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The differences between lead drivers and driver supervisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a lead driver, becoming a driver supervisor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a lead driver has an average salary of $43,769, which is higher than the $38,495 average annual salary of a driver supervisor.
The top three skills for a lead driver include DOT, work ethic and CDL. The most important skills for a driver supervisor are customer service, DOT, and CDL.
| Lead Driver | Driver Supervisor | |
| Yearly salary | $43,769 | $38,495 |
| Hourly rate | $21.04 | $18.51 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 821,463 | 214,993 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Years of experience | 2 | 4 |
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.
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.
Lead drivers and driver supervisors have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Driver | Driver Supervisor | |
| Average salary | $43,769 | $38,495 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $68,000 | Between $30,000 And $48,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Everett, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | Rhode Island |
| Best paying company | Univar | American Refining Group |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a lead driver and a driver supervisor in terms of educational background:
| Lead Driver | Driver Supervisor | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 34% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between lead drivers' and driver supervisors' demographics:
| Lead Driver | Driver Supervisor | |
| Average age | 48 | 44 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% | Male, 85.8% Female, 14.2% |
| 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, 12.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 21.3% Asian, 6.3% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 8% |