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.
Truck driver-over-the-road responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real truck driver-over-the-road resumes:
- 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.
- Perform a variety of activities associate with OTR contract delivery of the U.S. Mail.
- Use a GPS to find various store locations both in and out of state.
- Utilize proficiently the in-cab computer QualComm system for records, tracking, and communication.
- Receive load, delivery and trip routing information via electronic communications (QualComm).
- Keep neat paperwork, bills of lading, accurate and account for product counts per BOL's.
- Train newly license CDL drivers in safe operations and driving techniques, customer relations, and driver professionalism.
- Pick up and deliver LTL freight, often loading and unloading the trailers with the use of forklifts.
- Process paperwork including fuel receipts, bill of ladings (BOL), unloading receipts, and trucking logs.
- Follow instructions of dispatch to pick up commodities from shippers and deliver to receivers in time effective and safe manner.
Truck driver-over-the-road skills and personality traits
We calculated that 34% of Truck Driver-Over The Roads are proficient in CDL, OTR, and PET. They’re also known for soft skills such as Hand-eye coordination, Hearing ability, and Physical health.
We break down the percentage of Truck Driver-Over The Roads that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- CDL, 34%
Started at their truck driving school where I gained my Class A CDL and my endorsements to drive a semi truck.
- OTR, 32%
Well I'm a OTR driver I make sure pick up and delivery are made in a safe and timely manner.
- PET, 18%
Route driver delivery of pet food products to different businesses in different states mainly stores and rotation of stock in stores
- Hazmat, 7%
Understand and comply with all DOT & HAZMAT regulations including timely and accurate submission of Driver Weekly logs.
- Work Ethic, 2%
Operate tractor trailer in a safe manner Demonstrate good work ethics.
- Customer Service, 2%
Provided exceptional customer satisfaction on a daily basis as communicated in periodic customer services surveys.
"cdl," "otr," and "pet" are among the most common skills that truck driver-over the roads use at work. You can find even more truck driver-over-the-road responsibilities below, including:
Hand-eye coordination. One of the key soft skills for a truck driver-over-the-road to have is hand-eye coordination. You can see how this relates to what truck driver-over the roads do because "drivers of heavy trucks and tractor-trailers must be able to coordinate their legs, hands, and eyes simultaneously so that they will react appropriately to the situation around them and drive the vehicle safely." Additionally, a truck driver-over-the-road resume shows how truck driver-over the roads use hand-eye coordination: "network coordination for freight pickup and delivery logistics consulting identify freight manifest for hazmat solutions. "
Hearing ability. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling truck driver-over-the-road duties is hearing ability. The role rewards competence in this skill because "truck drivers need good hearing." According to a truck driver-over-the-road resume, here's how truck driver-over the roads can utilize hearing ability in their job responsibilities: "transport and deliver customer goods while adhearing to strict deadlines and safety regulations for professional drivers. "
Physical health. This is an important skill for truck driver-over the roads to perform their duties. For an example of how truck driver-over-the-road responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "federal regulations do not allow people to become truck drivers if they have a medical condition, such as high blood pressure or epilepsy, which may interfere with their ability to operate a truck." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a truck driver-over-the-road: "subject to dot physical and safety requirements. ".
Visual ability. truck driver-over-the-road responsibilities often require "visual ability." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "truck drivers must be able to pass vision tests." This resume example shows what truck driver-over the roads do with visual ability on a typical day: "maintained education in successfully, handling hazardous materials; visually recognized colored labels and placards. "
The three companies that hire the most truck driver-over-the-roads are:
- Ozark Motor Lines1,123 truck driver-over the roads jobs
- Fisher Brothers
863 truck driver-over the roads jobs
- Roehl Transport526 truck driver-over the roads jobs
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Truck driver-over-the-road vs. Over the road driver
Over the road, (OTR) drivers are the truckers driving the big semi-trailer truck that hauls all types of goods to their destinations across the states. Their journey typically begins with loading the freight onto the trailer, requiring them to lift heavy materials and load the cargo properly to avoid shifting while in transit. They often sleep in the sleeper berth at a truck stop to eat, freshen up and refuel. They are allowed to go on a 30-minute break after an eight-hour drive.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between truck driver-over the roads and over the road driver. For instance, truck driver-over-the-road responsibilities require skills such as "otr," "work ethic," "taking care," and "macro." Whereas a over the road driver is skilled in "ltl," "cleanliness," "safety inspections," and "semi." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Over the road drivers really shine in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $62,648. Comparatively, truck driver-over the roads tend to make the most money in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $67,303.On average, over the road drivers reach similar levels of education than truck driver-over the roads. Over the road drivers are 0.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Truck driver-over-the-road vs. Company driver
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.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real truck driver-over-the-road resumes. While truck driver-over-the-road responsibilities can utilize skills like "work ethic," "taking care," "macro," and "on-time delivery," company drivers use skills like "cocoa," "customer satisfaction," "commodities," and "pickup."
On average, company drivers earn a lower salary than truck driver-over the roads. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, company drivers earn the most pay in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $62,947. Whereas truck driver-over the roads have higher pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $67,303.In general, company drivers achieve similar levels of education than truck driver-over the roads. They're 0.2% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for Truck drivers-over-the road in the next 3-5 years?
President & Chairman of the Board, CVTA
Truck driver-over-the-road vs. Cdl driver
A CDL driver is responsible for the transportation of goods from the manufacturing warehouse to specific store locations. CDL drivers' duties include inspecting the items before and after the delivery to ensure that the orders are correct with the right quantity, providing proof of delivery from the receiving customers, following the delivery schedule and report any delays immediately, monitoring the vehicle's engine for efficiency, and escalating concerns of incorrect deliveries and defective items. A CDL driver must have excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills, following safety procedures and road rules at all times.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from truck driver-over-the-road resumes include skills like "cdl," "fmcsa," "taking care," and "macro," whereas a cdl driver is more likely to list skills in "dot," "cdl-a," "pickup," and "osha. "
Cdl drivers earn the best pay in the retail industry, where they command an average salary of $63,457. Truck driver-over the roads earn the highest pay from the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $67,303.Most cdl drivers achieve a similar degree level compared to truck driver-over the roads. For example, they're 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.1% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Truck driver-over-the-road vs. Van driver
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.
Even though a few skill sets overlap between truck driver-over the roads and van drivers, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a truck driver-over-the-road might have more use for skills like "hazmat," "work ethic," "safety regulations," and "fmcsa." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of van drivers require skills like "mechanical problems," "patients," "cpr," and "cleanliness. "
In general, van drivers earn the most working in the transportation industry, with an average salary of $37,113. The highest-paying industry for a truck driver-over-the-road is the manufacturing industry.In general, van drivers hold similar degree levels compared to truck driver-over the roads. Van drivers are 0.6% more likely to earn their Master's Degree and 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of truck driver-over-the-road
Updated January 8, 2025











