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Route manager vs driver supervisor

The differences between route managers and driver supervisors 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 supervisor. Additionally, a route manager has an average salary of $50,375, which is higher than the $38,495 average annual salary of a driver supervisor.

The top three skills for a route manager include DOT, CDL and OSHA. The most important skills for a driver supervisor are customer service, DOT, and CDL.

Route manager vs driver supervisor overview

Route ManagerDriver Supervisor
Yearly salary$50,375$38,495
Hourly rate$24.22$18.51
Growth rate5%4%
Number of jobs7,162214,993
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%High School Diploma, 34%
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 supervisor do?

Driver supervisors are professionals who are responsible for supervising all activities that are related to the operation of motor vehicles that transport materials for logistics companies. These supervisors are required to select and orient drivers about their roles and ensure that they are following the guidelines provided by the Department of Transportation (DOT). They must regularly audit delivery routes with their drivers so that they can achieve safe and efficient deliveries. Driver supervisors must also conduct investigations for those drivers involved in vehicular accidents.

Route manager vs driver supervisor salary

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

Route ManagerDriver Supervisor
Average salary$50,375$38,495
Salary rangeBetween $38,000 And $66,000Between $30,000 And $48,000
Highest paying CitySan Leandro, CAEverett, WA
Highest paying stateRhode IslandRhode Island
Best paying companyHarscoAmerican Refining Group
Best paying industryManufacturingTransportation

Differences between route manager and driver supervisor education

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

Route ManagerDriver Supervisor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 40%High School Diploma, 34%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Route manager vs driver supervisor demographics

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

Route ManagerDriver Supervisor
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 87.0% Female, 13.0%Male, 85.8% Female, 14.2%
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, 12.1% Unknown, 5.0% Hispanic or Latino, 21.3% Asian, 6.3% White, 54.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between route manager and driver supervisor 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 supervisor example responsibilities.

  • Direct employees in identifying and correcting any unsafe conditions, eliminate avoidable accidents and improve department performance manage KPI's.
  • Answer telephones, run errands and assist in customer service when need.
  • Receive and input all customer orders into TMW, via telephone, fax or email.
  • Develop and implement DSD item level POGs.
  • Enter orders as needed for broker loads in TMW software.
  • Oversee order purchasing for all DSD stores within the region.
  • Show more

Route manager vs driver supervisor skills

Common route manager skills
  • DOT, 15%
  • CDL, 12%
  • OSHA, 10%
  • Safety Issues, 9%
  • Safety Targets, 9%
  • Equipment Issues, 8%
Common driver supervisor skills
  • Customer Service, 19%
  • DOT, 15%
  • CDL, 12%
  • Safety Procedures, 4%
  • Workgroup, 4%
  • Post-Trip Inspections, 4%

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