Home › Articles › Trucking & CDL
Trucking & CDL
OTR vs Regional vs Dedicated vs LTL: Which Trucking Job Fits Your Life?
The type of freight decides your home time more than the company does. A plain-English guide to the four main trucking job types.
When recruiters talk about "fleets" or "divisions," they mean the type of freight you'll haul. That choice shapes your schedule, pay and home time.
| Type | What it is | Home time | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|
| OTR | Long-haul across the country | Every 2–4 weeks | New drivers building miles; people without ties at home |
| Regional | Loads within a few states | Usually weekly | Drivers who want weekends home |
| Dedicated | One customer, set lanes | Weekly or daily | Predictable schedules |
| LTL | Many small shipments via terminals | Usually daily | Experienced drivers who want to be home nightly |
How pay differs
OTR drivers are usually paid by the mile and earn the most when the truck keeps moving. Dedicated jobs often have weekly minimums. LTL city drivers are typically paid hourly and linehaul drivers by the mile. LTL carriers like Old Dominion and ABF are among the best-paying jobs in trucking, but they usually want experience.
A common career path
- Start OTR or regional with a company that trains new drivers.
- Keep a clean record for 12 months.
- Move to dedicated, LTL or a private fleet like Walmart for more pay and home time.
What a week looks like in each
OTR: you might pick up in Georgia on Monday, deliver in Texas on Wednesday, reload and head to Colorado. You'll sleep in the truck and be home every few weeks for several days at a time.
Regional: loads stay within a region like the Southeast or Midwest. You're usually out Monday to Friday and home on weekends.
Dedicated: you run the same lanes for one customer, such as a grocery chain. Some dedicated jobs are out-and-back each day.
LTL: city drivers make local pickups and deliveries all day. Linehaul drivers run between terminals overnight and usually sleep at home.
Freight types also matter
- Dry van: the simplest. Often no touching the freight.
- Refrigerated (reefer): steady freight, but appointment times can fall at odd hours.
- Flatbed: better pay, but you secure and tarp loads in all weather.
- Tanker: higher pay and a tanker endorsement; liquid loads handle differently.
Frequently asked questions
Can a new driver start in LTL? Sometimes, through dock-to-driver programs. Most LTL carriers prefer experience.
Which pays best? LTL and private fleets usually pay the most for experienced drivers.
Bottom line
Decide how often you need to be home, then choose the job type first and the company second.
Companies in this article
Answer 4 quick questions and we'll rank 73 companies for you.
Keep reading
Trucking & CDLSplit Your Sleeper Berth, Pause Your 14-Hour Clock: FMCSA's HOS Pilot Programs Explained
FMCSA will test 6/4 and 5/5 sleeper splits and a pause of up to 3 hours on the 14-hour clock with 512 drivers in 2027. Here's how the rules would work, who can join, what it pays and the risks.
Trucking & CDLFMCSA Restores 30-Day Emergency HOS Relief and Cracks Down on ELDs: What Truckers Need to Know
As of October 5, 2026, automatic hours-of-service relief during declared emergencies lasts up to 30 days again. FMCSA has also pulled nearly 100 ELDs from its registry and wants to end self-certification.
Trucking & CDLFree CDL Training: How Company-Sponsored Programs Really Work
Prime, CRST, Roehl, Swift and others will pay for your CDL. Here's what 'free' costs you, and how to compare offers.