Local vs. Regional vs. OTR Trucking: Pay, Hours and Home Time

Route type shapes almost everything about a trucking job: how you're paid, how long you work, and how often you sleep at home.

Local

Usually home daily. Often paid hourly or by the day, with more stops and more loading/unloading per shift.

Regional

Runs within a multi-state area. Commonly home weekly or several nights a week; often paid by the mile.

Dedicated

Serves a specific customer or lane, so routes, facilities and schedules tend to be more predictable. Pay may be weekly, per mile, or per load.

Over-the-road (OTR)

Long-haul across the country, typically out for one or more weeks. Often higher weekly mileage, with many nights away.

Compare on more than weekly pay

Compare effective hourly gross, annual paid weeks, and nights away. Use the offer comparison tool to line two jobs up side by side.