Over-the-Road (OTR) Truck Driver
Quick Facts
Median Salary$65,490
Most Common EducationHigh school or GED
Projected 10-Year Growth-16.07%
Assessment MatchTake the Assessment
What They Do
An Over-the-Road (OTR) Truck Driver specializes in long distance routes, often away for days or even weeks at a time. Sometimes also referred to as Long Haul drivers. Commonly paid in cents per mile driven.
Core Tasks:
- Inspect loads to ensure that cargo is secure.
- Check all load-related documentation for completeness and accuracy.
- Check vehicles to ensure that mechanical, safety, and emergency equipment is in good working order.
- Obtain receipts or signatures for delivered goods and collect payment for services when required.
- Crank trailer landing gear up or down to safely secure vehicles.
- Maintain logs of working hours or of vehicle service or repair status, following applicable state and federal regulations.
- Read bills of lading to determine assignment details.
- Report vehicle defects, accidents, traffic violations, or damage to the vehicles.
- Maneuver trucks into loading or unloading positions, following signals from loading crew and checking that vehicle and loading equipment are properly positioned.
- Couple or uncouple trailers by changing trailer jack positions, connecting or disconnecting air or electrical lines, or manipulating fifth-wheel locks.
- Perform basic vehicle maintenance tasks, such as adding oil, fuel, or radiator fluid, performing minor repairs, or washing trucks.
- Drive trucks with capacities greater than 13 tons, including tractor-trailer combinations, to transport and deliver products, livestock, or other materials.
- Collect delivery instructions from appropriate sources, verifying instructions and routes.
- Read and interpret maps to determine vehicle routes.
- Check conditions of trailers after contents have been unloaded to ensure that there has been no damage.
- Drive trucks to weigh stations before and after loading and along routes in compliance with state regulations.
- Operate equipment, such as truck cab computers, CB radios, phones, or global positioning systems (GPS) equipment to exchange necessary information with bases, supervisors, or other drivers.
- Load or unload trucks or help others with loading or unloading, using special loading-related equipment or other equipment as necessary.
- Plan or adjust routes based on changing conditions, using computer equipment, global positioning systems (GPS) equipment, or other navigation devices, to minimize fuel consumption and carbon emissions.
- Perform emergency roadside repairs, such as changing tires or installing light bulbs, tire chains, or spark plugs.
- Remove debris from loaded trailers.
What to expect as an Over-the-Road (OTR) Truck Driver
1Earn a High school or GED Diploma
2% of people achieve this level of education.
2Gain skills and experience
See Over-the-Road (OTR) Truck Driver related courses on Tallo
3Land a job
7557 openings for Over-the-Road (OTR) Truck Drivers
Career Progression
in United States (Nation)
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