How to become A Delivery Driver

• Delivery Service Driver
• Package Delivery Driver

What do Delivery Drivers do?

A Delivery Driver would typically need to:

• Drive commercial delivery vehicles such as trucks or vans; pick up merchandise, packages, newspapers, food, and other products from distribution centres; transport and deliver them to businesses and homes safely and on time
• Fulfil licensing requirements for commercial driver
• Load and unload goods while adhering to all process and safety protocols and company guidelines to ensure that there is no danger to personnel and vehicles and that the goods are delivered undamaged
• Take extra care with delicate or hazardous goods, meeting legal and company requirements 
• Check with employers and clients to confirm and coordinate pickup and delivery addresses and times; chart out the optimal route with the help of roadmaps and the GPS 
• Follow all relevant traffic laws and abide by speed limits and lane changes to keep passengers and goods in the vehicle safe
• Perform vehicle safety inspections and maintenance before and after each delivery; report issues, repairs and maintenance to relevant personnel; keep delivery vehicle and equipment clean and in safe working condition
• Report incidents and accidents en route to dispatchers and supervisors
• Liaise with dispatchers, drivers and other team members to ensure correct and timely deliveries
• Interact courteously with customers and all participants in the delivery process; liaise with the corporate support team to enhance customer service and relations
• Accept shipment payments and take the client or customer’s signatures if required at the time of delivery
• Maintain delivery-related paperwork, including invoices, purchase requests, receipts, delivery confirmations, timesheets and log sheets; ensure accuracy of delivery details
• Keep detailed driving and vehicle performance records to track mileage, driving time and fuel usage
• Stock the delivery vehicle with supplies such as boxes, packaging tape, and bubble wrap

Delivery Drivers spend most of their working time on the road driving their own or company vehicles, navigating their way likely using a GPS and coping with traffic, weather and road conditions. The job requires the candidates to be physically strong since they must perform considerable lifting, hauling, and walking when loading and unloading cargo. Remember that some items are heavy or sensitive, and you must handle them carefully.

The job of Delivery Drivers is social as they must interact with several people while at work, including loaders, clients and customers, and other participants in the delivery process. Despite certain stresses, your job can prove rewarding and satisfying provided you organise your time and work well.

Companies may outfit Delivery Drivers with uniforms. When a uniform is not provided, you must dress comfortably and neatly in proper clothing for the job.

Be aware that your employer may use driver management software to keep you under supervision.

Delivery Drivers typically work 40 hours a week full-time, following a work schedule of ten hours per day over four days or eight hours per day over five days. You may expect to work early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays, often depending on the type of goods you deliver. For instance, if you deliver baked goods or dairy items, you must begin your tasks early in the morning. 

Your employer’s and the customers’ requirements also determine your mode of working and work schedules. You will likely keep regular timings if you deliver goods to businesses or other establishments. If you are self-employed or an independent contractor, you may keep irregular work schedules, although you may be at greater liberty to select your work days and hours. It may also mean that your job may be a second one and you would be free to drive and deliver at night and on holidays or weekends.

If you work as a freelancer with multiple clients on a contractual basis, you will need to schedule your timings carefully to ensure that you meet the delivery deadlines for all your clients.

Delivery Drivers may need to work overtime during peak periods that require multiple deliveries, such as the Christmas season.

Finding a new job might seem challenging. Delivery Drivers can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, and inquiring at staffing agencies.

Delivery Drivers are generally employed by: 

• Corporations
• Food Service Companies
• Delivery Service Companies
• Warehouses
• Courier Companies
• International Flight Operators

Professional associations and organisations are crucial for Delivery Drivers interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.

• Spending considerable time on the road, tackling traffic and jams, harsh weather and diverse road conditions
• Taking restroom breaks, especially if you spend the entire day having coffee or water in your car 
• Having a flat tire on a busy city street or interstate route, running out of fuel during a delivery trip, traffic jams en route, getting lost or completing a delivery only to discover when you return to your vehicle that it won't start
• Delivering on time, particularly for same-day deliveries, maximising customer satisfaction and minimising the loss of clientele, shipping costs and rate of RTO (return to origin)
• Navigating delivery trip to unfamiliar destinations, whether you are experienced or not and despite your GPS
• Completing your workday as fast and effectively as possible, spending less time driving, and yet completing all scheduled pickups and deliveries
• Delivering the products safely to the clients as any product damage may adversely affect your company’s reputation as well as have financial consequences

Some Delivery Driver jobs mandate similar or related experience as a courier or driver in a retail or logistics organisation, warehouse, or any other customer-focused environment. However, other roles may require no experience in delivery service, making them attractive to people transitioning from other industries or seeking additional part-time work. However, It is critical to be able to operate a van or truck meant for deliveries.

While formal educational qualifications are not typically a prerequisite for the job, some employers may require candidates to hold at least a high school diploma or equivalent. A few may ask that you possess an associate degree or diploma in transportation or logistics.

However, all aspiring Delivery Drivers must attend driving school. Depending on how fast you learn, you may train from 2 to 12 weeks before taking the exam to earn your relevant licence. 

The training you receive on the job will depend on the vehicle you will be assigned to drive. Truck drivers, for example, receive more training than drivers of small vehicles. Learning the route, GPS and delivery app usage, and customer service are essential training areas. You will likely also learn loading and unloading techniques, loading ramp usage and securing the load properly.

