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The differences between truck driver-over the roads and tank 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 tank driver. Additionally, a truck driver-over-the-road has an average salary of $69,158, which is higher than the $51,471 average annual salary of a tank driver.
The top three skills for a truck driver-over-the-road include CDL, OTR and PET. The most important skills for a tank driver are CDL, hazmat, and post-trip inspections.
| Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | Tank Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $69,158 | $51,471 |
| Hourly rate | $33.25 | $24.75 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 689,630 | 783,401 |
| 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.
The duties of a tank driver depend on one's line of work or industry of employment. Typically, they are responsible for transporting goods or hazardous materials, ensuring timeliness and accuracy. Their tasks often revolve around coordinating with managers or office staff, handling or organizing documentation, managing schedules, and liaising with clients. Furthermore, as a tank driver, it is crucial to abide by all the traffic laws and conduct regular vehicle maintenance checks to ensure everyone's safety.
Truck driver-over the roads and tank drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | Tank Driver | |
| Average salary | $69,158 | $51,471 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $95,000 | Between $35,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | Des Moines, WA | Denver, CO |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Colorado |
| Best paying company | Walmart | Kemira Chemicals |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a truck driver-over-the-road and a tank driver in terms of educational background:
| Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | Tank 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 tank drivers' demographics:
| Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | Tank Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% |
| 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, 12.7% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 20.1% Asian, 3.8% White, 57.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |