Delivery van driver
Van driver, multi-drop driver
Delivery van drivers collect a wide range of items and deliver them to customers.
Salary range: £14,000 to £27,000
How to become a delivery van driver
You can get into this job through:
- an apprenticeship
- applying directly
Apprenticeship
You may be able to start in this job through an intermediate apprenticeship as an express delivery operative with a delivery company.
This apprenticeship will take a minimum of 12 months to complete.
Entry requirements
You’ll usually need:
- some GCSEs, usually including English and maths, or equivalent, for an intermediate apprenticeship
More information
Direct application
You could apply directly to work as a delivery driver. Employers will expect you to have:
- basic English and maths skills
- a good driving record and the correct licence
More information
Career tips
Having experience in storage or warehousing could be useful.
Further information
You can find out more about careers in parcel delivery from the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.
What it takes
Skills and knowledge
You’ll need:
- the ability to work well with others
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- customer service skills
- patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- sensitivity and understanding
- knowledge of transport methods, costs and benefits
- excellent verbal communication skills
- to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device
Restrictions and requirements
You’ll need to:
- have a full driving licence
You’ll need a licence for the type of vehicle you’ll be driving and a good driving record. Your employer may supply you with a delivery van, but if you’re self-employed you’ll need your own vehicle.
What you’ll do
Day-to-day tasks
Your day-to-day tasks may include:
- collecting goods from a depot, warehouse or pick-up point
- loading the vehicle in an order that matches the deliveries you’ll make
- planning the route
- greeting customers, getting signatures and giving invoices when you deliver
- recording mileage and fuel you buy
- updating delivery records
- returning undelivered items
Working environment
You could work from a vehicle.
You may need to wear a uniform.
Career path and progression
With experience, you could complete training for a large goods vehicle (LGV) licence for opportunities in freight transport and tanker driving.
If you take specialist training, like defensive driving and personal security, you could drive vehicles containing cash and valuable items. You’d also usually need a Security Industry Association (SIA) licence for this.