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Recycle driver vs route driver

The differences between recycle drivers and route drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a route driver has an average salary of $45,492, which is higher than the $38,635 average annual salary of a recycle driver.

The top three skills for a recycle driver include CDL, DOT and pre-trip. The most important skills for a route driver are CDL, DOT, and pickup.

Recycle driver vs route driver overview

Recycle DriverRoute Driver
Yearly salary$38,635$45,492
Hourly rate$18.57$21.87
Growth rate4%11%
Number of jobs648,054266,899
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 44%High School Diploma, 47%
Average age4848
Years of experience2-

Recycle driver vs route driver salary

Recycle drivers and route drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Recycle DriverRoute Driver
Average salary$38,635$45,492
Salary rangeBetween $28,000 And $52,000Between $30,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City-Boston, MA
Highest paying state-Massachusetts
Best paying company-Blank Rome
Best paying industry-Manufacturing

Differences between recycle driver and route driver education

There are a few differences between a recycle driver and a route driver in terms of educational background:

Recycle DriverRoute Driver
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 44%High School Diploma, 47%
Most common majorCriminal JusticeBusiness
Most common college--

Recycle driver vs route driver demographics

Here are the differences between recycle drivers' and route drivers' demographics:

Recycle DriverRoute Driver
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 90.0% Female, 10.0%Male, 90.6% Female, 9.4%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.6% Asian, 4.0% White, 59.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.2% Asian, 3.8% White, 60.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between recycle driver and route driver duties and responsibilities

Recycle driver example responsibilities.

  • Refuel trucks, dismount truck to collect garbage.
  • Coordinate delivery and pickup up times to maintain continuous business operations.
  • Return to shop, perform post trip inspection, turn in all company tools require for the job.

Route driver example responsibilities.

  • Manage 100 stores as a DSD vendor, entailing presales, delivery and basic account management.
  • Inspect vehicle and load for safety and HazMat regulations being meet.
  • DOT, local, state (provincial) and federal requirements.
  • Train new employees to read and follow route sheets, as well as prepare them for CDL testing.
  • Travel to and from designate areas to pickup and deliver parcels and packages to and from FedEx customers.
  • Record routes in the delivery vehicle GPS system to facilitate weekly route planning and to assist share route drivers.
  • Show more

Recycle driver vs route driver skills

Common recycle driver skills
  • CDL, 23%
  • DOT, 20%
  • Pre-trip, 19%
  • Safety Equipment, 10%
  • Safety Policies, 10%
  • Safety Standards, 3%
Common route driver skills
  • CDL, 25%
  • DOT, 18%
  • Pickup, 4%
  • Customer Locations, 4%
  • Cleanliness, 3%
  • Necessary Paperwork, 3%

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