What does a garbage truck driver do?

Drivers are responsible for safely transporting people, packages, or goods from one destination to another. They should be familiar with the different routes that may be taken to reach the desired goal. They should be expert navigators and may use navigation apps to help them along the way. They should also be familiar with the basic mechanics of the vehicle they are using and the proper maintenance and cleaning needed to ensure that the car is running well. Drivers are expected to have excellent customer relation skills, a strong sense of direction, and superb organizations.

These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a garbage truck driver are more likely to require skills like "air brakes," "routine maintenance," "safety checks," and "property damage." On the other hand, a job as a driver requires skills like "math," "basic math," "safety rules," and "cleanliness." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.

A CDL driver is responsible for the transportation of goods from the manufacturing warehouse to specific store locations. CDL drivers' duties include inspecting the items before and after the delivery to ensure that the orders are correct with the right quantity, providing proof of delivery from the receiving customers, following the delivery schedule and report any delays immediately, monitoring the vehicle's engine for efficiency, and escalating concerns of incorrect deliveries and defective items. A CDL driver must have excellent time-management and multi-tasking skills, following safety procedures and road rules at all times.

While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that garbage truck driver responsibilities requires skills like "cdl," "air brakes," "safety checks," and "property damage." But a cdl driver might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "cdl-a," "otr," "pet," and "hazmat."

A local driver is responsible for transporting people and goods and services from the distribution centers to various destinations. Local drivers operate vehicles and inspect the engine for any inconsistencies and system defects that may cause delays with the operations. They also schedule vehicle maintenance and repairs, keeping a record of receipts for the management's validation. A local driver must have excellent driving skills and a clean driving record. Additionally, a local driver should possess excellent communication skills, especially on handling customers' inquiries and concerns and escalating high-level complaints.

There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a garbage truck driver is likely to be skilled in "air brakes," "routine maintenance," "safety checks," and "property damage," while a typical local driver is skilled in "pallet jack," "hazmat," "otr," and "hazardous materials."

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.