Delivery and Courier Service Drivers

(NOC 7514)

in All Trades and Transportation

Delivery and courier service drivers drive cars, vans, and light trucks to pick up and deliver various products. Courier service drivers pick up envelopes and/or packages for quick delivery to a specific address. They work for dairies, drug stores, newspaper distributors, take-out food companies, dry cleaners, mobile caterers, courier and messenger service companies and many other businesses, or they may be self-employed.

Job Outlook

Good

Read more

  • Estimate Strong growth employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 190 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate High rate of unemployment in 2022

Compared to: All Trades and Transportation

  • Estimate 4040 employment change, 2021-2023
  • Estimate 8425 openings due to growth and retirements, 2021-2023
  • Estimate rate of unemployment not available for these occupation.

Hourly Pay

$14.50

Minimum

$18.00

Median

$23.47

Maximum

Annual Pay

$5,083

Minimum

$26,500

Median

$57,673

Maximum

Compared to: All Trades and Transportation

Hourly Pay

$15.00

Minimum

$24.00

Median

$37.00

Maximum

Annual Pay

$7,580

Minimum

$37,269

Median

$79,787

Maximum

About the job

Nature of work

Delivery and courier service drivers drive cars, vans, and light trucks to pick up and deliver various products. Courier service drivers pick up envelopes and/or packages for quick delivery to a specific address. They work for dairies, drug stores, newspaper distributors, take-out food companies, dry cleaners, mobile caterers, courier and messenger service companies and many other businesses, or they may be self-employed.

Job duties

Delivery and courier service drivers:

  • Drive cars, vans and light trucks to pick up and deliver various products like fast food, newspapers, magazines, bakery and dairy products, and items like dry cleaning, envelopes, packages and parcels.
  • Perform pre-trip and post-trip inspection of vehicle.
  • Plan delivery travel schedules and service routes.
  • Load and unload cargo, goods, or merchandise.
  • Provide customer service by selling products, delivering over established routes, and accepting or making payments for goods.
  • Record information on pick-ups and deliveries, vehicle mileage and fuel costs and report any incidents or problems encountered.
  • May scan and sort freight or cargo for delivery.
  • May assemble, install or set-up delivered goods or merchandise.
  • May communicate with central dispatch using mobile communications equipment.

Sample job titles

  • courier driver
  • delivery driver
  • delivery salesperson
  • delivery truck driver
  • fast food delivery driver
  • newspaper delivery driver
  • route driver

Skills

  • You should enjoy driving and be able to function under minimal supervision. You must be alert, responsible, and self-motivated. An awareness of safety is important. You must also get along well with people, as drivers often deal directly with customers. For some jobs, you should be willing to drive long distances and for extended periods of time.

Job requirements

  • High school is usually required.
  • A driver's licence appropriate to the class of vehicle being driven is required.
  • One year of safe driving experience is usually required.
  • On-the-job training is provided.
  • Eligibility for bonding and transportation of dangerous goods (TGD) certification may be required for delivery and courier drivers.

Other considerations

  • Movement to supervisory positions or to non-driving jobs like driver trainer or dispatcher is possible with additional training or experience.

By the numbers

Quick look

2,165

employed in 2016

73.6%

employed full-time

8.8%

self employed

8.6%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
91.4%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
46.6

median age

Compared to: All Trades and Transportation

57,925

employed in 2016

85.9%

employed full-time

11.8%

self employed

5.3%
Icons/female Created with Sketch.
94.7%
Icons/male Created with Sketch.
46.8

median age

Where will I likely work?

44.8%

Halifax

$25,736 median annual income
16.7%

Annapolis Valley

$28,824 median annual income
16.5%

North Shore

$31,451 median annual income
12.3%

Cape Breton

$29,022 median annual income
9.7%

Southern

$17,514 median annual income

Compared to: All NS Occupations

47.0%

Halifax

15.6%

North Shore

12.9%

Annapolis Valley

12.7%

Cape Breton

11.8%

Southern

Top Industries of Employment

33.8%

Transportation and warehousing

25.1%

Retail trade

11.4%

Wholesale trade

9.7%

Accommodation and food services

9.5%

Manufacturing

What is the age of Employment?

23.0%

45-54

21.0%

55-64

19.0%

35-44

18.0%

25-34

10.0%

15-24

9.0%

65+

Compared to: All Trades and Transportation

24.4%

45-54

22.1%

55-64

17.7%

35-44

17.7%

25-34

10.9%

15-24

Top levels of education

38.3%

High school

$27,205 median annual income
23.6%

Less than high school

$21,520 median annual income
17.3%

College Diploma

$25,749 median annual income
13.6%

Trade Certification

$32,308 median annual income
4.4%

Bachelor

$20,918 median annual income

Compared to: All Trades and Transportation

29.2%

Trade Certification

$46,494 median annual income
25.5%

High school

$31,260 median annual income
22.3%

College Diploma

$42,050 median annual income
18.7%

Less than high school

$28,319 median annual income
2.8%

Bachelor

$30,527 median annual income

Education & training

High School Diploma or Equivalent

High School Program

Adults without a high school diploma can contact the Nova Scotia School for Adult Learning (NSSAL) for tuition-free programming across the province. NSSAL oversees adult education programs in Nova Scotia. NSSAL partners with the Nova Scotia Community College, Adult High Schools, Université Sainte-Anne, and community-based learning organizations to deliver programs. NSSAL offers clear, accessible pathways from adult basic education to a high school credential or GED.

Institutions providing this program

Universite Sainte-Anne

Pointe-de-l'Église, NS

Nova Scotia Community College

Various, NS

Adult High Schools

Various, NS

Community Learning Organizations

Various, NS

Employment requirements & contacts

No regulating bodies were found under this occupation profile

No contacts were found under this occupation profile

Additional resources

There are no additional resources for this occupation.