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Delivery van driver

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Transport, distribution and logistics
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Career outlook for delivery van driver

UK Salary Ranges

Entry-level

£16,500

Experienced

£27,000

Currently employed in Scotland

19,600

Salary information is provided by the "National Careers Service". "Oxford Economics" supplies job forecasts and employment figures. Due to COVID-19 the jobs market is constantly changing. Some of the information may not reflect the current situation.

What's it like?

As a delivery van driver, you'd play an important role getting goods to customers on time.

You could deliver a wide range of items, for example:

  • supermarket shopping orders
  • furniture
  • domestic appliances like washing machines and fridges
  • money, for example a company’s wages

You would:

  • collect goods from a depot, warehouse or pick-up point
  • load the vehicle in an order that matches the deliveries you'll make
  • plan the route to make sure you deliver everything on time
  • unload goods at the right addresses
  • get signatures for goods and give invoices when you deliver
  • update delivery records, often using a hand-held computer
  • return undelivered items to your base
  • record mileage and the fuel that you buy
  • complete record sheets and paperwork

Your vehicle could vary in size, depending on the load and your licence. Many vans are 3.5 tonnes or less, but you might also drive vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes.

If you work for a security firm and deliver valuables or cash, you'd drive a specially adapted van with a time-lock safe and other security features.

Working conditions

Hours

You'd usually work between 36 and 48 hours a week. Some companies offer overtime in the evenings and at weekends. For safety reasons, there are legal limits on drivers' hours, depending on the type of vehicle. For example, if your vehicle is over 3.5 tonnes, it will have a tachograph fitted. This records the number of hours that you drive, the speed and distances that you travel and the time that you spend loading and unloading.

Environment

You'd spend most of your time in your vehicle, but may be outdoors during loading and unloading.

Travel

On some jobs, you may have to spend nights away from home.

UK employment status

Full-time

58%

Part-time

33%

Self employed

9%

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Getting in

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Qualifications

There are no formal qualifications required for this role.

You will also need

A driving licence.

If you got your licence before 1 January 1997, you can drive vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes without a separate licence.

If you got your licence after 1 January 1997, you can drive vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes with your car licence. To drive vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes, you'll need further training to get a category C1 licence. You'll also need to complete a short course to get a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).

Helpful to have

You may need a satisfactory PVG (Protecting Vulnerable Groups) Disclosure check.