A delivery driver moves goods from a warehouse, store or restaurant to customers’ homes and businesses. It is a steady, in-demand job with a short training period, and many employers hire with only a high school diploma and a clean driving record.
This guide explains what delivery drivers do each shift, the skills and requirements employers expect, what the work is like, what they earn and how to become one in the United States.
All numbers come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and ONET unless noted.
The BLS covers this job as delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers, and ONET lists Delivery Driver as a job title for light truck drivers, so both are used and labeled.
Quick jump: Daily dutiesSkillsRequirementsQualificationsWork environmentSalaryOutlookCareer pathHow to becomeJob facts
Delivery Driver Daily Duties and Responsibilities
Duties change by employer and route, but most shifts follow the same flow: inspect, load, drive, deliver and record.
| Part of the day | Typical duties |
|---|---|
| Start of shift | Inspect the vehicle, check supplies and report any mechanical problems |
| Loading | Verify the load against shipping papers and load the truck, van or car |
| Route | Read maps or follow directions and drive safely, obeying traffic laws |
| Deliveries | Unload cargo, talk with customers and get delivery confirmations |
| Payments and paperwork | Present bills and receipts, collect payments and keep records |
| Problems | Report delays, accidents and mechanical issues to your base |
| End of shift | Turn in receipts and money, return the vehicle and report any damage |
Here is the full list of delivery driver duties and responsibilities, based on O*NET and the BLS:
| Duty | What it means on the job |
|---|---|
| Follow traffic laws | Obey traffic laws and transportation procedures |
| Inspect the vehicle | Inspect and maintain vehicle supplies and equipment and keep the truck and equipment clean |
| Report problems | Report mechanical problems, delays and accidents to your base |
| Check the load | Verify the inventory load contents against shipping papers |
| Load and unload | Load and unload trucks, vans or automobiles, which can involve heavy lifting and carrying |
| Navigate routes | Read maps and follow geographic directions |
| Drive the vehicle | Drive vehicles under three tons to transport materials (O*NET light truck drivers) |
| Serve customers | Talk with customers about pickup and delivery needs |
| Collect payments | Present bills and receipts and collect payments, and turn in receipts and money from deliveries |
| Keep records | Maintain records such as vehicle logs, billing statements and delivery confirmations |
| Measure and weigh | Use and maintain weighing or measuring devices when the job requires them |
| Handle emergencies | Perform emergency repairs, such as changing tires, when needed |
| Sell and recommend | Driver/sales workers also recommend products and seek new customers (BLS) |
Delivery Driver Skills
Employers look for safe driving, reliability and friendly customer service.
Hard skills
| Skill | How you use it |
|---|---|
| Safe driving | Following traffic laws and driving a van, car or light truck carefully |
| Route reading and navigation | Reading maps and following directions to reach each stop |
| Loading and securing cargo | Loading, unloading and checking loads against shipping papers |
| Payments and math | Making change and collecting payments accurately |
| Vehicle checks | Inspecting the vehicle and reporting mechanical problems |
| Basic software | Microsoft Outlook, Office and Excel, which O*NET lists as hot technologies, plus delivery apps |
Soft skills
| Quality | What the BLS and O*NET say |
|---|---|
| Customer-service skills | Deal with customers politely; 59% say dealing with external customers is extremely important (BLS, O*NET) |
| Patience | Stay calm in traffic and with customers (BLS) |
| Hand-eye coordination | Load and unload cargo and drive safely (BLS) |
| Math skills | Make change and handle payments (BLS) |
| Active listening and time management | O*NET lists both among the skills for this job |
| Sales skills | Driver/sales workers recommend products and seek new customers (BLS) |
O*NET also lists operation and control, operations monitoring, service orientation, social perceptiveness and critical thinking as skills.
