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The differences between flatbed 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 flatbed 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 $61,065 average annual salary of a flatbed truck driver.
The top three skills for a flatbed truck driver include CDL, flatbed and OTR. The most important skills for a truck driver-over-the-road are CDL, OTR, and PET.
A flatbed truck driver is primarily responsible for the transport and delivery of goods, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. Their duties mainly revolve around coordinating with logistics staff, planning deliveries, managing paperwork, responding to calls and inquiries from clients, and maintaining their vehicles in good condition by regularly conducting maintenance checks. There are are also instances when a driver must collect and process payments, making sure to keep records of all transactions. Furthermore, it is essential to load and unload goods to the location of deliveries and abide by all the traffic laws and regulations.
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 truck drivers and truck driver-over the roads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Flatbed Truck Driver | Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | |
| Average salary | $61,065 | $69,158 |
| Salary range | Between $40,000 And $91,000 | Between $50,000 And $95,000 |
| Highest paying City | Dover, NH | Des Moines, WA |
| Highest paying state | Montana | Washington |
| Best paying company | Jordan Company | Walmart |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a flatbed truck driver and a truck driver-over-the-road in terms of educational background:
| Flatbed Truck Driver | Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 41% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between flatbed truck drivers' and truck driver-over the roads' demographics:
| Flatbed Truck Driver | Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 95.2% Female, 4.8% | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 14.0% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 16.8% Asian, 3.6% White, 60.2% 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% |