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The differences between truck driver-over the roads and van 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 van driver. Additionally, a truck driver-over-the-road has an average salary of $69,158, which is higher than the $36,254 average annual salary of a van driver.
The top three skills for a truck driver-over-the-road include CDL, OTR and PET. The most important skills for a van driver are CDL, customer service, and OTR.
| Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | Van Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $69,158 | $36,254 |
| Hourly rate | $33.25 | $17.43 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 689,630 | 791,293 |
| Job satisfaction | 5 | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| 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 van driver is responsible for operating a wide and a larger-sized vehicle than a regular car, usually used as a company shuttle to pick up and drop employees to designated areas. Van drivers should have a clean driving record, ensuring the safety and comfortability of the passengers while on the road. They should also be familiar with the location, considering alternative routes for any road complications to avoid delays. A van driver must have comprehensive knowledge of the mechanical industry, inspecting the engine's condition, and perform repairs as necessary.
Truck driver-over the roads and van drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | Van Driver | |
| Average salary | $69,158 | $36,254 |
| Salary range | Between $50,000 And $95,000 | Between $24,000 And $52,000 |
| Highest paying City | Des Moines, WA | New York, NY |
| Highest paying state | Washington | Alaska |
| Best paying company | Walmart | DVFSchool |
| Best paying industry | Manufacturing | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a truck driver-over-the-road and a van driver in terms of educational background:
| Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | Van Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between truck driver-over the roads' and van drivers' demographics:
| Truck Driver-Over-The-Road | Van Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 88.1% Female, 11.9% | Male, 65.9% Female, 34.1% |
| 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, 12.2% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.1% Asian, 3.6% White, 61.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |