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Delivery Driver

Kaitaraiwa Waka Whakarato

Delivery drivers distribute and may sell products to commercial and home delivery customers.

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Secondary education

A minimum of three years of secondary education is recommended. Useful subjects include maths and English.

Study fields

Study levels

  • Up to NCEA Level 3

Useful experience

Useful experience for delivery drivers includes:

  • work with people
  • sales work
  • hospitality work
  • any driving work
  • banking and cash-handling.

What you will do

Delivery drivers may do some or all of the following:

  • plan their daily delivery route
  • load and unload stock on trucks or vans
  • deliver goods driving trucks or vans
  • receive payments for deliveries and arrange and document accounts
  • interact with customers
  • stocktake and order new supplies
  • implement marketing strategies and promotions
  • hire, train and work with staff
  • keep their trucks or vans up to required standards.

Skills and knowledge

Delivery drivers need to have:

  • driving skills
  • knowledge of the streets in their delivery area
  • good customer service skills
  • knowledge of any products they sell
  • awareness of relevant health and safety, and transport regulations.
Pay

Delivery drivers usually earn

$23-$25

per hour

Job opportunities
Good
Chances of getting a job as a delivery driver are good because turnover is high and the occupation is growing.

Industry

Transport and Logistics

Delivery drivers distribute and may sell products to commercial and home delivery customers.

Similar jobs in this industry

Entry requirements

To become a delivery driver you need a full driver's licence.

You may also need:

  • a Class 2, 3, 4 or 5 driver's licence, depending on the size of your vehicle
  • a transport service licence
  • to pass a pre-employment drugs test
  • a dangerous goods (D) endorsement, if you are carrying dangerous goods
  • a forklift licence and experience with a crane fitted to a truck.

Chances of getting a job

Delivery driving a growing occupation

Demand for delivery drivers is growing because:

  • people can see the role as temporary and often leave it after a short time
  • increasing demand in a range of industries – for example, groceries bought online, and delivery services like delivereasy and Uber Eats.

According to the Census, 5,538 delivery drivers worked in New Zealand in 2018.

Types of employers varied

Delivery drivers work in a range of industries, including:

  • takeaway food services
  • road freight transport
  • postal services
  • laundry and dry-cleaning services
  • courier pick-up
  • delivery services
  • grocery wholesaling
  • pharmaceutical, cosmetic and toiletry goods retailing
  • newspaper publishing
  • hardware and building supplies retailing.

Find out more about training

MITO
0800 882121 - info@mito.org.nz - www.mito.org.nz

Progression and specialisations

Delivery drivers may progress to set up their own distribution business.

They can also move into other roles in the transport and delivery industry such as heavy truck driver or courier.

Working conditions

Delivery drivers:

  • work long hours, including early mornings, late nights and weekends
  • work in their own delivery area, which can include city and suburban streets
  • spend a lot of time driving and may work in refrigerated conditions at their depots.

Physical Requirements

Delivery drivers need to be reasonably fit, healthy and strong as their work involves a lot of physical activity such as heavy lifting.

Useful personal qualities

Delivery drivers need to be:

  • organised
  • good at planning
  • reliable and responsible
  • adaptable
  • strong communicators
  • patient.

Industry

Transport and Logistics

Delivery drivers distribute and may sell products to commercial and home delivery customers.

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