Semi driver vs over the road driver

The differences between semi drivers and over the road drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a semi driver and an over the road driver. Additionally, an over the road driver has an average salary of $62,119, which is higher than the $49,041 average annual salary of a semi driver.

The top three skills for a semi driver include safety checks, customer locations and OTR. The most important skills for an over the road driver are CDL, PET, and post-trip inspections.

Semi driver vs over the road driver overview

	Semi Driver	Over The Road Driver
Yearly salary	$49,041	$62,119
Hourly rate	$23.58	$29.86
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	780,114	711,143
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	High School Diploma, 37%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	2	2

Semi driver vs over the road driver salary

Semi drivers and over the road drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Semi Driver	Over The Road Driver
Average salary	$49,041	$62,119
Salary range	Between $34,000 And $69,000	Between $43,000 And $88,000
Highest paying City	-	Camden, NJ
Highest paying state	-	New Jersey
Best paying company	-	Walmart
Best paying industry	-	Manufacturing

Differences between semi driver and over the road driver education

There are a few differences between a semi driver and an over the road driver in terms of educational background:

	Semi Driver	Over The Road Driver
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 41%	High School Diploma, 37%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Semi driver vs over the road driver demographics

Here are the differences between semi drivers' and over the road drivers' demographics:

	Semi Driver	Over The Road Driver
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3%	Male, 88.9% Female, 11.1%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 10.1% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 14.3% Asian, 3.8% White, 66.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	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%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between semi driver and over the road driver duties and responsibilities

Semi driver example responsibilities.

Try OTR driving, do not enjoy it.
Haul: hazmat loads and high security loads.
Used tracker and trailers (OTR) to deliver loads of scrap iron.
Fuel and maintain truck, and equipment, interact with computers, and GPS equipment.
Maintain telephone contact with supervisor or dispatcher to receive delivery or pickup instructions.
Maintain open communication via CB radio for additional instructions.

Over the road driver example responsibilities.

Experience in semi driving, logging, managing bills of lading, light maintenance, vehicle inspections.
Work OTR reefer unit with assign trainer after CDL are obtained.
Comply with all FMCSA rules and regulations to maintain CDL-A status.
Train CDL driver responsible for OTR pick up and delivery of goods.
Transport domestic freight from customer to customer, and employ industry standard HAZMAT procedures.
Action resources is a HAZMAT company that have drivers locally and over the road.

Semi driver vs over the road driver skills

Common semi driver skills

Safety Checks, 18%
Customer Locations, 13%
OTR, 12%
Delivery Schedules, 7%
Customer Relations, 6%
Semi Trailers, 5%

Common over the road driver skills

CDL, 34%
PET, 8%
Post-Trip Inspections, 7%
Hazmat, 6%
Customer Service, 5%
Federal Regulations, 4%

Semi Driver vs. similar jobs

Semi Driver related careers

Semi Driver related jobs

What similar roles do

Zippia Careers
Transportation Industry
Semi Driver
Semi Driver vs Over The Road Driver

Updated January 8, 2025

Browse transportation jobs