.
The responsibilities of a Truck Driver Class A mainly revolves around driving heavy vehicles and ensuring that all transported goods meet the expected delivery deadlines and quality. The Driver needs to have a Class A license and be emotionally and physically healthy to qualify. Among the duties of a Truck Driver Class A will also revolve around securing and monitoring the quantity and quality of items, maintaining the vehicle in good condition, abide by the traffic rules and regulations, adhere to the company standards and policies, and have precise coordination with every workforce involved.
Truck operators and truck drivers class a have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Truck Operator | Truck Driver Class A | |
| Average salary | $39,608 | $63,270 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $50,000 | Between $43,000 And $92,000 |
| Highest paying City | Saint Paul, MN | Newark, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Washington | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Mars | Walmart |
| Best paying industry | Construction | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a truck operator and a truck driver class a in terms of educational background:
| Truck Operator | Truck Driver Class A | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 47% | High School Diploma, 48% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between truck operators' and truck drivers class a' demographics:
| Truck Operator | Truck Driver Class A | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 92.2% Female, 7.8% | Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3% |
| 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, 13.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.3% Asian, 3.5% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |