Delivery and Courier Service Drivers

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.

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