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Diesel truck driver vs truck driver-over-the-road

The differences between diesel truck drivers and truck driver-over the roads can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a diesel truck driver and a truck driver-over-the-road. Additionally, a truck driver-over-the-road has an average salary of $69,158, which is higher than the $43,702 average annual salary of a diesel truck driver.

The top three skills for a diesel truck driver include CDL, cranes and OTR. The most important skills for a truck driver-over-the-road are CDL, OTR, and PET.

Diesel truck driver vs truck driver-over-the-road overview

Diesel Truck DriverTruck Driver-Over-The-Road
Yearly salary$43,702$69,158
Hourly rate$21.01$33.25
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs684,748689,630
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 40%High School Diploma, 40%
Average age4848
Years of experience22

Diesel truck driver vs truck driver-over-the-road salary

Diesel truck drivers and truck driver-over the roads have different pay scales, as shown below.

Diesel Truck DriverTruck Driver-Over-The-Road
Average salary$43,702$69,158
Salary rangeBetween $32,000 And $59,000Between $50,000 And $95,000
Highest paying City-Des Moines, WA
Highest paying state-Washington
Best paying company-Walmart
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between diesel truck driver and truck driver-over-the-road education

There are a few differences between a diesel truck driver and a truck driver-over-the-road in terms of educational background:

Diesel Truck DriverTruck Driver-Over-The-Road
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 40%High School Diploma, 40%
Most common majorAutomotive TechnologyBusiness
Most common college--

Diesel truck driver vs truck driver-over-the-road demographics

Here are the differences between diesel truck drivers' and truck driver-over the roads' demographics:

Diesel Truck DriverTruck Driver-Over-The-Road
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 99.6% Female, 0.4%Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 23.2% Asian, 3.8% White, 56.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%Black or African American, 13.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 3.9% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between diesel truck driver and truck driver-over-the-road duties and responsibilities

Diesel truck driver example responsibilities.

  • Complete delivery and pickup paperwork promptly and accurately, returning say paperwork to the appropriate facility personnel.
  • Keep track of logs, miles, and bol's.

Truck driver-over-the-road example responsibilities.

  • Experience in semi driving, logging, managing bills of lading, light maintenance, vehicle inspections.
  • Ensure on-time delivery of LTL freight.
  • Transport HazMat products using proper placards and following require routes.
  • Transport basic HAZMAT cargo and ensure trailer are correctly labele.
  • Read maps or GPS to follow written or verbal geographic directions.
  • Maintain the cleanliness of the company vehicle as required by your location.
  • Show more

Diesel truck driver vs truck driver-over-the-road skills

Common diesel truck driver skills
  • CDL, 19%
  • Cranes, 15%
  • OTR, 14%
  • Hand Tools, 13%
  • Hoists, 8%
  • DOT, 7%
Common truck driver-over-the-road skills
  • CDL, 34%
  • OTR, 32%
  • PET, 18%
  • Hazmat, 7%
  • Work Ethic, 2%
  • Customer Service, 2%

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