OTR is where the miles are. If you're comfortable being out for a couple of weeks at a time, it's the segment with the most openings, the most freight and the widest spread of pay structures — which is also what makes it hard to compare offers.
Two carriers quoting the same cents-per-mile can pay very differently once you account for weekly miles, detention, layover and how honestly they schedule home time.
How OTR pay is structured
Most OTR jobs pay per mile, and the rate usually climbs with verifiable experience. Others pay a percentage of the load's revenue, which rises and falls with the freight market — strong when rates are up, thinner when they're soft. A smaller number pay a flat weekly guarantee.
The number that matters is not the rate on the flyer, it's the rate multiplied by the miles you'll actually run, plus accessorial pay. Ask what the fleet's average weekly miles were last quarter. A carrier that answers precisely is telling you something; so is one that doesn't.
Home time, honestly
The standard OTR pattern is two to three weeks out with two to three days home, often expressed as a day off earned per week out. Carriers vary a lot in how well they honor it, and that is the single most common reason drivers leave a seat inside six months.
We ask about home-time reliability before we send anyone, and every offer on our board states the home-time pattern the carrier posted.
Equipment and freight type
Dry van is the largest share of OTR freight and the easiest to start in. Reefer runs more miles and pays more, with the added work of managing temperature and stricter delivery windows. Flatbed pays well and demands securement work in all weather. Which one suits you shapes your week far more than a few cents a mile.
If you already know what you want to pull, put it on the application and we'll filter to it.
What you need to get started
- CDL-A
- Comfortable being out two to three weeks at a time
- Clean or explainable MVR and DOT record
- DOT physical and medical card in date
- Experience helps, but entry-level OTR seats exist
Compare real OTR offers.
Tell us your equipment, your pay preference and how often you need to be home. We'll come back with what fits.
Common questions
How much do OTR drivers make?
It depends on the carrier, your experience, the equipment and how many miles you run each week. Rather than quote an average, we post each carrier's actual rate on our openings board so you can compare like for like.
How long are OTR drivers away from home?
The usual pattern is two to three weeks out with two to three days at home, though some carriers run shorter cycles. Every offer we post states the home-time pattern the carrier committed to.
Is OTR good for a new driver?
It is the most common starting point, because OTR carriers run the training programs and have the most seats. If you want to be home more often, regional is the better fit once you have a year of experience.
Per mile or percentage — which pays better?
Percentage pay tends to earn more when freight rates are strong and less when they soften; per-mile pay is steadier and easier to plan around. Neither is universally better, which is why we show both and let you choose.