Delivery Driver Position Requirements
| Requirement | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Education | Typically a high school diploma or equivalent, though some jobs exist without one |
| Training | 1 month or less of on-the-job training, often with a driver-mentor |
| License | A driver’s license from the state where you work and a clean driving record; the BLS page does not list a CDL or minimum age, so check each employer’s posting |
| Vision | You must pass a state vision test |
| Physical ability | Ability to lift, carry and walk while loading and unloading, and to drive for long periods |
| Schedule | Most work full time, and early morning, late night, weekend and holiday shifts are common |
Requirements vary by employer and state, so read each posting closely before you apply.
Delivery Driver Qualifications
Requirements are the minimum to apply. Qualifications are what make a candidate stand out.
| Qualification | What employers look for |
|---|---|
| Minimum qualifications | A valid state driver’s license, a clean driving record and the ability to lift and carry packages |
| Preferred education | A high school diploma or equivalent |
| Preferred experience | Prior delivery, courier, route or customer service experience |
| Local knowledge | Familiarity with local roads and routes |
| Tool skills | A smartphone and delivery or navigation apps, plus basic Microsoft Office for paperwork |
| Core abilities | Safe driving, reliability, customer service and time management |
Delivery Driver Work Environment
| Work condition | What light truck drivers report (O*NET) |
|---|---|
| Hours | 72% say a typical week is more than 40 hours |
| Vehicle | 85% say they work in an enclosed vehicle every day |
| Deadlines | 56% say they face strict deadlines every day |
| Customers | 59% say dealing with external customers or the public is extremely important |
| Difficult people | 11% deal with unpleasant or discourteous people every day |
| Injury risk | The BLS says light truck drivers have one of the highest injury and illness rates of all occupations |
| Shifts | Early morning, late night, weekend and holiday shifts are common (BLS) |
| Physical demands | Heavy lifting, carrying and walking during loading and unloading, plus long periods of driving (BLS) |
Most work full time, some work more than 40 hours a week, and early morning, late night, weekend and holiday shifts are common.
Where light truck drivers work
| Industry (light truck drivers) | Share of jobs | Median salary (May 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Couriers and messengers | 37% | $47,700 |
| Retail trade | 17% | $34,350 |
| Wholesale trade | 14% | $44,740 |
| Self-employed | 7% | Not reported |
Delivery Driver Salary
The BLS reports a May 2025 median salary of $43,950 a year ($21.13 an hour) for delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers combined, $44,860 for light truck drivers and $38,770 for driver/sales workers, compared with $50,980 for all occupations. Some workers earn tips, such as pizza delivery drivers, and driver/sales workers may earn commissions. Among light truck drivers, couriers and messengers have the highest median at $47,700.
| BLS measure (May 2025) | Amount |
|---|---|
| All delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers, median | $43,950 a year, $21.13 an hour |
| Light truck drivers, median | $44,860 a year |
| Light truck drivers, lowest 10% earned less than | $30,800 |
| Light truck drivers, highest 10% earned more than | $80,310 |
| Driver/sales workers, median | $38,770 a year |
| All occupations, median | $50,980 |
Your salary depends on your employer, industry, route, location and shift, and tips or commissions can add to it.
Delivery Driver Job Outlook
The BLS projects employment of delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers to grow 7% from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3% average for all occupations, adding about 103,000 jobs: 6% for light truck drivers (about 67,800 jobs) and 8% for driver/sales workers (about 35,200 jobs). About 152,700 openings are projected each year, mostly from workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force. Growth is tied to e-commerce, faster delivery expectations, local delivery and mobile ordering apps and steady business-to-business demand.
Delivery Driver Career Path
The BLS does not describe a standard career ladder for this job. Many delivery drivers move to larger routes, driver-trainer or dispatcher roles, or earn a commercial driver’s license (CDL) to drive heavy and tractor-trailer trucks. O*NET lists related titles such as route driver, package delivery driver and package car driver.
Driving experience also connects to other careers:
| Related job | Typical entry education | Median salary (May 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| Railroad workers | High school diploma or equivalent | $78,820 |
| Postal service workers | No formal credential | $59,880 |
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | Postsecondary nondegree award | $58,640 |
| Bus drivers | High school diploma or equivalent | $49,390 |
| Hand laborers and material movers | No formal credential | $38,220 |
How to Become a Delivery Driver
- Check the basics. You need a driver’s license from your state, a clean driving record and the ability to lift and carry packages.
