Light Truck or Delivery Service Driver Career
This job involves picking up, transporting, and dropping off small shipments in your local area. You’ll drive a truck with a gross vehicle weight of 26,000 pounds or less.
Generally, you’ll transport packages or merchandise from distribution centers to households and businesses, or from one business to another. You may work for any of a wide range of businesses; the top industries are courier and express delivery services, automotive suppliers, grocery wholesalers, general freight truckers, and restaurants. You could also work for a messenger service, a florist, or a rental business.
Light Truck or Delivery Service Driver Career Snapshot
This job is physically demanding, with lots of lifting, carrying and walking. Careful driving is essential, and driving for long periods can be tiring. Hours vary but usually you’ll work a specific shift during the daytime, sometimes with a certain geographical area to cover.
Further details on a career as a light truck or delivery service driver are listed below (statistics from the May 2015 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Onet Online):
is the average yearly salary for light truck or delivery service drivers.
increase in employment between 2014 and 2024.
have a High school diploma or equivalent while 23% have less than a High school diploma.
Education
About three-quarters of employers require a high school diploma or equivalent, though there may be opportunities if you don’t have one. There will be a month or less of on-the-job training. A commercial driver’s license is not required, but you must have a regular driver’s license from your state and a clean driving record.
Salaries
In 2015, the median annual pay for a light truck or delivery driver was $29,850 according to the BLS.gov data. The salary range was very wide, from $19,200 to $60,630. Salaries varied by area, with the highest salaries in Alaska, the west, the northeast, the mountain states, and the north.
Job Duties
At the beginning of your shift, the dispatcher will give you a schedule of pickups and deliveries. You may load or unload shipments, with or without help. Delivery payment arrangements vary, and payments may be made directly to you. At the end of your shift you’ll turn in receipts, any money received, and a pickup and delivery record; you’ll also report any vehicle maintenance issues.
Job Outlook
Employment of delivery truck drivers is expected to grow 3 to 4 percent by 2024. This is slower than the average growth for all occupations, but demand should grow as e-commerce transactions continue to increase.
Light Truck or Delivery Service Driver Skills & Traits
| Skill Set: | Required Abilities: | Tools Used: | Typical Work Activities: |
|---|---|---|---|
| • Operation & Control • Active Listening • Speaking • Monitoring • Reading Comprehension | • Far Vision • Multilimb Coordination • Spatial Orientation • Static Strength • Near Vision | • Delivery Trucks • Forklifts • Satellite Linkup Systems • Global Positioning System (GPS) Receivers • Electronic Clipboards | • Operating Vehicles or Equipment • Getting Information • Handling & Moving Objects • Communicating with Others • Identifying Objects, Actions, Events |
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