← Driver guides

Local, regional, OTR and dedicated: what is the difference?

Plain-language guide to the most common CDL-A job types.

Job titles in trucking are not always clear. Here is what each type usually means. Always confirm the details for the specific job.

Local

You work near home and are usually home every day. Shifts can start very early or run overnight. Local work often includes more stops, more backing and sometimes unloading. Pay is often hourly.

Regional

You run within a group of nearby states and come home on a regular schedule, often every week or every weekend. Miles are usually steady and routes are more familiar than over-the-road.

Over-the-road (OTR)

Loads go across many states, one after another, and you stay out for longer stretches, often two to three weeks or more. OTR usually offers the most miles and suits drivers who like the road and have flexibility at home.

Dedicated

You haul for one main customer. Routes, stops and schedules are more predictable, and you get to know the people at the docks. Dedicated jobs can be local, regional or long-haul.

Intermodal

You move shipping containers between rail yards and customers. Most intermodal jobs are local and home daily, with no-touch freight.

Yard and shuttle

You move trailers around a warehouse yard or between nearby facilities. Home daily, lots of hooking and backing, little highway driving.

Team

Two drivers share one truck so it can keep moving. Teams cover more miles and usually stay out longer. You can apply with a partner, and some carriers can pair you.