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The differences between truck driver-over the roads and local truck 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 truck driver. Additionally, a truck driver-over-the-road has an average salary of $69,158, which is higher than the $59,069 average annual salary of a local truck driver.
The top three skills for a truck driver-over-the-road include CDL, OTR and PET. The most important skills for a local truck driver are CDL, customer service, and OTR.
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 truck driver is an employee who drives a company truck to transport goods to and from specified locations within a designated geographic area. Local truck drivers must ensure that the transported goods are well-secured and not damaged during the transit. They must liaise with dispatch to communicate any traffic issues and delays as well as notify the management of any accidents or vehicle damage. Local truck drivers must also assist in loading and unloading of goods by using hand trucks and electric lifts as required.
Truck driver-over the roads and local truck drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | Local Truck Driver | |
| Average salary | $69,158 | $59,069 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $95,000 | Between $40,000 And $86,000 |
| Highest paying City | Des Moines, WA | Newark, DE |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Delaware |
| Best paying company | Walmart | Walmart |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a truck driver-over-the-road and a local truck driver in terms of educational background:
| Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | Local Truck Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between truck driver-over the roads' and local truck drivers' demographics:
| Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | Local Truck Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% | Male, 90.7% Female, 9.3% |
| 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, 13.7% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 60.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |