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Shipping supervisor vs route manager

The differences between shipping supervisors and route 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 shipping supervisor and a route manager. Additionally, a route manager has an average salary of $50,375, which is higher than the $48,598 average annual salary of a shipping supervisor.

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

Shipping supervisor vs route manager overview

Shipping SupervisorRoute Manager
Yearly salary$48,598$50,375
Hourly rate$23.36$24.22
Growth rate-3%5%
Number of jobs26,1387,162
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

What does a shipping supervisor do?

A shipping supervisor is responsible for monitoring the goods and services, ensuring its quality and quantity before packaging and shipment processing to avoid delays and possible client complaints. Shipping supervisors manage the shipment schedule, including verification of the location and determining correct charges. They also keep track of the incoming and outgoing deliveries by maintaining an organized record in the company's database. A shipping supervisor must have excellent communication and leadership skills, especially on handling customers' concerns, conducting item replacements, and overseeing the warehouse staff to meet maximum productivity goals.

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.

Shipping supervisor vs route manager salary

Shipping supervisors and route managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Shipping SupervisorRoute Manager
Average salary$48,598$50,375
Salary rangeBetween $35,000 And $66,000Between $38,000 And $66,000
Highest paying CityNew Brunswick, NJSan Leandro, CA
Highest paying stateConnecticutRhode Island
Best paying companySchneider Electric Industrial ServicesHarsco
Best paying industryProfessionalManufacturing

Differences between shipping supervisor and route manager education

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

Shipping SupervisorRoute Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 37%Bachelor's Degree, 40%
Most common majorBusinessBusiness
Most common college--

Shipping supervisor vs route manager demographics

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

Shipping SupervisorRoute Manager
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 82.2% Female, 17.8%Male, 87.0% Female, 13.0%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 12.0% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 19.4% Asian, 6.8% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%Black 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%
LGBT Percentage8%8%

Differences between shipping supervisor and route manager duties and responsibilities

Shipping supervisor example responsibilities.

  • Manage the reconciliation process of RMA's, product inspection and freight claims.
  • Manage product movement across multiple WMS platforms and commodity lines within distribution center, conveyor lines and induction system.
  • Manage international shipping - coordinate documentation, commercial invoices, letters of credit, NAFTA, certificates of origin.
  • Manage and organize LTL shipments and warehouse responsibilities.
  • Work with a USPS representative to deliver a manifest with all orders account for.
  • Integrate new information to create and present an ISO training seminar for plant managers and coordinators.
  • Show more

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

Shipping supervisor vs route manager skills

Common shipping supervisor skills
  • Customer Service, 11%
  • Safety Procedures, 8%
  • Logistics, 7%
  • Shipping Receiving, 6%
  • Continuous Improvement, 6%
  • ISO, 5%
Common route manager skills
  • DOT, 15%
  • CDL, 12%
  • OSHA, 10%
  • Safety Issues, 9%
  • Safety Targets, 9%
  • Equipment Issues, 8%

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