Route sales representative vs route sales driver

The differences between route sales representatives and route sales drivers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a route sales driver has an average salary of $47,257, which is higher than the $44,918 average annual salary of a route sales representative.

The top three skills for a route sales representative include CDL, DOT and strong customer service. The most important skills for a route sales driver are CDL, customer service, and DOT.

Route sales representative vs route sales driver overview

	Route Sales Representative	Route Sales Driver
Yearly salary	$44,918	$47,257
Hourly rate	$21.60	$22.72
Growth rate	11%	11%
Number of jobs	108,194	174,210
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 37%	High School Diploma, 44%
Average age	48	48
Years of experience	-	-

What does a route sales representative do?

A route sales representative is responsible for offering goods and services to customers in a designated area. Route sales representatives work closely with the marketing team to develop effective sales strategies, create sales pitches, and release promotional offers to generate sales, increase revenues, and build the organization's profitability. They also research the latest industry trends to identify sales opportunities and communicate findings to the team for new service offerings. A route sales representative must have excellent customer service and communication skills to assist customers in their inquiries and concerns and negotiate sales contracts.

What does a route sales driver do?

A route sales driver is the company driver in charge of distributing goods or products to customers on a specific route or area. In some companies or organizations, they are also tasked with the role of collecting payment for delivered goods and also keeping a record of it. Their duties and responsibilities include vehicle inspection and maintenance and keeping records of deliveries and payments.

Route sales representative vs route sales driver salary

Route sales representatives and route sales drivers have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Route Sales Representative	Route Sales Driver
Average salary	$44,918	$47,257
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $54,000	Between $34,000 And $65,000
Highest paying City	San Jose, CA	Bend, OR
Highest paying state	California	Oregon
Best paying company	Johnson Controls	Culligan
Best paying industry	Education	Education

Differences between route sales representative and route sales driver education

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

	Route Sales Representative	Route Sales Driver
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 37%	High School Diploma, 44%
Most common major	Business	Business
Most common college	-	-

Route sales representative vs route sales driver demographics

Here are the differences between route sales representatives' and route sales drivers' demographics:

	Route Sales Representative	Route Sales Driver
Average age	48	48
Gender ratio	Male, 91.7% Female, 8.3%	Male, 93.1% Female, 6.9%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 3.8% White, 60.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%	Black or African American, 12.6% Unknown, 4.8% Hispanic or Latino, 18.9% Asian, 3.9% White, 58.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8%
LGBT Percentage	4%	4%

Differences between route sales representative and route sales driver duties and responsibilities

Route sales representative example responsibilities.

Manage invoice collection and customer issues.
Drive CDL rate truck over assign territory.
Complete route in timely manner via CDL truck.
Utilize math skills to process payments while on route.
Maintain cleanliness of truck and inspect truck for imperfections and safe operation.
Distribute daily newspapers to customers; acquire new business via effective sales and marketing techniques.

Route sales driver example responsibilities.

Manage 100 stores as a DSD vendor, entailing presales, delivery and basic account management.
Obtain and keep current CDL.
Train new drivers and teach company procedures and if CDL need give written and road test.
Use effective communication and interpersonal skills when interacting with customers during pickup and/or delivery of packages.
Meet with customers, sales team to develop premier marketing, advertising and POS programs.
Distribute product to small business and large retail outlets using POS material and FIFO inventory techniques.

Route sales representative vs route sales driver skills

Common route sales representative skills

CDL, 17%
DOT, 16%
Strong Customer Service, 12%
Customer Accounts, 8%
Work Ethic, 7%
Upselling, 5%

Common route sales driver skills

CDL, 17%
Customer Service, 14%
DOT, 13%
Customer Locations, 6%
Customer Complaints, 5%
Pallet Jack, 5%

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Transportation Industry
Route Sales Representative
Route Sales Representative vs Route Sales Driver

Updated January 8, 2025

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