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The differences between over the road drivers and cdl drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an over the road driver and a cdl driver. Additionally, a cdl driver has an average salary of $63,112, which is higher than the $62,119 average annual salary of an over the road driver.
The top three skills for an over the road driver include CDL, PET and post-trip inspections. The most important skills for a cdl driver are DOT, CDL-A, and customer service.
| Over The Road Driver | CDL Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $62,119 | $63,112 |
| Hourly rate | $29.86 | $30.34 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 711,143 | 784,044 |
| Job satisfaction | - | 5 |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A CDL driver is responsible for the transportation of goods from the manufacturing warehouse to specific store locations. CDL drivers' duties include inspecting the items before and after the delivery to ensure that the orders are correct with the right quantity, providing proof of delivery from the receiving customers, following the delivery schedule and report any delays immediately, monitoring the vehicle's engine for efficiency, and escalating concerns of incorrect deliveries and defective items. A CDL driver must have excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills, following safety procedures and road rules at all times.
Over the road drivers and cdl drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Over The Road Driver | CDL Driver | |
| Average salary | $62,119 | $63,112 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $88,000 | Between $41,000 And $96,000 |
| Highest paying City | Camden, NJ | Washington, DC |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Wyoming |
| Best paying company | Walmart | GCP Applied Technologies |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Retail |
There are a few differences between an over the road driver and a cdl driver in terms of educational background:
| Over The Road Driver | CDL Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between over the road drivers' and cdl drivers' demographics:
| Over The Road Driver | CDL Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% | Male, 92.8% Female, 7.2% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 12.7% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.5% Asian, 3.4% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |