Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between haulers 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 hauler and an over the road driver. Additionally, an over the road driver has an average salary of $62,119, which is higher than the $39,903 average annual salary of a hauler.
The top three skills for a hauler include CDL, tractor trailer and OTR. The most important skills for an over the road driver are CDL, PET, and post-trip inspections.
| Hauler | Over The Road Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $39,903 | $62,119 |
| Hourly rate | $19.18 | $29.86 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 894,837 | 711,143 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 50% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Haulers have some similar responsibilities across the various industries they find themselves in. As a hauler, you may be expected to check out the delivery truck performance and carry out routine daily maintenance on vehicles. Your job duties may also involve conducting emergency roadside repairs, replacing light bulbs, and delivering items like sand, building materials, and other goods for clients or as a construction company. Before vehicle take-off, you may be required to perform pre-trip and after-trip inspections to make sure that everything is in good working condition.
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.
Haulers and over the road drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Hauler | Over The Road Driver | |
| Average salary | $39,903 | $62,119 |
| Salary range | Between $22,000 And $69,000 | Between $43,000 And $88,000 |
| Highest paying City | Minneapolis, MN | Camden, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New Jersey |
| Best paying company | ProDrivers | Walmart |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a hauler and an over the road driver in terms of educational background:
| Hauler | Over The Road Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 50% | High School Diploma, 37% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between haulers' and over the road drivers' demographics:
| Hauler | Over The Road Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8% | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.5% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 3.9% White, 57.9% 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% |