Waste collection driver vs driver/owner operator

The differences between waste collection drivers and driver/owner operators can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a waste collection driver and a driver/owner operator. Additionally, a driver/owner operator has an average salary of $169,793, which is higher than the $41,251 average annual salary of a waste collection driver.

The top three skills for a waste collection driver include DOT, OSHA and post-trip inspections. The most important skills for a driver/owner operator are CDL, DOT, and OTR.

Waste collection driver vs driver/owner operator overview

	Waste Collection Driver	Driver/Owner Operator
Yearly salary	$41,251	$169,793
Hourly rate	$19.83	$81.63
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	616,579	170,784
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 47%	High School Diploma, 44%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	2	2

Waste collection driver vs driver/owner operator salary

Waste collection drivers and driver/owner operators have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Waste Collection Driver	Driver/Owner Operator
Average salary	$41,251	$169,793
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $53,000	Between $69,000 And $417,000
Highest paying City	-	Savannah, GA
Highest paying state	-	Texas
Best paying company	-	Clean Harbors
Best paying industry	-	Energy

Differences between waste collection driver and driver/owner operator education

There are a few differences between a waste collection driver and a driver/owner operator in terms of educational background:

	Waste Collection Driver	Driver/Owner Operator
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 47%	High School Diploma, 44%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Waste collection driver vs driver/owner operator demographics

Here are the differences between waste collection drivers' and driver/owner operators' demographics:

	Waste Collection Driver	Driver/Owner Operator
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 92.8% Female, 7.2%	Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 4.0% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 12.8% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 21.6% Asian, 3.8% White, 56.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between waste collection driver and driver/owner operator duties and responsibilities

Waste collection driver example responsibilities.

Operate automated or semi-automate hoisting devices on side loader or front loader.
Attend annual driver improvement classes to maintain knowledge of safety and emergency procedures of transportation hazmat products.
Deliver customers to their destination/homes/doorsteps with luggage/baggage groceries

Driver/owner operator example responsibilities.

Train new students to help them accomplish there goal of obtaining there CDL license.
Direct daily operations of four profit centers, managing all financial functions to include A/R, A/P, payroll and purchasing.
Load and unload crude oil with PTO and lack.
Follow all safety procedures including wearing proper PPE, able to thief, gauge and test the oil.
Roll off, tractor trailer, dump truck and heavy equipment operator all dot inspections on truck, equipment inspections
Complete log sheet on QUALCOMM.

Waste collection driver vs driver/owner operator skills

Common waste collection driver skills

DOT, 25%
OSHA, 18%
Post-Trip Inspections, 17%
Waste Management, 15%
Minor Maintenance, 5%
Hazardous Materials, 5%

Common driver/owner operator skills

CDL, 36%
DOT, 26%
OTR, 25%
PET, 3%
Hazmat, 2%
Safety Regulations, 1%

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Transportation Industry
Waste Collection Driver
Waste Collection Driver vs Driver/Owner Operator

Updated January 8, 2025

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