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.
Route manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real route manager resumes:
- 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.
- Systematize and schedule route logistics with client accounts and products on a daily basis.
- Study GPS routes to judge the best way to reach a specify destination for drivers.
- Create and develop new outlets and maintenance of existing ones also handle event marketing and management POS materials in territory.
- Maintain in-house product inventory levels and controls, ensuring proper mixing, storage and usage procedures meet OSHA and EPA standards.
- Monitor and ensure all HAZMAT collection operations follow OSHA safety standards and guidelines.
- Complete daily vehicle, branch, and EPA require reports
- Train and update on WSDA and EPA safety laws.
- Service and maintain ADP payroll route for a regional shipping company.
Route manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 15% of Route Managers are proficient in DOT, CDL, and OSHA. They’re also known for soft skills such as Analytical skills, Communication skills, and Leadership skills.
We break down the percentage of Route Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- DOT, 15%
Conduct daily safety inspections and safely operate a commercial motor vehicle as required by DOT regulations and company policy.
- CDL, 12%
Directed 18 CDL drivers driving front load & rear load, diesel & CNG trash collection trucks.
- OSHA, 10%
Monitored and ensured all HAZMAT collection operations followed OSHA safety standards and guidelines.
- Safety Issues, 9%
Strengthen customer relations by evaluating and resolving safety issues through meetings.
- Safety Targets, 9%
Review and address route demand and volume, monitoring productivity, service, and safety targets.
- Equipment Issues, 8%
Performed troubleshooting of equipment issues and scheduled preventative maintenance visits.
Most route managers use their skills in "dot," "cdl," and "osha" to do their jobs. You can find more detail on essential route manager responsibilities here:
Analytical skills. One of the key soft skills for a route manager to have is analytical skills. You can see how this relates to what route managers do because "sales managers must collect and interpret complex data to target the most promising geographic areas and demographic groups, and determine the most effective sales strategies." Additionally, a route manager resume shows how route managers use analytical skills: "conduct regular analysis of delivery routes to identify productivity improvements. "
Communication skills. Another essential skill to perform route manager duties is communication skills. Route managers responsibilities require that "sales managers need to work with colleagues and customers, so they must be able to communicate clearly." Route managers also use communication skills in their role according to a real resume snippet: "worked on ebsc 14/15 initial installations and telecommunications network switch commissioning and upgrades at customer site. "
Leadership skills. route managers are also known for leadership skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to route manager responsibilities, because "sales managers must be able to evaluate how their sales staff performs and must develop strategies for meeting sales goals." A route manager resume example shows how leadership skills is used in the workplace: "maintained 98% service effectiveness rate over 3+ years through exceptional customer relationships and courteous, professional leadership of service personnel. "
Customer-service skills. For certain route manager responsibilities to be completed, the job requires competence in "customer-service skills." The day-to-day duties of a route manager rely on this skill, as "when helping to make a sale, sales managers must listen and respond to the customer’s needs." For example, this snippet was taken directly from a resume about how this skill applies to what route managers do: "route manager and customer service management of customer concerns and delivery route control. "
The three companies that hire the most route managers are:
- Brink's18 route managers jobs
- Packers Sanitation Services6 route managers jobs
- Domestic3 route managers jobs
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Compare different route managers
Route manager vs. Driver supervisor
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.
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, route manager responsibilities require skills like "osha," "safety issues," "safety targets," and "equipment issues." Meanwhile a typical driver supervisor has skills in areas such as "excellent interpersonal," "workgroup," "post-trip inspections," and "basic math." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
Driver supervisors earn the highest salaries when working in the transportation industry, with an average yearly salary of $41,805. On the other hand, route managers are paid more in the manufacturing industry with an average salary of $50,158.The education levels that driver supervisors earn slightly differ from route managers. In particular, driver supervisors are 0.4% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than a route manager. Additionally, they're 0.0% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Route manager vs. Transportation assistant
A Transportation Assistant assists in several roles that concern work in a transport environment. He/She checks passengers for their travel orders, boarding passes, and identification. As a Transportation Assistant, you will be tasked with transporting passengers from aircraft to terminals. You will also have the responsibility of processing the necessary documents needed for transporting personal property. Other duties include assisting customers with issues relating to the transportation of their goods, assisting in unloading and unpacking of goods in the transport department, inspecting for damaged goods, etc.
Each career also uses different skills, according to real route manager resumes. While route manager responsibilities can utilize skills like "dot," "cdl," "osha," and "safety issues," transportation assistants use skills like "patients," "veterans," "rehabilitation," and "logistics."
On average, transportation assistants earn a lower salary than route managers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, transportation assistants earn the most pay in the government industry with an average salary of $50,348. Whereas route managers have higher pay in the manufacturing industry, with an average salary of $50,158.Average education levels between the two professions vary. Transportation assistants tend to reach similar levels of education than route managers. In fact, they're 1.3% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Route manager vs. Shipping and receiving supervisor
A shipping and receiving supervisor streamlines the shipping process for a more efficient company. The supervisors oversee and maintain the supplies and inventory through product receipt, storage, and delivery. They supervise employees who confirm and record shipment receipt, prepare items for shipping, and load and unload purchases. Supervisors should be equipped with leadership, effective communication, conflict resolution, and time management skills. They are also expected to delegate and have confidence.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from route manager resumes include skills like "dot," "cdl," "osha," and "safety issues," whereas a shipping and receiving supervisor is more likely to list skills in "shipping receiving," "safety regulations," "logistics," and "pallet jack. "
Shipping and receiving supervisors make a very good living in the automotive industry with an average annual salary of $40,669. On the other hand, route managers are paid the highest salary in the manufacturing industry, with average annual pay of $50,158.When it comes to education, shipping and receiving supervisors tend to earn similar degree levels compared to route managers. In fact, they're 0.6% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.2% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Route manager vs. Shipping supervisor
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.
Types of route manager
Updated January 8, 2025
