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The differences between over the road drivers and commercial truck 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 commercial truck driver. Additionally, a commercial truck driver has an average salary of $64,512, 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 commercial truck driver are CDL, good time management, and safety issues.
| Over The Road Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $62,119 | $64,512 |
| Hourly rate | $29.86 | $31.02 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 711,143 | 719,069 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| 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 commercial truck driver is primarily in charge of transporting and delivering cargo, ensuring efficiency and timeliness. Their responsibilities include driving for long durations, coordinating with logistics staff, handling documentation, and maintaining the safety of cargo. There are also instances where they must liaise with clients, unload and load cargo, and keep records of all transactions. Furthermore, as a commercial truck driver, it is essential to conduct regular maintenance checks on vehicles and adhere to the traffic laws and regulations for a safe and productive work environment.
Over the road drivers and commercial truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Over The Road Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $62,119 | $64,512 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $88,000 | Between $41,000 And $100,000 |
| Highest paying City | Camden, NJ | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | New York |
| Best paying company | Walmart | Tyson Foods |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Transportation |
There are a few differences between an over the road driver and a commercial truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Over The Road Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 35% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between over the road drivers' and commercial truck drivers' demographics:
| Over The Road Driver | Commercial Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% | Male, 91.0% Female, 9.0% |
| 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, 13.7% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 20.0% Asian, 3.6% White, 57.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |