What Do Delivery Drivers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Delivery Drivers drive a light vehicle, such as a truck or van, with a capacity of less than 26,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), primarily to deliver or pick up merchandise or to deliver packages. May load and unload vehicle. They also obey traffic laws and follow established traffic and transportation procedures.

Other tasks include:

• 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.
• Load and unload trucks, vans, or automobiles.
• 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.
• Maintain records, such as vehicle logs, records of cargo, or billing statements, in accordance with regulations.

We asked Delivery Drivers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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58% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

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.

We asked some Delivery Drivers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	48% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	40% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	67% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	59% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	12% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	68% said yes

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.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Light Truck or Delivery Services Driver, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends 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.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/transportation-and-material-moving/delivery-truck-drivers-and-driver-sales-workers.htm

http://www.trucking.org/

http://www.ptdi.org/