Semi truck driver vs truck driver-over-the-road

The differences between semi truck drivers and truck driver-over the roads 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 truck driver and a truck driver-over-the-road. Additionally, a truck driver-over-the-road has an average salary of $69,158, which is higher than the $57,712 average annual salary of a semi truck driver.

The top three skills for a semi truck driver include CDL, DOT and log book. The most important skills for a truck driver-over-the-road are CDL, OTR, and PET.

Semi truck driver vs truck driver-over-the-road overview

	Semi Truck Driver	Truck Driver-Over-The-Road
Yearly salary	$57,712	$69,158
Hourly rate	$27.75	$33.25
Growth rate	4%	4%
Number of jobs	793,750	689,630
Job satisfaction	-	5
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 40%	High School Diploma, 40%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	2	2

Semi truck driver vs truck driver-over-the-road salary

Semi truck drivers and truck driver-over the roads have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Semi Truck Driver	Truck Driver-Over-The-Road
Average salary	$57,712	$69,158
Salary range	Between $38,000 And $86,000	Between $50,000 And $95,000
Highest paying City	Bismarck, ND	Des Moines, WA
Highest paying state	North Dakota	Washington
Best paying company	Mid-South Management	Walmart
Best paying industry	Transportation	Manufacturing

Differences between semi truck driver and truck driver-over-the-road education

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

	Semi Truck Driver	Truck Driver-Over-The-Road
Most common degree	High School Diploma, 40%	High School Diploma, 40%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Semi truck driver vs truck driver-over-the-road demographics

Here are the differences between semi truck drivers' and truck driver-over the roads' demographics:

	Semi Truck Driver	Truck Driver-Over-The-Road
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 90.2% Female, 9.8%	Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.9% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 3.5% White, 62.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 13.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 16.7% Asian, 3.9% White, 60.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

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

Semi truck driver example responsibilities.

Complete training to obtain CDL 'S
Handle multiple projects simultaneously under OSHA and Hazmat.
45810419-759-2020Haul oversized loads, equipment hauling, OTR work.
Deliver aggregate and asphalt product to various job sites throughout Arizona.
Experience in handling of high value and HazMat materials, including securement and placarding.
Check all load documentation for accuracy, inspect load and receive required signatures for pickup and delivery.

Truck driver-over-the-road example responsibilities.

Experience in semi driving, logging, managing bills of lading, light maintenance, vehicle inspections.
Ensure on-time delivery of LTL freight.
Transport HazMat products using proper placards and following require routes.
Transport basic HAZMAT cargo and ensure trailer are correctly labele.
Read maps or GPS to follow written or verbal geographic directions.
Maintain the cleanliness of the company vehicle as required by your location.

Semi truck driver vs truck driver-over-the-road skills

Common semi truck driver skills

CDL, 42%
DOT, 15%
Log Book, 6%
Asphalt, 6%
OTR, 4%
Food Products, 3%

Common truck driver-over-the-road skills

CDL, 34%
OTR, 32%
PET, 18%
Hazmat, 7%
Work Ethic, 2%
Customer Service, 2%

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Transportation Industry
Semi Truck Driver
Semi Truck Driver vs Truck Driver-Over-The-Road

Updated January 8, 2025

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