Career comparison
Route Sales Driver vs. Truck Driver
Side-by-side pay, training, growth and day-to-day duties to help you choose between two related careers.
Truck drivers earn more at the median ($58,640 vs. $38,770), while route sales drivers usually get to work faster (A few weeks of training of training). Route sales drivers drive a route delivering products and taking orders from customers. Truck drivers haul freight safely across town or across the country with a CDL.
Pay data: BLS OEWS, May 2025 · Outlook: BLS 2025–35 · Checked October 15, 2026
| Route Sales Driver | Truck Driver | |
|---|---|---|
| Median pay | $38,770 ($18.64/hr) | $58,640 ($28.19/hr) |
| Pay range (10th–90th) | $22,590 – $59,980 | $40,140 – $79,380 |
| Job growth, 2025–35 | +7.9% (much faster than average) | +3.8% (about as fast as average) |
| Openings per year | 45,500 | 214,500 |
| Typical entry education | High school diploma or equivalent | Postsecondary nondegree award |
| Training time | A few weeks of training | 3–7 weeks |
| Key credential | CDL | CDL Class A |
| Work setting | Drivers work in trucks and at customer locations.. | Drivers spend most of the day in the truck cab, sometimes loading or unloading at docks. |
What each job does
Route Sales Driver
- Drive routes
- Deliver products
- Stock shelves
- Take orders
- Collect payments
Truck Driver
- Inspect trucks and trailers before and after trips
- Plan routes considering weight, height, traffic and weather
- Drive safely while following traffic laws and federal regulations
- Record hours of service with an electronic logging device (ELD)
- Secure cargo and verify loads against shipping documents
How they’re similar
Both careers involve working independently, travel, and in-demand. Both are part of the transportation & logistics field, so many skills transfer between them.
Which should you choose?
Choose route sales driver if…
- I like driving
- I like customers
- I like sales
Choose truck driver if…
- I like working independently
- I enjoy driving and don’t mind long hours on the road
- I want to start earning within a couple of months
Still torn? Take the Route Sales Driver fit quiz and the Truck Driver fit quiz, or the full Career Match Quiz.
Quick comparisons
Which pays more, route sales driver or truck driver?
Truck Drivers earn more at the median: $58,640 versus $38,770 for route sales drivers, based on BLS May 2025 data.
Which takes less time to train for?
Route Sales Drivers typically train faster (A few weeks of training) than truck drivers (3–7 weeks).
Which career has better job growth?
BLS projects route sales drivers to grow +7.9% from 2025–35, compared with +3.8% for truck drivers.