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Truck driver-over-the-road vs company driver

The differences between truck driver-over the roads and company 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 truck driver-over-the-road and a company driver. Additionally, a truck driver-over-the-road has an average salary of $69,158, which is higher than the $65,430 average annual salary of a company driver.

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

Truck driver-over-the-road vs company driver overview

Truck Driver-Over-The-RoadCompany Driver
Yearly salary$69,158$65,430
Hourly rate$33.25$31.46
Growth rate4%4%
Number of jobs689,630708,157
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 40%High School Diploma, 38%
Average age4848
Years of experience22

What does a truck driver-over-the-road do?

A truck driver-over-the-road (OTR) is an individual driver who specializes in hauling items such as heavy freight, machinery, or construction materials from a home terminal to delivery points. OTR truck drivers usually spend more time on the road due to the long distances they are required to reach. To avoid vehicular breakdowns and delays, OTR drivers are required to inspect their trucks and review shipping and transport documents. They are also responsible for unloading freights and collect charges from customers.

What does a company driver do?

A company driver helps an organization with all transport-related duties and ensures that these are carried out on time. Company drivers transport and deliver goods, equipment, products, and staff members to locations required by the organization. They maintain the cleanliness of their vehicles and are responsible for informing the organization about repairs and maintenance. Company drivers must also obtain the appropriate licenses and should have clean driving records with no accidents and traffic violations.

Truck driver-over-the-road vs company driver salary

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

Truck Driver-Over-The-RoadCompany Driver
Average salary$69,158$65,430
Salary rangeBetween $50,000 And $95,000Between $45,000 And $93,000
Highest paying CityDes Moines, WANew York, NY
Highest paying stateWashingtonNorth Dakota
Best paying companyWalmartAir Products
Best paying industryManufacturingManufacturing

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

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

Truck Driver-Over-The-RoadCompany Driver
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 40%High School Diploma, 38%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Truck driver-over-the-road vs company driver demographics

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

Truck Driver-Over-The-RoadCompany Driver
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 88.1% Female, 11.9%Male, 90.5% Female, 9.5%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 13.9% Unknown, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 17.8% Asian, 3.8% White, 59.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

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

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.
  • Show more

Company driver example responsibilities.

  • Experience in semi driving, logging, managing bills of lading, light maintenance, vehicle inspections.
  • Ensure the safe transportation of HAZMAT shipments.
  • Load and unload trailers with propane fork lift.
  • Move, position, connect and disconnect converter dollies.
  • Work as a certify CDL instructor and trainer for new drivers.
  • Team driver on a dedicate LTL account hauling double trailer configurations.
  • Show more

Truck driver-over-the-road vs company driver skills

Common truck driver-over-the-road skills
  • CDL, 34%
  • OTR, 32%
  • PET, 18%
  • Hazmat, 7%
  • Work Ethic, 2%
  • Customer Service, 2%
Common company driver skills
  • CDL, 51%
  • OTR, 26%
  • PET, 8%
  • Hazmat, 4%
  • Customer Locations, 3%
  • Customer Service, 2%

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