How To Become A Route Manager: What It Is and Career Path

What is a route manager and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

A route manager is responsible for planning, scheduling, and managing delivery routes for goods or services. They work in a variety of industries, including transportation, logistics, and distribution. A route manager ensures that deliveries are made on time and efficiently by optimizing routes and making necessary adjustments based on factors such as traffic, weather conditions, and customer demands. They also manage delivery personnel, maintain vehicle fleets, monitor budgets and expenses, and ensure compliance with safety standards.

ScoreRoute ManagerUS Average

Salary

3.9

Avg. Salary $50,375

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

10.0

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.88%

Asian 6.70%

Black or African American 11.27%

Hispanic or Latino 16.65%

Unknown 4.60%

White 59.90%

Gender

female 13.02%

male 86.98%

Age - 44

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 44

Stress Level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

9.9

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

2.7

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Route Manager?

Pros

Company vehicle provided
Variety of tasks and responsibilities
Working outdoors
Building relationships with clients
Developing problem-solving skills

Cons

Long hours and high workload during peak seasons
Responsibility for the safety of drivers and vehicles
Working in various weather conditions
Requires strong organizational skills
Constantly being on-call for emergencies or last-minute changes

Key steps to become a route manager

Explore route manager education requirements

Most common route manager degrees

Bachelor's

40.1 %

High School Diploma

25.6 %

Associate

22.3 %

Start to develop specific route manager skills

Skills	Percentages
DOT	15.03%
CDL	12.36%
OSHA	10.11%
Safety Issues	9.03%
Safety Targets	8.83%

Complete relevant route manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New route managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a route manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real route manager resumes.

Gain additional route manager certifications

Route manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific route manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for route managers include Commercial Driver License (CDL) and Certified Sales Professional (CSP).

More About Certifications

Research route manager duties and 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.

Prepare your route manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your route manager resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a route manager resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Route Manager Resume templates

Build a professional Route Manager resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Route Manager resume.

Apply for route manager jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a route manager job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do route managers rate their job?