Explore jobs
Find specific jobs
Explore careers
Explore professions
Best companies
Explore companies
The differences between driver supervisors and flatbed drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a driver supervisor, becoming a flatbed driver takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a flatbed driver has an average salary of $57,099, which is higher than the $38,495 average annual salary of a driver supervisor.
The top three skills for a driver supervisor include customer service, DOT and CDL. The most important skills for a flatbed driver are CDL, OTR, and customer service.
| Driver Supervisor | Flatbed Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $38,495 | $57,099 |
| Hourly rate | $18.51 | $27.45 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 214,993 | 781,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 2 |
Driver supervisors are professionals who are responsible for supervising all activities that are related to the operation of motor vehicles that transport materials for logistics companies. These supervisors are required to select and orient drivers about their roles and ensure that they are following the guidelines provided by the Department of Transportation (DOT). They must regularly audit delivery routes with their drivers so that they can achieve safe and efficient deliveries. Driver supervisors must also conduct investigations for those drivers involved in vehicular accidents.
A flatbed driver is responsible for operating flatbed trucks to manage distribution and deliveries of goods and services from the warehouse to various assigned designations. Flatbed drivers assist in loading and unloading items, maintain a copy of receipt orders, process payments, and respond to the customers' inquiries and concerns. They also inspect the stability and performance of the truck's engine before and after operations and perform necessary repairs to prevent delivery delays and avoid potential road hazards.
Driver supervisors and flatbed drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Driver Supervisor | Flatbed Driver | |
| Average salary | $38,495 | $57,099 |
| Salary range | Between $30,000 And $48,000 | Between $39,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Everett, WA | Chicago, IL |
| Highest paying state | Rhode Island | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | American Refining Group | Hub Group |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a driver supervisor and a flatbed driver in terms of educational background:
| Driver Supervisor | Flatbed Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 34% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between driver supervisors' and flatbed drivers' demographics:
| Driver Supervisor | Flatbed Driver | |
| Average age | 44 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 85.8% Female, 14.2% | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 21.3% Asian, 6.3% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% | Black or African American, 13.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 3.5% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 8% | 4% |