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The differences between escort vehicle drivers and lead drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both an escort vehicle driver and a lead driver. Additionally, a lead driver has an average salary of $43,769, which is higher than the $34,684 average annual salary of an escort vehicle driver.
The top three skills for an escort vehicle driver include motor vehicle, maintenance checks and CPR. The most important skills for a lead driver are DOT, work ethic, and CDL.
| Escort Vehicle Driver | Lead Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $34,684 | $43,769 |
| Hourly rate | $16.68 | $21.04 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 617,503 | 821,463 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
Escort vehicle drivers drive ahead of big trucks to warn motorists and clear the traffic in the truck's way. They must communicate with drivers and inform them about changes of route, speed, or traffic congestion underway. Also, in aviation, the escort vehicle driver is needed in guiding planes along the runway. They also need a driver's license and excellent hand-eye coordination to quickly manage sudden turns.
Lead drivers are professionals who are responsible for supervising the staff drivers of either a logistics or trucking company. These lead drivers must manage the communication between drivers and personnel while generating dispatch reports base on their drivers' tracking logs. They must ensure that vehicles are fit for use according to the standards of the Department of Transportation (DOT) by checking engines and maintaining sufficient fluid levels of all vehicles. Lead drivers must also train and supervise new drivers about the company's policy and safety regulations.
Escort vehicle drivers and lead drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Escort Vehicle Driver | Lead Driver | |
| Average salary | $34,684 | $43,769 |
| Salary range | Between $23,000 And $51,000 | Between $27,000 And $68,000 |
| Highest paying City | Middletown, NY | Newark, NJ |
| Highest paying state | Alaska | New Hampshire |
| Best paying company | Xoriant | Univar |
| Best paying industry | Transportation | Technology |
There are a few differences between an escort vehicle driver and a lead driver in terms of educational background:
| Escort Vehicle Driver | Lead Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 38% | High School Diploma, 40% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between escort vehicle drivers' and lead drivers' demographics:
| Escort Vehicle Driver | Lead Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 79.5% Female, 20.5% | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% |
| Race ratio | Black or African American, 12.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 20.4% Asian, 3.6% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% | Black or African American, 12.3% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 20.9% Asian, 3.4% White, 58.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |