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The differences between heavy 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 heavy 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 $54,369 average annual salary of a heavy truck driver.
The top three skills for a heavy truck driver include CDL, safety rules and hazmat. The most important skills for a truck driver-over-the-road are CDL, OTR, and PET.
A heavy truck driver delivers goods and other heavy loads for clients. They transport these goods within a designated route from the manufacturing warehouse to designated store locations. In addition to driving, they determine if their truck complies with the weight or height restrictions on certain bridges and tunnels and modifies routes as necessary.
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.
Heavy truck drivers and truck driver-over the roads have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Heavy Truck Driver | Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | |
| Average salary | $54,369 | $69,158 |
| Salary range | Between $39,000 And $75,000 | Between $50,000 And $95,000 |
| Highest paying City | Bakersfield, CA | Des Moines, WA |
| Highest paying state | California | Washington |
| Best paying company | B & B Co. | Walmart |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between a heavy truck driver and a truck driver-over-the-road in terms of educational background:
| Heavy 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 heavy truck drivers' and truck driver-over the roads' demographics:
| Heavy Truck Driver | Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 94.1% Female, 5.9% | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.8% Asian, 3.9% White, 57.1% 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% |