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The differences between lead drivers and flatbed 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 flatbed driver. Additionally, a flatbed driver has an average salary of $57,099, which is higher than the $43,769 average annual salary of a lead driver.
The top three skills for a lead driver include DOT, work ethic and CDL. The most important skills for a flatbed driver are CDL, OTR, and customer service.
| Lead Driver | Flatbed Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $43,769 | $57,099 |
| Hourly rate | $21.04 | $27.45 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 821,463 | 781,449 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| 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 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.
Lead drivers and flatbed drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Driver | Flatbed Driver | |
| Average salary | $43,769 | $57,099 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $68,000 | Between $39,000 And $83,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Chicago, IL |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | North Dakota |
| Best paying company | Univar | Hub Group |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a lead driver and a flatbed driver in terms of educational background:
| Lead Driver | Flatbed Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 38% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between lead drivers' and flatbed drivers' demographics:
| Lead Driver | Flatbed Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% | Male, 95.0% Female, 5.0% |
| 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, 13.5% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.4% Asian, 3.5% White, 60.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |