What pays more local or OTR? (2023)

Which is better OTR or local?

Higher Pay: OTR truck drivers often receive higher salaries than local drivers. The average pay for an OTR driver is $62,000 a year, but it may take time to build up to that. Seeing the Country: You will get to visit locations you may not have otherwise been able to see.

How much does a local CDL driver make?

How much does a Local Truck Driver make? Local truck drivers make $59,069 per year on average, or $28.4 per hour, in the United States.

Is being an OTR worth it?

Good income

Truck drivers can earn a good income. How much does a truck driver make? On average drivers earn $50,909, while Over The Road (OTR) drivers who haul freight over long distances earn on average nearly $64,000 per year.

Is it worth being a local truck driver?

If you value being physically available for the important moments, local truck driving jobs are a big advantage. If you like to have a more specific schedule, local driving is probably for you. Drivers typically have set hours that they can depend on, which makes it great for planning things outside of work.

How many hours can a local truck driver work in a week?

60/70-Hour Limit

May not drive after 60/70 hours on duty in 7/8 consecutive days. A driver may restart a 7/8 consecutive day period after taking 34 or more consecutive hours off duty.

What kind of loads make the most money?

Do local truck drivers get paid overtime?

Unlike most workers, truck drivers are excluded from laws that require employers to pay them minimum wage or overtime.

Can truck drivers be rich?

Some people think with long working hours that truck drivers are rich. Truckers earn a median annual wage of $37,930, which is $4,000 more than the median wage for all jobs, according to the BLS. Only the top 10% of truck drivers make more than $58,000 per year.

How much do local CDL drivers make a week?

As of Jan 23, 2023, the average weekly pay for a Local Owner Operator Truck Driver in the United States is $3,675 a week.

How many hours do local truck drivers work?

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), truckers may work up to 14 hours straight, divided between 11 hours of driving and 4 hours of other tasks. Drivers are given 10 hours of off-duty per working period.

Who pays the most for new CDL drivers?

New drivers looking for the highest base salaries should check out GP Transco. This company offers professional compensation packages and base pay well above the industry average. You could make up to $90,000 in your first year.

Why are truck drivers quitting?

Problems with dispatch, supervisors, and the company in general are among the causes of truck drivers' resignations. Some frontline managers at a trucking company don't treat them like people; they are occasionally harsh and hurtful to them. They resigned as a result.

What is the best OTR company to work for?

Three of the best trucking companies to work for are Nussbaum Transportation, FedEx Freight, and Walmart. Pay attention to schedule, equipment, safety, and training when looking for a truck driving company to work for.

How many miles do OTR drive a day?

How Far Do Truckers Drive in a Day? Due to government regulations, at the absolute peak, a driver can drive 11 hours in a 24-hour period. If they happened to travel 65 miles per hour (mph) the whole time, that's 715 miles maximum. Now let's be realistic.

Do local truck drivers go home daily?

Most regional truckers drive about half of what long haul drivers do, on average about 50,000 miles per year. In some cases, when you are driving locally you will be able to get home every night, though many local drivers work very long days. Many regional drivers come home two to three times each week.

What CDL endorsement pays the most?

Your Class A CDL will generally be able to garner you the highest wages of any type of truck driver. Most students who graduate with their Class A CDL will get into over-the-road (OTR) trucking.

How long are local truck drivers away from home?

Long hours and tight deadlines can make it a challenging job. In most cases long-haul drivers will be away from home for two or more weeks and then home for several day. Some long-haul drivers choose to stay out months at a time to maximize profits.

What happens if you go over your 14 hour clock?

Once the driver has reached the end of this 14-consecutive-hour threshold period, they cannot drive again until they have been off duty for another 10 consecutive hours, or the equivalent of at least 10 consecutive hours off duty.

What is a good rate per mile trucking?

National average flatbed rates are currently $2.76 per mile, $.

What type of trucking is most in demand?

Flatbed drivers are some of the most in-demand drivers in the trucking industry today.

Which driving job pays the most?

How do I find a high paying truck load?

Networking directly with shippers or using dispatch services are valid ways to find truck loads. If you work directly with a shipper, you can earn a higher per load revenue because you're not giving up a percentage of the rate to a freight broker.

How much do local truckers make an hour?

Can a truck driver work 60 hours a week?

To summarise if you have a 17 week reference period a HGV driver must not exceed an average working week of 48 hours over this time. A driver, however can work up to 60 hours in a single week as long as it all averages out to 48 hours or less over the 17 week period.

How many 15 hour days can a truck driver do?

An HGV driver must rest for a minimum of nine hours within a 24-hour period up to three times a week, which allows them to work three 15-hour days in the same week.

Is OTR trucking a good career?

Demand is high. If you get a little OTR experience and you can keep your license, your safety record, and your service record in solid standing you could make 10 phone calls and have 10 job offers before lunch time on any given day. You'll never have to worry about having a job. More home time opportunities.

Is it hard being OTR truck driver?

Over-the-road trucking can be challenging. It means being on the road for several days at a time, so many OTR drivers consider it a lifestyle. But with the right attitude, you can earn a good living as an OTR driver.

What OTR trucking company pays the most?

Is being an OTR driver hard?

Yes, being a truck driver is hard.

Many truck drivers must work long hours, spend lots of time away from home, and remain seated for most of their workday. Most truck drivers spend long hours sitting in one position, which can lead to a host of health problems (e.g., obesity, chronic back pain).

Is it worth becoming a truck driver in 2022?

In-Demand. With the high demand for freight, trucking jobs are in demand today. The American Trucking Association (ATA) reported a shortage of 80,000 drivers in 2021. Truck drivers are needed in America, so if you want a stable and well-paying profession, now is an excellent time to pursue a trucking career.

What is the hardest part of trucking?

How many miles do OTR drivers average a week?

The average OTR driver will average about 125,000 miles per year or about 2,500 miles per week. Those miles add up to a lot of driving and a lot of time in solitude behind the wheel.

How much do truck drivers make a week?

National average truck driver salary

Now, in 2022, the average truck driver's salary is $71,000, meaning a truck driver makes $1,365 per week on average.

What is the richest trucking company?