Whether you’re looking for a full-time job or something that you can do on the side to make a little extra money, there has never been a better time to become a delivery driver. With demand at an all-time high and no shortages of jobs, find out how you can become a delivery driver in just five simple steps.
Step 1: Decide what type of delivery driver you want to be
There are so many different types of delivery drivers, so you need to carefully consider which one is best for you and your skill set. For example, if you want to work alone, you may be more suited to food, clothing, and gift deliveries. Or if you don’t mind working with someone else, you might want to consider large loads or more complex deliveries.
You also need to think about whether you want to work independently or if you would rather work for a company.
Step 2: Ensure you have the right skillset
Before you make any hard and fast decisions about becoming a delivery driver, it can first be a good idea to see if you’re the right type of person for the job. As a general rule, delivery drivers need to have the following skills and expertise:
- A clean driving record
- A good knowledge of transport and local roads
- Customer service skills
- Concentration skills
- Navigational skills
- Organizational skills
- Time management skills
- A good level of physical fitness
- The ability to work to tight deadlines
- The ability to work well under pressure
- A willingness to work long hours
Step 3: Pick where you want to work
As mentioned briefly above, you can either choose to work for a company such as a food retailer, courier service, or freight firm, or you can decide to become self-employed. You could also choose to sign up to an agency if you’d like to find temporary work.
If you choose to work for a company, you won’t have to source jobs yourself, but your earning potential may be less. However, if you choose to work for yourself, you’ll have to find your own work on load boards such as Shiply, but there’s better scope to earn more money.
Step 4: Think about how much you want to earn
A delivery driver’s salary depends on several factors such as their experience, location, shift times, where and what they want to deliver, and whether they’re self-employed, employed, or freelance. The more experience and expertise you have, the higher a wage you can command, so you may have to start on a lower salary if you’re new to the business.
Step 5: Find jobs
The last step is to find delivery jobs. You can choose to either apply for jobs directly via recruitment sites or you could advertise your services online and on social media.
Make sure you specify what type of delivery work you’re looking for, such as food delivery driving, light delivery driving, long-distance delivery driving, or mail delivery driving, and be clear about how far you’re willing to travel.