The education and training requirements may also vary depending on the goods to transport. Transporting food or chemicals, for example, may require specialised knowledge of and adherence to safety regulations and best practices.

Take high school courses in English, mathematics, business, accounting and geography.

Certification, particularly relevant to driving, demonstrates a Delivery Driver’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. When acquired from an objective and reputed organisation, it can help you stand out in a competitive job market, carry a significant salary premium of up to 18 per cent, increase your chances of advancement and allow you to become an independent consultant. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.

You need the appropriate training and driver's licence for the vehicle you will be assigned to drive and a clean driving record. Depending on your location and job, you may require a commercial driver’s licence (CDL) or a certificate of professional competence (CPC) to drive vans, trucks or lorries. While your employer may provide you with a delivery van, you will need your own vehicle if you are self-employed.

Individual government entities conduct the licensing process. It typically requires the passage of an examination in addition to the fulfilment of eligibility requirements, such as a minimum age, level of education, work experience, training, or the completion of an internship, residency, or apprenticeship.

An employment background check can include but is not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), criminal record, medical history and the use of social media. In addition to pre-employment drug screening, random drug testing will likely occur throughout their employment.

Performance, experience, and the acquisition of professional qualifications drive career progression. Employees with consistently high levels of performance may be eligible for promotion every two to three years. Typically, Delivery Drivers must maintain clean driving records and clear any drug screenings and background checks to advance. They must also remain physically fit and have the stamina and strength to carry, load and unload heavy packages.

Delivery Drivers usually begin their careers in entry-level jobs with delivery firms. They may be promoted to Lead Driver or Supervisor positions, such as Dispatcher or Warehouse Manager, having proven their reliability and capability to follow instructions.

With training and hard work, you could advance to the position of Delivery Coordinator, leading a team of couriers and offering customer support and sales services.

You may apply your driving skills to other modes of transportation that your licence allows or train for a large goods vehicle (LGV) licence, which would enable you to work in freight transport and drive larger trucks and lorries. You could transport cash and high-value objects with specialised training in defensive driving and personal security, provided you earn the relevant security licence. You could also train to drive dangerous items and unique loads.

Having acquired sufficient experience and built a network, you may take on freelance work as an independent contractor or start your own delivery business.

Candidates with an authorised permit and a clean driving record that demonstrates safe and responsible driving, free of fines and penalties, particularly in the two to three years preceding hiring, have the best job prospects.

Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Delivery Driver build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity, formal education, or self-directed learning. It allows you to upskill continually, regardless of your age, job, or level of knowledge.

Newly hired Delivery Drivers receive training on the job, typically working as a co-driver for a senior colleague or driving under the supervision of an experienced Delivery Driver. 

You will learn about the company’s products and policies, how to assemble certain products, manage payments and process returns for undelivered packages. Security training is crucial for transporting valuable packages. Some Delivery Drivers who must also act as salespersons may be coached in essential sales and marketing techniques. All Delivery Drivers, however, must become thorough with the route, GPS and delivery app usage, customer interaction, vehicle loading and unloading and loading ramp usage. 

You may also work towards supplementing your driving licence with additional categories. 

Delivery Drivers must stay current on industry trends and technological developments. For example, the growth of same-day delivery is a consumer trend gaining traction for suppliers and customers because it provides a convenient option to obtain items fast without the long waits caused by shipping times.

Driverless trucks will have a significant impact on the delivery business. Delivery Drivers can benefit from the extra time they may have by using it to develop their customer service skills and improve their initiative and time management as they may not have a boss guiding them. They may also use any spare time to adapt to the industry's evolving demands.

Types of Delivery Drivers

There are several classifications of Delivery Drivers. You may be categorised as food, mail, or computer hardware Delivery Drivers based on the type of goods you deliver. 

Or you may be classified into bicycle, motorcycle, van or truck Delivery Drivers according to the delivery vehicles you drive. Your specific category may also depend on the kind of company you work for. For example, you would be a courier if you work for a transport agency. Depending on the geographical area you serve, you may also call yourself a local or long-haul Delivery Driver.

Meal Kit Delivery

The meal kit is a recent and popular addition to the food delivery industry's products. Using a meal kit delivery service, customers order and receive pre-portioned fresh ingredients and accompanying recipes that help them prepare a homemade meal. A meal kit simplifies and digitises meal planning and grocery shopping.

Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment

Freelancing Delivery Drivers have more flexible work schedules and locations. They have full ownership of the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.

On the other hand, a full-time Delivery Driver has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.

When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.

The pandemic saw a large number of people order the delivery of tasty and comforting food. The American Instacart upped its orders from 820,000 in February 2020 to 9.14 million in April 2020.

As a Delivery Driver, you can use your passion and skill for driving to good use by transporting packages to their destination and also represent your company and its standards to the customer through your efficiency, promptness and courtesy. It is a role of immense responsibility and brings its unique set of challenges yet can yield satisfaction as it contributes to fulfilling people’s diverse needs.

It's essential not to take on more than you can handle as a Delivery Driver. If you have mastered the fundamentals of driving and delivery, consider increasing your workload.