Delivery Driver Job Descriptions, Average Salary, Interview Questions

What Does a Delivery Driver Do?

Do you enjoy being on the road? Can you work with customers as well as organize your workload? A delivery driver transports and handles goods by delivery vehicle and is responsible for delivering them on time and in good condition. 

The duties and responsibilities of a delivery driver are to deliver items safely and quickly. A successful driver must stick to a schedule and be on time, which requires organization and time management skills. They must load and unload the goods they are transporting while being careful not to damage them. Strong communication and problem-solving skills are vital to being successful as well. 

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National Average Salary

Delivery driver salaries vary by experience, industry, organization size, and geography. To explore salary ranges by local market, please visit our sister site zengig.com.

The average U.S. salary for a Delivery Driver is:

$42,790

Delivery Driver Job Descriptions

The first step when hiring a great delivery driver is a well-crafted job description. Below are real-world examples to help give you the best chance of success on your recruiting journey.

Example 1

We are looking for an energetic and enthusiastic delivery driver to operate vehicles and cargo for our company. As a driver, you must have a clean and safe driving record, follow all laws, and communicate with our company. We offer employee benefits, fully equipped trucks, and more! As a part of our company, you will represent our brand, and we are looking for someone that values customer service and prioritizes safety. 

Typical duties and responsibilities

  • Transport various types of items to different locations and addresses
  • Stick to a schedule and ensure timely completion
  • Load/unload trucks   
  • Inspect, maintain, service, and repair your vehicle
  • Maintain various logs
  • Follow road laws and regulations
  • Track shipments and deliveries
  • Obtain customer signatures
  • Communicate with other drivers and team members while making deliveries
  • Meet delivery deadlines
  • Complete basic vehicle maintenance

Education and experience

  • High school diploma or general education diploma (GED)
  • Driver’s license 
  • No experience is required unless you are looking for a delivery manager position or senior delivery role

Required skills and qualifications

  • Ability to work well under pressure and in unfavorable conditions
  • Ability to work as part of a team 
  • Excellent communication skills
  • Organization and time management skills
  • Familiarity with the routes
  • Being timely without recklessly driving
  • Good physical condition and health 
  • Attention to detail
  • Ability to problem solve

Preferred qualifications

  • Driver Certification of Professional Competence (CPC)
  • Three to five years of driving experience

Example 2

This position requires lifting and loading cases ranging from 20-45 pounds repeatedly during work hours and pushing/pulling using from 40-150 pounds of force, occasionally. It also requires reaching, squatting and bending while delivering and merchandising products in the store. Unloads pallets of product from the delivery vehicle with an electronic pallet jack or 2 wheel hand truck, and puts the product in a designated area in the stores’ backroom

Primary accountabilities

  • Deliver product and execute all promotions
  • Service all scheduled customers by the end of shift
  • Merchandise all accounts to local standards
  • Establish positive working relationships with primary contact at each account

Basic qualifications

  • 21 years or older
  • Pass the DOT drug test and DOT Physical
  • Valid class A CDL license

Helpful experience

  • Operating trucks requiring a CDL license (for example, performing basic functions like driving forwards, driving backwards, or maneuvering in tight spaces)
  • Adhering to all DOT regulations (for example, reading and comprehending documentation or maintaining current documentation such as medical cards)
  • Merchandising products (for example, filling shelves, building displays, making products look attractive on shelves, rotating product, cleaning shelves, or eliminating out of stocks and out of date products)
  • Using equipment to aid in hauling loads (for example, operating pallet jacks, using dock plates, or using load bars and straps)
  • Operating equipment (pallet jacks, lift gates on trailers, hand trucks, breakdowns, etc.)
  • Documenting DOT regulations (for example, reading and comprehending documentation or maintaining current documentation such as medical cards)

