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The differences between truck driver-over the roads and local 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 local driver. Additionally, a truck driver-over-the-road has an average salary of $69,158, which is higher than the $48,160 average annual salary of a local driver.
The top three skills for a truck driver-over-the-road include CDL, OTR and PET. The most important skills for a local driver are CDL, DOT, and post-trip inspections.
| Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | Local Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $69,158 | $48,160 |
| Hourly rate | $33.25 | $23.15 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 689,630 | 786,531 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A local driver is responsible for transporting people and goods and services from the distribution centers to various destinations. Local drivers operate vehicles and inspect the engine for any inconsistencies and system defects that may cause delays with the operations. They also schedule vehicle maintenance and repairs, keeping a record of receipts for the management's validation. A local driver must have excellent driving skills and a clean driving record. Additionally, a local driver should possess excellent communication skills, especially on handling customers' inquiries and concerns and escalating high-level complaints.
Truck driver-over the roads and local drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | Local Driver | |
| Average salary | $69,158 | $48,160 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $95,000 | Between $33,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Des Moines, WA | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Montana |
| Best paying company | Walmart | Mid-South Management |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a truck driver-over-the-road and a local driver in terms of educational background:
| Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | Local Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between truck driver-over the roads' and local drivers' demographics:
| Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | Local Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% | Male, 91.3% Female, 8.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 13.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 3.6% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |