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The differences between driver/owner operators and over the road 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 driver/owner operator and an over the road driver. Additionally, a driver/owner operator has an average salary of $169,793, which is higher than the $62,119 average annual salary of an over the road driver.
The top three skills for a driver/owner operator include CDL, DOT and OTR. The most important skills for an over the road driver are CDL, PET, and post-trip inspections.
| Driver/Owner Operator | Over The Road Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $169,793 | $62,119 |
| Hourly rate | $81.63 | $29.86 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 170,784 | 711,143 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Driver/owner-operators are self-employed commercial truck drivers who operate trucks to transport goods for their customers. Most of these operators started working as drivers for trucking companies to gain experience and decide if it's the right career path for them. They are allowed to haul freelance or agree to a lease agreement dedicating their equipment to one product or customer. To become an owner-operator, one should consider many things, including business set-up, vehicle type, and licenses.
Over the road, (OTR) drivers are the truckers driving the big semi-trailer truck that hauls all types of goods to their destinations across the states. Their journey typically begins with loading the freight onto the trailer, requiring them to lift heavy materials and load the cargo properly to avoid shifting while in transit. They often sleep in the sleeper berth at a truck stop to eat, freshen up and refuel. They are allowed to go on a 30-minute break after an eight-hour drive.
Driver/owner operators and over the road drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Driver/Owner Operator | Over The Road Driver | |
| Average salary | $169,793 | $62,119 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $417,000 | Between $43,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | Savannah, GA | Camden, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Texas | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | Clean Harbors | Walmart |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a driver/owner operator and an over the road driver in terms of educational background:
| Driver/Owner Operator | Over The Road Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between driver/owner operators' and over the road drivers' demographics:
| Driver/Owner Operator | Over The Road Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6% | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 13.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 3.9% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |