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The differences between driver/owner operators and tractor-trailer 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 a tractor-trailer driver. Additionally, a driver/owner operator has an average salary of $169,793, which is higher than the $58,498 average annual salary of a tractor-trailer driver.
The top three skills for a driver/owner operator include CDL, DOT and OTR. The most important skills for a tractor-trailer driver are DOT, CDL, and OTR.
| Driver/Owner Operator | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $169,793 | $58,498 |
| Hourly rate | $81.63 | $28.12 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 170,784 | 690,787 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| 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.
A tractor-trailer driver is responsible for picking up and delivering goods and services from distribution centers and warehouses to different locations across the country as required. Tractor-trailer drivers manage the best route planning to prevent delays. They should also have extensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, inspecting the vehicle's condition regularly, repairing any inconsistencies, and replacing defective components to ensure smooth operations. A tractor-trailer driver must have excellent communication and organizational skills, responding to the clients' inquiries and concerns and escalating complaints to management for immediate resolution.
Driver/owner operators and tractor-trailer drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Driver/Owner Operator | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| Average salary | $169,793 | $58,498 |
| Salary range | Between $69,000 And $417,000 | Between $40,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | Savannah, GA | Atlanta, GA |
| Highest paying state | Texas | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Clean Harbors | Exel Inc. |
| Best paying industry | Energy | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a driver/owner operator and a tractor-trailer driver in terms of educational background:
| Driver/Owner Operator | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 44% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between driver/owner operators' and tractor-trailer drivers' demographics:
| Driver/Owner Operator | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 89.4% Female, 10.6% | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% |
| 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, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 3.6% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |