What Does A Light Truck or Delivery Services Driver Do (including Their Typical Day at Work)

Stan T.Career, Overview

Salary, Job Description, How To Become One, and Quiz

Delivery Drivers

Delivery Drivers drive a light vehicle, such as a truck or van, with a capacity of less than 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), primarily to pick up merchandise or packages from a distribution center and deliver. May load and unload vehicle.

Salary
$41050
Becoming One
Easy
Education
No degree required
Job Satisfaction
Low
Job Growth

Personality
Interest Match


What they do

Delivery Drivers drive a light vehicle, such as a truck or van, with a capacity of less than 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), primarily to pick up merchandise or packages from a distribution center and deliver. May load and unload vehicle.

  • Obey traffic laws and follow established traffic and transportation procedures.
  • Turn in receipts and money received from deliveries.
  • Read maps and follow written or verbal geographic directions.
  • Verify the contents of inventory loads against shipping papers.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Delivery Drivers inspect and maintain vehicle supplies and equipment, such as gas, oil, water, tires, lights, or brakes, to ensure that vehicles are in proper working condition. They obey traffic laws and follow established traffic and transportation procedures.

A typical day for a Light Truck or Delivery Services Driver will also include:

  • Maintain records, such as vehicle logs, records of cargo, or billing statements, in accordance with regulations.
  • Drive vehicles with capacities under three tons to transport materials to and from specified destinations, such as railroad stations, plants, residences, offices, or within industrial yards.
  • Load and unload trucks, vans, or automobiles.
  • Turn in receipts and money received from deliveries.
  • Verify the contents of inventory loads against shipping papers.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Delivery Drivers also sell products from truck inventory and keep records of sales. They may also use and maintain the tools or equipment found on commercial vehicles, such as weighing or measuring devices.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Delivery Drivers turn in receipts and money received from deliveries. They might also present bills and receipts and collect payments for goods delivered or loaded.

In addition, they perform emergency repairs, such as changing tires or installing light bulbs, fuses, tire chains, or spark plugs.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them inspect and maintain vehicle supplies and equipment, such as gas, oil, water, tires, lights, or brakes, to ensure that vehicles are in proper working condition.

To some Delivery Drivers, it is also their responsibility to report delays, accidents, or other traffic and transportation situations to bases or other vehicles, using telephones or mobile two-way radios.

What is the job like

Job satisfaction

Low

Is this job meaningful

Low

58% said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they found their job meaningful.


Andy Griffith

What does your typical day at work look like?

  • Sorting the goods based on my delivery locations.
  • Loading them to my van and delivering them.

Pros

  • Meeting new people is an excitement
  • Getting connected to people with a good reputation
  • Work is easier to learn
  • Able to understand the value of time

Cons

  • Losing or damaging goods might cause a serious problem
  • Work strains the body a lot
  • Few people would show an unpleasant and rough attitude

Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.

This career is perfect for people who love to work outdoors.

It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for this career.

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.

One of the lowest paying jobs.

Long working hours (More than 40 hours per week).

How much do they make

Average salary

$41050 per year

Average hourly wage

$20 per hour

Entry-level Delivery Drivers with little to no experience can expect to make anywhere between $22,470 to $27,580 per year or $11 to $13 per hour.

Salary by experience Annual Hourly
Highest (Top 10%) $70,080 $34
Senior (Top 25%) $50,850 $24
Median $37,050 $18
Junior (Bottom 25%) $27,580 $13
No experience (Bottom 10%) $22,470 $11

This table shows the top 10 highest paying industries for Delivery Drivers based on their average annual salary.

Salary by industry Annual Hourly
Motion Picture and Video Industries $67350 $32.38
Natural Gas Distribution $66760 $32.10
Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution $60500 $29.09
Postal Service (Federal Government) $57160 $27.48
Couriers and Express Delivery Services $56520 $27.17
Telecommunications $53790 $25.86
Support Activities for Water Transportation $50780 $24.42
Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel $48980 $23.55
Warehousing and Storage $48840 $23.48
Insurance Carriers $48530 $23.33

View more salary by industries here.

Where can they work

Where can Delivery Drivers work? Here is a table showing the top 10 largest employers of Delivery Drivers including the average salary in that industry.

Employers Total Employed Annual Salary Hourly Wages
Couriers and Express Delivery Services 213170 $56520 $27.17
Local Messengers and Local Delivery 72690 $41840 $20.11
Automotive Parts, Accessories, and Tire Stores 67670 $26460 $12.72
Truck Transportation 54950 $44180 $21.24
Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods 42540 $39320 $18.90
Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods 33710 $37690 $18.12
Motor Vehicle and Motor Vehicle Parts and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers 30940 $32260 $15.51
Building Material and Supplies Dealers 26520 $36380 $17.49
Automobile Dealers 25700 $29230 $14.05
Restaurants and Other Eating Places 22320 $27970 $13.45

What is the work day like

Working hours

Less than 40 hours
20%

40 hours
39%

More than 40 hours
42%

Working schedule

68%

32%

0%

Email

How often do you use email in this job?

Once a week
0%

Every day
31%

Telephone

How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?

Once a week
12%

Every day
48%

Group discussions

How often do you have group discussions in this job?

Once a week
9%

Every day
67%

Public speaking

How often does this job require you to do public speaking?

Never
78%

Once a year
12%

Once a month
1%

Once a week
9%

Every day
0%

Level of competition

How much competitive pressure is in this job?

Not competitive at all
12%

Slightly competitive
12%

Moderately competitive
22%

Highly competitive
38%

Extremely competitive
15%

What is the work environment like

Office-style environment

Indoors in an environmentally controlled condition

Never
61%

Once a year or more
6%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
18%

Every day
15%

Warehouse-style environment

Indoors in a non-controlled environmental condition such as a warehouse

Never
56%

Once a year or more
5%

Once a month or more
0%

Once a week or more
21%

Every day
18%

Outdoors

Outdoors exposed to all weather conditions

Never
7%

Once a year or more
14%

Once a month or more
4%

Once a week or more
14%

Every day
61%

Outdoors – Under Cover

Outdoors but under cover (e.g. structure with roof but no walls)

Never
53%

Once a year or more
15%

Once a month or more
12%

Once a week or more
5%

Every day
15%

How to become one

Difficulty to become one

Easy
You may need some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience. Most careers in this difficulty category usually don’t require a degree. However, you will need a few months of on-the-job training with experienced employees. Similar careers include Customer Service Representatives, Security Guards, and Bank Tellers.

Required level of education

What level of education do you need to perform the job?

Less than a High School Diploma
23%

High School Diploma or equivalent
75%

Post-Secondary Certificate
0%

Some College Courses
3%

Associate’s Degree or similar
0%

Bachelor’s Degree
0%

Post-Baccalaureate Certificate
0%

Master’s Degree
0%

Post-Master’s Certificate
0%

First Professional Degree
0%

Doctoral Degree
0%

Post-Doctoral Training
0%

Relevant majors

Truck and Bus Driver/Commercial Vehicle Operator and Instructor

A program that prepares individuals to apply technical knowledge and skills to drive trucks and buses, delivery vehicles, for-hire vehicles and other commercial vehicles, or to instruct commerical vehicle operators. Includes instruction in operating gas, diesel, or electrically-powered vehicles; loading and unloading cargo or passengers; reporting delays or accidents on the road; verifying load against shipping papers; arranging transportation for personnel; and keeping records of receipts and fares.

Relevant work experience

How much related work experience do you need to get hired for the job?

None
39%

1 month
0%

1 to 3 months
21%

3 to 6 months
6%

6 months to 1 year
2%

1 to 2 years
32%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 6 years
0%

6 to 8 years
0%

8 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

On The Job Training

How much on the job training do you need to perform the job?

None or short demonstration
19%

1 month
51%

1 to 3 months
15%

3 to 6 months
11%

6 months to 1 year
6%

1 to 2 years
0%

2 to 4 years
0%

4 to 10 years
0%

Over 10 years
0%

Should you become one

Best personality type for this career

The Builder

People with this personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

The Builder
100%

People with The Builder personality type likes practical and hands-on work. They prefer working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


The Thinker
38%

People with The Thinker personality likes to work with ideas that require an extensive amount of thinking. They prefer work that requires them to solve problems mentally.


The Artist
14%

People with The Artist personality likes to work with designs and patterns. They prefer activities that require self-expression and prefer work that can be done without following a clear set of rules.


The Helper
14%

People with The Helper personality type likes to work with people and in teams. They prefer work that allows them to build relationships with others.


The Leader
43%

People with The Leader personality likes to start and work on projects. They also like leading people and making many decisions.


The Organizer
76%

People with The Organizer personality type likes to follow set procedures and routines. They prefer working with data and details more than with ideas.


You can read more about these career personality types here.

People who are suitable for this job tend to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery.

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

Take this quiz to see if this is the right career for you.

Work Values

Which values are the most important to a person’s satisfaction for this job?

Achievement
29%

You are someone who is results oriented. You prefer work that allows you to utilize your skills and abilities while at the same time giving you a sense of accomplishment.

Working Conditions
38%

You are someone who values job security, steady employment, and good working conditions. You also prefer work that keeps you busy all the time with something different to do every day.

Recognition
29%

You are someone who values job advancement and leadership roles. You prefer work that receives recognition for the work you do and jobs that are looked up to by others in the company and your community.

Relationships
33%

You are someone who likes to provide a service to others. You prefer a work environment where you can work with your co-workers in a friendly non-competitive environment.

Support
67%

You are someone who values a company that stands behind their employees. You prefer a work environment where everyone is treated fairly and is being supported by the company.

Independence
43%

You are someone who likes to work on your own and make your own decisions. You prefer work that requires little supervision and are allowed to try out your own ideas.

FAQ


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