Example 3

Essential duties and responsibilities

  • Make safe and efficient deliveries from store location to customers within trade area
  • Make on-time deliveries within a set delivery time window, arrive at the first time and depart by the second time (large orders may require an earlier arrival time)
  • Provide friendly service and the highest level of hospitality to our customers, including answering customer questions and retrieving payment as needed
  • Responsible for the buffet set up at the client location according to standards or customer request
  • Ensure a high quality and accuracy of the food order using the checklist and observation, starting at the restaurant through the delivery
  • At the restaurant; check and validate the order with the check list, including temperature (150 degrees minimum), check the cleanliness of the transportation equipment
  • Load all delivery orders, up to 50 pounds, in the delivery vehicle
  • Take part in local store marketing efforts, including flyer handout, buzz squad marketing, menu and promotional informational drop off at the delivery site, and quality business card collection directed by your COS
  • Miscellaneous tasks at the restaurant as needed
  • Primary Tasks are Catering related
  • Cleaning delivery equipment
  • Inventory catering shelf
  • Assemble boxes with set ups of 15 and 25
  • Enter leads into computer system

Job qualifications

  • All drivers must be 18 years of age
  • Need access to reliable transportation to make deliveries
  • Own or be willing to purchase a working cell phone
  • Must be able to pass the Motor Vehicle Check requirements
  • Posses a valid drivers license and proof of insurance
  • Need to be able to work a flexible schedule
  • Must be able to lift up to 70 pounds to shoulder level

Relationships

Interacts daily with external guests as well as working alongside management teams and team members. Frequent contact with Catering Operations Supervisor, Area Manager, Director of Operations, Account Consultant, and various field support and support center personnel.

Example 4

Entry level store position capable of supporting delivery of parts to commercial customers. The role has the responsibility to deliver parts to our commercial customers and assist with task and inventory processes in the store. This position can be part time or full time and must be fleet safety certified.

Primary responsibilities

  • Safely deliver parts to customers as needed
  • Pick and stage parts for customer orders
  • Pick up returns and cores
  • Drop off weekly/monthly sales flyer
  • Daily collection of credit accounts

Secondary responsibilities

  • Store Cleanliness including floors, bathrooms, facing, dusting, parking lot, etc.
  • General stocking including truck stocking and back stock

Success factors

  • Basic driving and navigation ability
  • Ability to use delivery board system
  • Friendly communication
  • Ability to locate and stock parts
  • Safety knowledge and skills
  • Operating inventory systems (Back stock) and store equipment

Essential job skills necessary for success

  • Communicate effectively and build strong relationships with customers, peers, and management
  • Read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, parts catalogs, and procedure manuals
  • Use basic math accurately: add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals
  • Ability to work an assortment of days, evenings, and weekends as needed

Candidate Certifications to Look For

  • Commercial Driver License (CDL). The Commercial Driver’s License is a form of driver’s license that is required to operate large or heavy vehicles for commercial purposes. The requirements to obtain a commercial driver’s license are to have a valid driver’s license, be at least 21 years old, have two or more years of driving experience, pass background screenings, and be able to operate commercial vehicles. On average, candidates can expect to pay between $1,000 to $8,000 for a truck driver training course that prepares them for their CDL test. 
  • OSHA Safety Certification. The OSHA Safety Certification is a certificate that proves candidates have knowledge on safety topics and practices in the workplace. This means that they know how to practice safety in the workplace and can prevent injuries. An OSHA 10 card means candidates completed 10 hours of OSHA training, but most employers for delivery drivers are looking for an OSHA 30 card, which requires 30 hours of training. 
  • EPA Amusement Operators Safety Certification. The Environmental Protection Agency’s Operator Certification is an equipment safety program to assess risk and prevent potential issues which can be avoided. 

Sample Interview Questions

  • Why do you want to work as a delivery driver?
  • Tell us about your driving experience and history. 
  • Do you have a clean driving record?
  • What delivery experience do you have? 
  • Are you comfortable with driving for several hours at a time? 
  • Will you be able to work in the snow, wind, and rain? 
  • What would you do if you got into an accident while driving for us? 
  • Are you physically capable of lifting heavy amounts of weight? 
  • If your delivery requires a signature and the signee is not available at the delivery time, what would you do? 
  • Are you familiar with the services we provide and the products we sell? 
  • How do you prioritize your workload for the day?

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