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The differences between over the road drivers and line haul 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 line haul driver. Additionally, an over the road driver has an average salary of $62,119, which is higher than the $53,992 average annual salary of a line haul driver.
The top three skills for an over the road driver include CDL, PET and post-trip inspections. The most important skills for a line haul driver are CDL, hazmat, and safety regulations.
| Over The Road Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $62,119 | $53,992 |
| Hourly rate | $29.86 | $25.96 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 711,143 | 871,646 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| 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 line haul truck driver is in charge of transporting heavy materials using large vehicles such as tractor-trailers, ensuring timeliness and efficiency. Their responsibilities typically revolve around securing documents or invoices, adhering to specific routes, driving for long durations, liaising and building positive relationships with companies, and ensuring the safety and quality of all cargo. Furthermore, as a line haul truck driver, it is essential to abide by all the traffic laws and perform regular vehicle maintenance checks to ensure a safe and productive work environment.
Over the road drivers and line haul drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Over The Road Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Average salary | $62,119 | $53,992 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $88,000 | Between $37,000 And $78,000 |
| Highest paying City | Camden, NJ | Fargo, ND |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Walmart | Tyson Foods |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Manufacturing |
There are a few differences between an over the road driver and a line haul driver in terms of educational background:
| Over The Road Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 42% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between over the road drivers' and line haul drivers' demographics:
| Over The Road Driver | Line Haul Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% | Male, 90.8% Female, 9.2% |
| 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, 12.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.2% Asian, 3.6% White, 61.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |