Lorry Driver Job Description and Duties

Updated on: October 26, 2019
Job Description

If you are not one of those people who like being stuck in an office all day, lorry driving is for you.

As a lorry driver, you will get to drive around the city and the countryside, all in the name of work.

 

You will be working for companies that need their goods delivered to several destinations so you will be working for manufacturers, distributors or road haulage companies.

If you are worried about not getting enough sleep, well, most lorries have sleeping areas so you can take some time out and have a snooze.

Education and Skills

Lorry drivers are required to have good driving records and experience in handling trucks concerning maintenance and minor repairs. A high school diploma is sufficient for working as a lorry driver.

The best thing about working as a lorry driver is that you do not need to sit behind a desk and have a demanding boss breathing down your neck.

 

There are specific skills you need to have if you want to work as a lorry driver. Since you will be in contact with customers when you deliver goods at their destinations, you need to possess excellent communication skills.

Your time management skills must be good as well as you need to make sure that your deliveries are made on time.

See also: Bus Driver Resume

Lorry Driver Duties and Responsibilities

• Take orders for delivery including package type and destination.

• Assist in loading goods onto the lorry and placing them in proper locations.

• Stack boxes in an upright manner to ensure safety during transport.

• Make sure that all paperwork accompanying goods is complete.

• Record the amount of boxes loaded and their contents.

• Map the best possible routes before setting out.

• Drive lorry on preset routes using navigations systems such as the GPS.

• Fill up the lorry with fuel before setting out on a route.

• Maintain knowledge of local and interstate routes.

• Monitor road, traffic, and weather conditions and take alternate routes where required.

• Deliver goods to their destinations and take customers’ signatures on receipts.

• Inform the origin of delivery status and any additional information such as customer complaints.

• Perform preventative and regular maintenance on lorries and ensure that vehicle fluid is sufficient.

• Report any serious mechanical problems to the concerned individual within the company.

• Clean and polish lorries and ensure that everything is in good working order.

• Store lorry cleaning and maintenance equipment and tools in a safe place.