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Route manager vs driver manager

The differences between route managers and driver managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a route manager and a driver manager. Additionally, a route manager has an average salary of $50,375, which is higher than the $45,922 average annual salary of a driver manager.

The top three skills for a route manager include DOT, CDL and OSHA. The most important skills for a driver manager are DOT, good communication, and on-time delivery.

Route manager vs driver manager overview

Route ManagerDriver Manager
Yearly salary$50,375$45,922
Hourly rate$24.22$22.08
Growth rate5%4%
Number of jobs7,1623,141
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a route manager do?

A route manager determines strategic routes transport vehicles may take to every destination. A route manager's primary responsibility is to mark the shortest and fastest way to the customer's destination. The route manager also collects information from various road network sources and gets live updates of the current traffic situation in a given area. Through the route manager, transport vehicles become useful, productive, and efficient. The route manager also surveys existing routes and updates them whenever needed.

What does a driver manager do?

The job of driver managers involves the recruitment, training, and assessment of drivers and their qualifications pursuant to driving laws. Driver managers manage vehicles confirming their safety and working order. They monitor the fleet to make sure that the deliveries are done as scheduled. It is part of their responsibilities to serve as mentors for drivers. They address drivers' communications and offer the necessary data to drivers. Also, they set periodical inspections of the vehicles in operation.

Route manager vs driver manager salary

Route managers and driver managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Route ManagerDriver Manager
Average salary$50,375$45,922
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $66,000Between $29,000 And $70,000
Highest paying CitySan Leandro, CASunnyvale, CA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandConnecticut
Best paying companyHarscoNVIDIA
Best paying industryManufacturingEnergy

Differences between route manager and driver manager education

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

Route ManagerDriver Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%Bachelor's Degree, 38%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Route manager vs driver manager demographics

Here are the differences between route managers' and driver managers' demographics:

Route ManagerDriver Manager
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 87.0% Female, 13.0%Male, 75.1% Female, 24.9%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 16.6% Asian, 6.7% White, 59.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 11.1% Unknown, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 17.7% Asian, 6.8% White, 58.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between route manager and driver manager duties and responsibilities

Route manager example responsibilities.

  • Manage invoice collection and customer issues.
  • Conduct billing using mobile POS systems.
  • Advance to CDL liquid driver (liquid oxygen).
  • Obtain CDL license resulting in a promotion and pay raise.
  • Review driver DVIR and log book to fuel hours and mileage.
  • Develop interactive huddles topics, ensure compliance with safety guidelines, DVIR.
  • Show more

Driver manager example responsibilities.

  • Develop and implement KPI metrics to effectively manage customer satisfaction
  • Certify and experience in HAZMAT shipments.
  • Head up vehicle maintenance scheduling along with tracking trucks via GPS and monitoring driver hours.
  • Help establish policies and procedures for management of all Dallas drivers' GPS systems and data.
  • Organize and create an OTR fleet, taking it to one of the top fleets in Denver.
  • Obtain necessary documents for the drivers to ensure safe transportation of HAZMAT freight, including overweight permits.
  • Show more

Route manager vs driver manager skills

Common route manager skills
  • DOT, 15%
  • CDL, 12%
  • OSHA, 10%
  • Safety Issues, 9%
  • Safety Targets, 9%
  • Equipment Issues, 8%
Common driver manager skills
  • DOT, 42%
  • Good Communication, 31%
  • On-Time Delivery, 10%
  • Customer Service, 3%
  • OTR, 2%
  • Driver Retention, 2%

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