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What is an over the road driver and how to become one
An over-the-road driver is a person truck driver who operates large trucks and travels long distances to deliver goods across the country. They typically drive for days or weeks at a time, often spending nights away from home. Over -the-road drivers are responsible for ensuring their cargo is delivered safely and on time, while also adhering to strict federal regulations. They must have a commercial driver's license and maintain their equipment.
Avg. Salary $62,119
Avg. Salary $59,228
Growth Rate 4%
Growth Rate 0.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native 0.83%
Asian 3.89%
Black or African American 13.66%
Hispanic or Latino 16.75%
Unknown 4.82%
White 60.05%
Genderfemale 11.09%
male 88.91%
Age - 49American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%
Asian 7.00%
Black or African American 14.00%
Hispanic or Latino 19.00%
White 57.00%
Genderfemale 47.00%
male 53.00%
Age - 49Stress level is high
7.1 - high
Complexity Level is intermediate
7 - challenging
Work Life balance is very poor
6.4 - fair
What are the pros and cons of being an Over The Road Driver?
Pros
High earning potential
No need for a college degree or formal education
Easy entry into the field with minimal experience required
Access to a variety of job opportunities and companies
Health insurance and benefits often available
Cons
Physical toll on the body from sitting for long periods of time
High risk of accidents and injuries on the road
Exposure to dangerous weather conditions and extreme temperatures
Difficulty maintaining a healthy lifestyle
Stressful deadlines and pressure to meet delivery schedules
Over The Road Driver career paths
Key steps to become an over the road driver
Explore over the road driver education requirements
Start to develop specific over the road driver skills
Skills 
Percentages CDL 34.33% PET 7.97% Post-Trip Inspections 7.34% Hazmat 5.81% Customer Service 4.59% Complete relevant over the road driver training and internships
Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New over the road drivers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as an over the road driver based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real over the road driver resumes.Obtain the necessary licensing
Becoming an licensed over the road driver usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed over the road driver in most of states. 13 states require over the road drivers to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.State Education Exam License Url Arkansas Specific course required State exam required Commercial Driver (Tractor-Trailer Truck Driver) California - State exam required Commercial Driver License Idaho - State exam required Commercial Drivers Massachusetts - State exam required COMMERCIAL DRIVERS Missouri - State exam required Truck Drivers, Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Gain additional over the road driver certifications
More About CertificationsOver the road driver certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific over the road driver certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.
The most common certifications for over the road drivers include Commercial Driver License (CDL) and OSHA Safety Certificate .
Research over the road driver duties and responsibilities
- Experience in semi driving, logging, managing bills of lading, light maintenance, vehicle inspections.
- Work OTR reefer unit with assign trainer after CDL are obtained.
- Comply with all FMCSA rules and regulations to maintain CDL-A status.
- Train CDL driver responsible for OTR pick up and delivery of goods.
Prepare your over the road driver resume
When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your over the road driver resume.
You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on an over the road driver resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.
Choose From 10+ Customizable Over The Road Driver Resume templates
Build a professional Over The Road Driver resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Over The Road Driver resume.
Apply for over the road driver jobs
Now it's time to start searching for an over the road driver job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:
- Browse job boards for relevant postings
- Consult your professional network
- Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
- Watch out for job scams
How Did You Land Your First Over The Road Driver Job
Are you an Over The Road Driver?
Share your story for a free salary report.
Average over the road driver salary
The average Over The Road Driver salary in the United States is $62,119 per year or $30 per hour. Over the road driver salaries range between $43,000 and $88,000 per year.
What Am I Worth?
How do over the road drivers rate their job?
Over The Road Driver reviews
Seeing different areas and being left alone. Meeting new people along the way.
Rough roads people that are texting while I'm driving down the road. At least 5 out of 10 drivers are texting.
Cinema
Experience 8 year GCC county almost work driving responsibility passenger drop location and food delivery timing driving delivery I am work hope
I always want to be a good behaviour and transparency
I don't like laziness or bad behaviour or any controversy
Updated January 8, 2025
