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The differences between flatbed 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 flatbed 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 $57,099 average annual salary of a flatbed driver.
The top three skills for a flatbed driver include CDL, OTR and customer service. The most important skills for a truck driver-over-the-road are CDL, OTR, and PET.
| Flatbed Driver | Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | |
| Yearly Salary | $57,099 | $69,158 |
| Hourly rate | $27.45 | $33.25 |
| Growth Rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number Of Jobs | 781,449 | 689,630 |
| Job Satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most Common Degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Average Age | 48 | 48 |
| Years Of Experience | 2 | 2 |
A flatbed driver is responsible for operating flatbed trucks to manage distribution and deliveries of goods and services from the warehouse to various assigned designations. Flatbed drivers assist in loading and unloading items, maintain a copy of receipt orders, process payments, and respond to the customers' inquiries and concerns. They also inspect the stability and performance of the truck's engine before and after operations and perform necessary repairs to prevent delivery delays and avoid potential road hazards.
A truck driver-over-the-road (OTR) is an individual driver who specializes in hauling items such as heavy freight, machinery, or construction materials from a home terminal to delivery points. OTR truck drivers usually spend more time on the road due to the long distances they are required to reach. To avoid vehicular breakdowns and delays, OTR drivers are required to inspect their trucks and review shipping and transport documents. They are also responsible for unloading freights and collect charges from customers.
Flatbed drivers and truck driver-over the roads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Flatbed Driver | Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | |
| Average Salary | $57,099 | $69,158 |
| Salary Range | Between $39,000 And $83,000 | Between $50,000 And $95,000 |
| Highest Paying City | Chicago, IL | Des Moines, WA |
| Highest Paying State | North Dakota | Washington |
| Best Paying Company | Hub Group | Walmart |
| Best Paying Industry | Transportation | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a flatbed driver and a truck driver-over-the-road in terms of educational background:
| Flatbed Driver | Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | |
| Most Common Degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most Common Major | Business | Business |
| Most Common College | - | - |
Here are the differences between flatbed drivers' and truck driver-over the roads' demographics:
| Flatbed Driver | Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | |
| Average Age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender Ratio | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% |
| Race Ratio | Black or African American, 13.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 3.5% White, 60.3% 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 Percentage | 4% | 4% |