Delivery Driver Kaitaraiwa Waka Whakarato

Delivery drivers distribute and may sell products to commercial and home delivery customers.

Delivery drivers may do some or all of the following:

  • plan their daily delivery route
  • load and unload stock on trucks or vans
  • deliver goods driving trucks or vans
  • receive payments for deliveries and arrange and document accounts
  • interact with customers
  • stocktake and order new supplies
  • implement marketing strategies and promotions
  • hire, train and work with staff
  • keep their trucks or vans up to required standards.

Physical Requirements

Delivery drivers need to be reasonably fit, healthy and strong as their work involves a lot of physical activity such as heavy lifting.

Useful Experience

Useful experience for delivery drivers includes:

  • work with people
  • sales work
  • hospitality work
  • any driving work
  • banking and cash-handling.

Personal Qualities

Delivery drivers need to be:

  • organised
  • good at planning
  • reliable and responsible
  • adaptable
  • strong communicators
  • patient.

Skills

Delivery drivers need to have:

  • driving skills
  • knowledge of the streets in their delivery area
  • good customer service skills
  • knowledge of any products they sell
  • awareness of relevant health and safety, and transport regulations.

Conditions

Delivery drivers:

  • work long hours, including early mornings, late nights and weekends
  • work in their own delivery area, which can include city and suburban streets
  • spend a lot of time driving and may work in refrigerated conditions at their depots.

Subject Recommendations

A minimum of three years of secondary education is recommended. Useful subjects include maths and English.

Related Subjects

Delivery Drivers can earn around $23-$25 per hour.

Pay for delivery drivers varies depending on the type of licence they hold and the size, location, customer base, and success of the business they work for.

Delivery drivers usually earn between minimum wage and $25 an hour.

Some delivery drivers are paid per delivery and may be paid a retainer if they earn below a certain amount.

Source: Enterprise Recruitment and delivereasy, 2018.

Delivery drivers may progress to set up their own distribution business.

They can also move into other roles in the transport and delivery industry such as heavy truck driver or courier.

Years Of Training

To become a delivery driver you need a full driver's licence.

You may also need:

  • a Class 2, 3, 4 or 5 driver's licence, depending on the size of your vehicle
  • a transport service licence
  • to pass a pre-employment drugs test
  • a dangerous goods (D) endorsement, if you are carrying dangerous goods
  • a forklift licence and experience with a crane fitted to a truck.
Delivery Driver