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The differences between over the road drivers and contract 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 contract driver. Additionally, an over the road driver has an average salary of $62,119, which is higher than the $34,999 average annual salary of a contract driver.
The top three skills for an over the road driver include CDL, PET and post-trip inspections. The most important skills for a contract driver are DOT, CDL, and tractor trailer.
| Over The Road Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $62,119 | $34,999 |
| Hourly rate | $29.86 | $16.83 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 711,143 | 1,007,663 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 30% |
| 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 contract driver mainly provides transport services on a contractual basis. Their duties typically depend on their contract or place of employment; they may deliver goods or provide private transport to clients. When it comes to delivering goods, a contract driver must adhere to schedules and guidelines, maintain documents, and coordinate with clients. Furthermore, a contract driver must perform regular maintenance checks on their vehicles and abide by the traffic laws and regulations to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
Over the road drivers and contract drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Over The Road Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Average salary | $62,119 | $34,999 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $88,000 | Between $23,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Camden, NJ | - |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | - |
| Best paying company | Walmart | - |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | - |
There are a few differences between an over the road driver and a contract driver in terms of educational background:
| Over The Road Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 30% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between over the road drivers' and contract drivers' demographics:
| Over The Road Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| 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, 13.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 4.0% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |