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The differences between lead drivers and local 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 local driver. Additionally, a local driver has an average salary of $48,160, 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 local driver are CDL, DOT, and post-trip inspections.
| Lead Driver | Local Driver | |
| Yearly salary | $43,769 | $48,160 |
| Hourly rate | $21.04 | $23.15 |
| Growth rate | 4% | 4% |
| Number of jobs | 821,463 | 786,531 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| 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 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.
Lead drivers and local drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Lead Driver | Local Driver | |
| Average salary | $43,769 | $48,160 |
| Salary range | Between $27,000 And $68,000 | Between $33,000 And $69,000 |
| Highest paying City | Newark, NJ | Seattle, WA |
| Highest paying state | New Hampshire | Montana |
| Best paying company | Univar | Mid-South Management |
| Best paying industry | Technology | Transportation |
There are a few differences between a lead driver and a local driver in terms of educational background:
| Lead Driver | Local Driver | |
| Most common degree | High School Diploma, 40% | High School Diploma, 41% |
| Most common major | Business | Business |
| Most common college | - | - |
Here are the differences between lead drivers' and local drivers' demographics:
| Lead Driver | Local Driver | |
| Average age | 48 | 48 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 86.7% Female, 13.3% | Male, 91.3% Female, 8.7% |
| 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, 13.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 3.6% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% |
| LGBT Percentage | 4% | 4% |