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The differences between lead drivers and contract drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 1-2 years to become both a lead driver and a contract driver. Additionally, a lead driver has an average salary of $43,769, which is higher than the $34,999 average annual salary of a contract driver.
The top three skills for a lead driver include DOT, work ethic and CDL. The most important skills for a contract driver are DOT, CDL, and tractor trailer.
| Lead Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $43,769 | $34,999 |
| Hourly rate | $21.04 | $16.83 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 821,463 | 1,007,663 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 30% |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 2 |
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.
A contract driver mainly provides transport services on a contractual basis. Their duties typically depend on their contract or place of employment; they may deliver goods or provide private transport to clients. When it comes to delivering goods, a contract driver must adhere to schedules and guidelines, maintain documents, and coordinate with clients. Furthermore, a contract driver must perform regular maintenance checks on their vehicles and abide by the traffic laws and regulations to maintain a safe and efficient work environment.
Lead drivers and contract drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Average salary | $43,769 | $34,999 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $68,000 | Between $23,000 And $51,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | - |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | - |
| Best paying company | Univar | - |
| Best paying industry | Technology | - |
There are a few differences between a lead driver and a contract driver in terms of educational background:
| Lead Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 30% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between lead drivers' and contract drivers' demographics:
| Lead Driver | Contract Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% | Male, 80.3% Female, 19.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | Black or African American, 13.3% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 4.0% White, 58.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |