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Route driver vs warehouse/driver

The differences between route drivers and warehouse/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 $34,000 average annual salary of a warehouse/driver.

The top three skills for a route driver include CDL, DOT and pickup. The most important skills for a warehouse/driver are customer service, math, and basic math.

Route driver vs warehouse/driver overview

Route DriverWarehouse/Driver
Yearly salary$45,492$34,000
Hourly rate$21.87$16.35
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs266,899293,591
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 47%High School Diploma, 54%
Average age4848
Years of experience--

What does a route driver do?

A Route Driver is responsible for delivering and transporting supplies or goods within an allotted time. The tasks will vary upon the organization or industry that a Route Driver works for, however, most of the time, the duties will revolve around picking up and dropping off packages at particular destinations ranging from homes to establishments, and communicating with customers. Furthermore, Route Drivers must keep their vehicles in clean and sound condition, report to supervisors should there be any issue, and adhere to the company policies and regulations at all times.

What does a warehouse/driver do?

A warehouse driver is responsible for transporting packages and other merchandise from the warehouse to different locations. Warehouse drivers strictly follow route sheets to avoid delays in the delivery. They check all the loaded items to ensure that the orders are correct, return defective items, and update the inventory sheet. A warehouse driver must operate the delivery vehicle, perform engine repairs, and follow safety practices and procedures. A warehouse driver also responds to the customers' inquiries and concerns and escalates complaints of incorrect merchandise and defective items to management.

Route driver vs warehouse/driver salary

Route drivers and warehouse/drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Route DriverWarehouse/Driver
Average salary$45,492$34,000
Salary rangeBetween $30,000 And $67,000Between $27,000 And $41,000
Highest paying CityBoston, MASeattle, WA
Highest paying stateMassachusettsAlaska
Best paying companyBlank RomeBunge
Best paying industryManufacturingManufacturing

Differences between route driver and warehouse/driver education

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

Route DriverWarehouse/Driver
Most common degreeHigh School Diploma, 47%High School Diploma, 54%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Route driver vs warehouse/driver demographics

Here are the differences between route drivers' and warehouse/drivers' demographics:

Route DriverWarehouse/Driver
Average age4848
Gender ratioMale, 90.6% Female, 9.4%Male, 94.1% Female, 5.9%
Race ratioBlack 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%Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.5% Hispanic or Latino, 22.8% Asian, 3.4% White, 56.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage4%4%

Differences between route driver and warehouse/driver duties and responsibilities

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

Warehouse/driver example responsibilities.

  • Load unload trucks deliver water with box truck CDL.
  • Load truck with appropriate product and deliver accordingly, return to warehouse for receiving and other warehouse duties including monthly inventory.
  • Sort packages by region, deliver packages to customers, handle cash-on-delivery payments, process business pickups, utilize DIAD board technology

Route driver vs warehouse/driver skills

Common route driver skills
  • CDL, 25%
  • DOT, 18%
  • Pickup, 4%
  • Customer Locations, 4%
  • Cleanliness, 3%
  • Necessary Paperwork, 3%
Common warehouse/driver skills
  • Customer Service, 21%
  • Math, 16%
  • Basic Math, 15%
  • CDL, 7%
  • Cleanliness, 6%
  • Pallets, 4%

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