Over-the-road drivers are truckers that drive long-distance routes, as opposed to drivers that make short deliveries in their area. OTR drivers can transport any kind of material, from raw supplies to finished goods. Some OTR drivers have special certifications that allow them to transport Hazmat material. Obviously, the most important skill for an OTR driver is the ability to drive long distances while maintaining road safety standards. OTR drivers also need to load cargo onto the trailer while knowing weight distribution regulations and safety guidelines. They also need to handle the administrative aspect of transporting cargo, such as obtaining the proper signatures and maintaining cargo logs.
To become an Over Road driver, most people only need a Commercial Driver's License (CDL) and some driving experience. Many driving schools offer classes to help people earn their CDLs.
OTR drivers earn an average annual salary of $60,909, but that salary comes with a lot of hardship. Many drivers are on the road for days without seeing their families. Sometimes, they drive up to eight hours before they can take a break.
There is more than meets the eye when it comes to being an Over The Road Driver. For example, did you know that they make an average of $31.09 an hour? That's $64,670 a year!
Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 5% and produce 99,700 job opportunities across the U.S.
There are certain skills that many Over The Road Drivers have in order to accomplish their responsibilities. By taking a look through resumes, we were able to narrow down the most common skills for a person in this position. We discovered that a lot of resumes listed Hand-eye coordination, Physical health and Visual ability.
If you're interested in becoming an Over The Road Driver, one of the first things to consider is how much education you need. We've determined that 13.0% of Over The Road Drivers have a bachelor's degree. In terms of higher education levels, we found that 2.3% of Over The Road Drivers have master's degrees. Even though some Over The Road Drivers have a college degree, it's possible to become one with only a high school degree or GED.
Choosing the right major is always an important step when researching how to become an Over The Road Driver. When we researched the most common majors for an Over The Road Driver, we found that they most commonly earn High School Diploma degrees or Associate Degree degrees. Other degrees that we often see on Over The Road Driver resumes include Diploma degrees or Bachelor's Degree degrees.
You may find that experience in other jobs will help you become an Over The Road Driver. In fact, many Over The Road Driver jobs require experience in a role such as Driver. Meanwhile, many Over The Road Drivers also have previous career experience in roles such as Truck Driver or Truck Driver-Over-The-Road.