Once you have your Class A CDL, your next career-defining decision is what kind of route to drive: over-the-road (OTR), regional, or local. The pay, schedule, and lifestyle differences are dramatic, and your first job sets a pattern that's hard to break later.
Over-the-road (OTR)
OTR drivers run multi-state routes that keep them away from home for 1 to 3 weeks at a time, with 34-hour resets at terminals or truck stops. Pay is per-mile (typically $0.55 to $0.78/mile for company drivers, $1.20 to $1.65/mile all-in for owner-operators). Annual gross W-2 of $58,000 to $85,000 is typical for company drivers; $90,000 to $130,000 for owner-operators after expenses. The trade-off is sustained time away from home and the well-known lifestyle challenges of long-haul trucking.
Regional
Regional drivers run a multi-state geographic area (typically 5 to 12 states) and are home most weekends. Routes are usually 3 to 5 days out, 2 to 3 days at home. Pay is often slightly lower per-mile than OTR ($0.50 to $0.72/mile) but with shorter dispatch times and predictable home time. Annual gross of $54,000 to $78,000 for company drivers. Most ex-OTR drivers eventually move to regional once they're tired of the long-haul lifestyle.
Local
Local drivers — defined by FMCSA short-haul rules as returning to home base within 14 hours — run daily routes within roughly 150 air miles. Pay is typically hourly ($22 to $34/hour) plus overtime, often with full benefits including healthcare and 401(k) matching. Annual gross of $48,000 to $75,000. Schedule is fixed-shift (early-morning food service, daytime construction, evening delivery), with weekends and holidays often off. Local jobs are highly competitive and most carriers require 1 to 3 years of OTR or regional experience before considering you for a local route.
Recommendation
Most drivers should start with OTR or regional for the first 12 to 24 months — that's how you build the experience and clean record needed to compete for premium local jobs. Read our salary breakdown for the dollar comparison.