Post job

Route supervisor vs supervisor

The differences between route supervisors and supervisors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 2-4 years to become a route supervisor, becoming a supervisor takes usually requires 1-2 years. Additionally, a supervisor has an average salary of $53,902, which is higher than the $46,770 average annual salary of a route supervisor.

The top three skills for a route supervisor include DOT, CDL and OSHA. The most important skills for a supervisor are customer service, safety procedures, and sales floor.

Route supervisor vs supervisor overview

Route SupervisorSupervisor
Yearly salary$46,770$53,902
Hourly rate$22.49$25.91
Growth rate11%-
Number of jobs13,438224,920
Job satisfaction-5
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Average age4446
Years of experience42

What does a route supervisor do?

A route supervisor works with the delivery and logistics department of the company. The route supervisor oversees the dispatching of vehicles and drivers to take specified routes determined by the company. A company needs to ensure on-time and consistent deliveries. The route supervisor also checks each predetermined route if it is free from heavy traffic and congestion. Alternate routes must be immediately provided for deliveries to take during emergencies and delays. Customer satisfaction is of utmost concern, and it is achieved only by safe and speedy deliveries.

What does a supervisor do?

Supervisors are responsible for overseeing the daily functions of employees in a specific team, department, or even a work shift. They create work schedules, organize work processes and workflows, train new hires, provide necessary reports related to the team function and the employees, monitor and evaluate employee performance, and ensure that goals of the specific team or department are met. When needed, supervisors also provide guidance to employees in terms of their career or even personal challenges. They also help in fostering harmonious work relationships by resolving interpersonal conflicts at work. To be successful in their role, they must have leadership skills, time management skills, decision-making capabilities, analytical skills, and problem-solving skills.

Route supervisor vs supervisor salary

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

Route SupervisorSupervisor
Average salary$46,770$53,902
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $60,000Between $31,000 And $92,000
Highest paying CityRichmond, CANew York, NY
Highest paying stateRhode IslandAlaska
Best paying companyUS FoodsReed Smith
Best paying industryUtilitiesHealth Care

Differences between route supervisor and supervisor education

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

Route SupervisorSupervisor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 44%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college-Stanford University

Route supervisor vs supervisor demographics

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

Route SupervisorSupervisor
Average age4446
Gender ratioMale, 88.2% Female, 11.8%Male, 55.8% Female, 44.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 18.0% Asian, 6.8% White, 57.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black or African American, 12.2% Unknown, 4.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.0% Asian, 4.6% White, 59.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage8%6%

Differences between route supervisor and supervisor duties and responsibilities

Route supervisor example responsibilities.

  • Manage and audit team member's timekeeping.
  • Provide proper training to delivery driver to obtain CDL license when need.
  • Direct a team of 3 people and drive a truck with CDL permit.
  • Translate business needs and priorities into actionable logistics strategies.
  • Deliver packages to customers in a friendly, professional manner while using FedEx scanning device.
  • Serve as liaison between employees, owners, and FedEx corporate to maintain exemplary working relationship.
  • Show more

Supervisor example responsibilities.

  • Lead continuous process improvement and six sigma teams to meet ISO 9001 and QS 9000 standards.
  • Manage and implement merchandising strategy for POS marketing and display inventory.
  • Lead comprehensive training for each new volunteer or court-mandate worker regarding OSHA regulations and warehouse procedure.
  • Organize care with 6 CNAs.
  • Coordinate lifeguard duty schedule for all pools.
  • Maintain cleanliness throughout kitchen, coolers, and freezer areas.
  • Show more

Route supervisor vs supervisor skills

Common route supervisor skills
  • DOT, 31%
  • CDL, 11%
  • OSHA, 10%
  • Route Delivery, 9%
  • Customer Service, 8%
  • Relief, 3%
Common supervisor skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Safety Procedures, 9%
  • Sales Floor, 9%
  • POS, 9%
  • Direct Supervision, 9%
  • Payroll, 5%

Browse transportation jobs