A specialized set of jargon describe the tools, equipment, and employment sectors used in the trucking industry in the united states. Drop and hook is a common term within the trucking industry that refers to a situation when a driver delivers a load at the final delivery location for a customer and all the driver. They eventually broke up, but penland continued driving on her. You may not be overtheroad every day, and you might not be under a centspermile pay package. They transport freight from a home terminal to delivery points or between. You may be wondering what a dedicated route truck driver is and i have the answer for you. Is otr truck driving for you because it sucks youtube. A truck driver commonly referred to as a trucker, teamster or driver in the united states and canada. Otr driver job description example job description and. After 15 years on the road i wanted to help people understand the trucking industry and everything that came with the career and lifestyle of an over the road trucker.
As opposed to delivery drivers, who typically have set local routes, otr truckers can transport goods across the county, state, or even country. Regional vs otr definition page 1 truckingtruth forum. Otr is listed in the worlds largest and most authoritative dictionary database of abbreviations and acronyms the free dictionary. An otr or overtheroad driver is basically a truck driver hired for longdistance travel that could take. Salary for over the road driver otr driver careerbuilder. Your skills are a very marketable commodity now, but its important to understand and choose the right type of driving situation. All team driving jobs are otr jobs but not all otr jobs are team because teams are designed to keep the truck moving over a long haul.
Turnover is the amount of drivers hired compared to drivers leaving. Some terms may be used within other englishspeaking countries, or. If your career is the open road, you want to take the route that leads you to the best. Otr or over the road trucking is a type of truck driving job that doesnt have a designated route. The drivers who work the hardest and prove themselves. Otr is defined as over the road truckers very frequently. Whats the difference between otr,regional, and dedicated.
Otr trucking also known as longhaul trucking is a type of driving that involves using large tractortrailer trucks to haul freight of all kinds including heavy loads. If you want to become an otr driver, you need proper training. Pre pass this is an electronic system in trucks that allows for drivers to bypass scales weigh stations. In many ways, being an otr overtheroad or cdl driver is more a lifestyle than a job. First year truck drivers have the opportunity to see the country, but will also be. The reality is that there are many different routes one can take to be a truck driver. Driver solutions has created a network of trucking companies, some of the. Otr driving normally means youll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your companys hauling region. Also, i got accepted at an otr company as a company driver, and with my experience, i just would have to do. Otr stands for over the road, referring to truck drivers hauling freight over long distances, spending 34 weeks at a time on the road. The majority of long haul truck driving jobs pay by the mile.
Most trucking companies require only a high school diploma or ged for otr drivers. Looking for online definition of otr or what otr stands for. Truck driver salary is based on experience and performance the most important thing to keep in mind is that trucking is a performancebased industry. Apply to truck driver, over the road truck driver and more. Its demands, particularly upward of 300 days per year on the road, will certainly. Drivers that fall into those two categories, including drivers in parttime work configurations. In this video for new or potential cdl truck driver students or new cdl truckers, i discuss my 1st month and a half of continuous over the road.
Due to the time on the road and length of the routes, there is a great demand for otr drivers. Usually semitrailer trucks are used by otr drivers and these trucks contain goods and materials which are for delivery to another city, state, or location. Longhaul drivers operate tractor trailers and big rigs that. Truck driving schools offer otr and cdl training, and some include financial assistance to help cover the cost of tuition. An over the road otr driver is a person who is responsible for driving truck over long distances. The driver also receives training on the logistics of the yard, administrative requirements and communication with plant and dispatch personnel. For example, a driver based in memphis could be assigned tennessee, arkansas, and missouri. Otr drivers are responsible for driving semi or tractortrailer trucks over long distances. Drivers can avail an additional 5 cpm bonus if they choose to.
The duo teamdrove a truck, meaning they would trade off driving so the vehicle would be on the road almost 24 hours a day. In the trucking industry, almost every new driver begins their career as an otr, or overtheroad, truck driver. How to beat being a lonely truck driver on the road. If youve spent time searching for a truck driving job, you have probably noticed two distinct types of truck driving jobs. Truck driver definition of truck driver by the free. Overtheroad otr a driver or carrier who transports cargo to any place at any time, without prescribed schedules or routes. A term meaning the driver doesnt have to assist with the unloading of the trailer or touch the freight upon arrival at a destination. A ltl driver normally has a dedicated or regional route. The inability to participate in daily life and the solitude can take a toll on anyone. Glossary of the american trucking industry wikipedia. Truck driver salary how much do truck drivers make.
You spend many times away from home friends and family. So, truck driving is pretty much in a league of its own as a career choice for a family man or woman. Truck driver jobs can vary a great deal in terms of earnings, weekly work hours, the number of nights spent on the road, and the quality of equipment operated, but the bureau of labor statistics. Since the driver operates within a smaller region than over the road otr trucking companies most truck drivers have ample home time. Over the road there is no clear cut amount of mileage traveled. This could mean the driving of lorries, dump trucks, and box trucks. An otr or overtheroad driver is basically a truck driver hired for longdistance travel that could take several days for the purpose of the travel to be served. While neither job is better than the other, each one comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time. Motor carrier a person or company providing transportation of property or passengers using commercial motor vehicles.
In talks with a 100% oo company, and they havent mentioned the otr thing. Filter by location to see otr truck driver salaries in your area. Salary estimates are based on 484 salaries submitted anonymously to glassdoor. Salary estimates are based on 299 salaries submitted anonymously to glassdoor. Otr driving can be loosely defined as driving in any sort of capacity that requires the operator to sleep in. Truck drivers move commerce by way of tractor trailers, travelling either locally or across country. Otr is big for sure, but you also have several regional and local driving positions that provide a large portion of the overall. Otr trucking jobs available, long haul truck drivers needed. Regional drivers often deliver commercial products to warehouses or manufacturing facilities. Its demands, particularly upward of 300 days per year on the road, will. It is the policy of cfi to provide equal employment and individual opportunity to all job applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability. When you think of the phrase truck driver, youre probably envisioning an overtheroad otr truck driver.
Just a way of stating that it is not a delivery driver and that the driver spends the majority of its time between metropolitan. Almost all truckers begin as over the road drivers otr, which basically. What a regional trucking operation means to the driver. Otr usually refers to a specific type of trucking job. This sample resume for a truck driver can help you get your own resume and career in gear. Otr truck drivers typically spend two to three weeks on the road at a time, picking up and dropping off loads to any destination they get assigned to. Over the roadlong haul truck drivers over the road otr truck drivers, also commonly referred to as long haul truck drivers, are usually interstate drivers, traveling hundreds or thousands of miles on the road for days or weeks at a time. This blog will define exactly what it means to be an otr truck driver, and explain why its vital to do to have a successful, longlasting career in the trucking industry. There are many types of truck driving operations in the united states including dedicated, regional and over the. Theres a lot to like about the trucking industrythe money, not being stuck behind a desk, working on your own. Filter by location to see otr driver salaries in your area. I believe any otr position that the company assumes meaning 2 to 6 months is way above the norm, for being away from home.