Do you enjoy driving on the open road? If so, a career as a delivery driver might be right up your street. Read on to find out exactly what this job entails.

What does it involve?
As the name suggests, the primary function of a delivery driver is to get a delivery from A to B. Just what you're transporting can vary massively, with drivers required to transport everything from Christmas presents to industrial equipment. 

This variety means delivery drivers can work for a wide range of employers. For example, some companies employ their own permanent drivers, while others outsource the work to specialist delivery companies. Drivers can be required to use a number of different sized vehicles, ranging from a small van to a 7.5-tonne lorry.

Typical duties carried out in delivery driver jobs include :
- Collecting goods from one specified location to another
- Ensuring deliveries are signed for
- Updating delivery records
- Loading and unloading items
- Route planning and fuel management 
- Carrying out vehicle checks
- Dealing with customer complaints

What skills and experience are required?
So what are the requirements to pursue a career as a delivery driver? You'll obviously need a valid driving license and employers prefer your record to be completely clean. Depending on the type of vehicle you want to drive and when you passed your driving test, you may need more advanced qualifications.

For example, if you got your licence before 1997 you can drive vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes without any additional requirements. However, if you passed your test after this point, you can only drive vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes. To drive anything above this, you'll need to complete the necessary training to earn a category C1 licence. Any delivery driver also needs a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence, which can be earned independently, but the necessary training is often provided by employers.

Being able to drive isn't the only skill that's required, however. Other useful attributes include :
- Good eyesight 
- Basic English and maths skills
- Good organisational skills and time management
- Attention to detail
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Good road knowledge 
- Ability to fill in paperwork accurately

In terms of experience, any driving done in a professional capacity is a massive bonus, as this instantly demonstrates you're likely to have what it takes. Previous experience working in a customer-facing job is also useful.

What are the pay and conditions like?
As you can probably imagine, 90 per cent of a delivery driver's time is spent on the road, so you'll need to be happy driving for long periods and in all conditions. You'll often be driving alone, so you'll need to be comfortable with this too. Drivers can be required to work at all times of the day, although there is a legal limit on how many hours should be driven in one day depending on the type of vehicle you're using. Some positions may also require you to wear a uniform.

In terms of pay, the average salary is generally somewhere around the £17,000 to £20,000 per year mark, although there is considerable scope for variation, both above and below this threshold. Some positions may offer additional bonuses for meeting targets and good performance.

What should I do next?
Think you've got what it takes to become a delivery driver? Unity Recruitment are here to help, we often have a range of delivery positions and other commercial jobs on offer and are happy to provide any advice you might need about embarking on this career path. Get in touch today to find out more.