- Pick your delivery type. Courier and parcel, food, retail, wholesale and route sales jobs all differ.
- Prepare for the vision test. The BLS says you must pass a state vision test.
- Learn on the job. Training is usually 1 month or less, often with a driver-mentor.
- Apply and show your strengths. Highlight safe driving, reliability and customer service.
Is this job right for you?
- Do you like being on the road instead of behind a desk?
- Can you drive safely for long periods?
- Are you comfortable lifting and carrying packages?
- Can you work early mornings, nights, weekends or holidays?
- Do you enjoy helping customers and meeting deadlines?
Delivery Driver Job Facts at a Glance
| Quick fact | What to know |
|---|---|
| What delivery drivers do | Load, drive and deliver goods to customers, collect payments and handle delivery paperwork |
| Median salary (May 2025) | $43,950 a year, or $21.13 an hour, for all delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers; $44,860 for light truck drivers (BLS) |
| Jobs in 2025 | About 1,511,400 |
| Job outlook, 2025 to 2035 | 7% growth, much faster than average; about 152,700 openings a year |
| Education | A high school diploma or equivalent is typical, though some jobs exist without one |
| Training | 1 month or less of on-the-job training, often with a driver-mentor |
| License | A driver’s license from the state where you work and a clean driving record |
| Work week | 72% work more than 40 hours a week (O*NET) |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a delivery driver do?
Delivery drivers load, drive and deliver goods to customers, collect payments and handle delivery paperwork. The BLS covers this work under delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers, and O*NET lists Delivery Driver as a job title for light truck drivers.
What are the main duties of a delivery driver?
Inspecting the vehicle, checking and loading cargo, driving the route safely, unloading, talking with customers, collecting payments, keeping records and reporting delays, accidents and mechanical problems.
What skills does a delivery driver need?
The BLS lists customer-service skills, hand-eye coordination, math skills, patience and passing a state vision test, plus sales skills for driver/sales workers. O*NET adds active listening, monitoring, reading comprehension and time management.
What education do you need to be a delivery driver?
A high school diploma or equivalent is typical, though some jobs exist without one, according to the BLS. Training is usually 1 month or less on the job.
Do delivery drivers need a CDL?
The BLS page for this job does not list a CDL requirement. It lists a driver’s license from the state where you work and a clean driving record. Some employers set their own rules, so check each posting.
How much do delivery drivers make?
The BLS reports a May 2025 median salary of $43,950 a year ($21.13 an hour) for delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers, $44,860 for light truck drivers and $38,770 for driver/sales workers. Some delivery drivers also earn tips, and sales workers may earn commissions.
Where do delivery drivers work?
Light truck drivers work mostly for couriers and messengers (37%), retail trade (17%) and wholesale trade (14%). Driver/sales workers work mostly in food services and drinking places (39%) and wholesale trade (25%), according to the BLS.
Is delivery driving dangerous?
It can be. The BLS says light truck drivers have one of the highest injury and illness rates of all occupations, and O*NET reports that 56% face strict deadlines every day.
Do delivery drivers work long hours?
Often. O*NET reports that 72% work more than 40 hours a week, and the BLS says early morning, late night, weekend and holiday shifts are common.
What is the job outlook for delivery drivers?
The BLS projects 7% growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the 3% average for all occupations, with about 152,700 openings a year. It points to e-commerce, faster delivery expectations, local delivery apps and steady business-to-business demand.
Conclusion
A delivery driver connects businesses with customers. With a driver’s license, a clean driving record, short on-the-job training and strong safety habits and customer service, you can start quickly and build from there. If you are ready to apply, use the resources below to prepare.
Related Reading
- Delivery driver cover letter sample
- Delivery driver cover letter with no experience
- Food delivery driver resume sample
- Driver cover letter sample
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers. O*NET OnLine, 53-3033.00 Light Truck Drivers. Requirements vary by employer and state; check the posting before you apply.