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The differences between over the road drivers and tractor-trailer 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 tractor-trailer driver. Additionally, an over the road driver has an average salary of $62,119, which is higher than the $58,498 average annual salary of a tractor-trailer driver.
The top three skills for an over the road driver include CDL, PET and post-trip inspections. The most important skills for a tractor-trailer driver are DOT, CDL, and OTR.
| Over The Road Driver | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $62,119 | $58,498 |
| Hourly rate | $29.86 | $28.12 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 711,143 | 690,787 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| 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 tractor-trailer driver is responsible for picking up and delivering goods and services from distribution centers and warehouses to different locations across the country as required. Tractor-trailer drivers manage the best route planning to prevent delays. They should also have extensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, inspecting the vehicle's condition regularly, repairing any inconsistencies, and replacing defective components to ensure smooth operations. A tractor-trailer driver must have excellent communication and organizational skills, responding to the clients' inquiries and concerns and escalating complaints to management for immediate resolution.
Over the road drivers and tractor-trailer drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Over The Road Driver | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| Average salary | $62,119 | $58,498 |
| Salary range | Between $43,000 And $88,000 | Between $40,000 And $84,000 |
| Highest paying City | Camden, NJ | Atlanta, GA |
| Highest paying state | New Jersey | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Walmart | Exel Inc. |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Transportation |
There are a few differences between an over the road driver and a tractor-trailer driver in terms of educational background:
| Over The Road Driver | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 37% | High School Diploma, 44% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between over the road drivers' and tractor-trailer drivers' demographics:
| Over The Road Driver | Tractor-Trailer Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1% | Male, 93.2% Female, 6.8% |
| 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, 18.0% Asian, 3.6% White, 59.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |