how to become a truck driver

How to Get a Job as a Delivery Driver

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Not everyone is cut out for working inside an office or retail store for eight or more hours a day. Many prefer the thrill of being out on the open road, seeing new places and meeting new people. If this sounds familiar, you may consider a career path as a delivery driver. You can work for companies, ranging from your local florist to a Fortune 500 delivery service. You can also work independently by starting your own delivery company. Either way, here are the steps you need to take to become a delivery driver.

Decide if the Job Is Right for You

Before starting any job, it's important to take a look at what a person in that position does to ensure you're making the right decision. No one wants to get stuck doing something they hate. A typical delivery driver doesn't just drive around listening to the radio all day. He or she must load and unload trucks, navigate various weather conditions, record delivery data, know how to handle specialized products (like food) and troubleshoot when customers receive the wrong or damaged packages. It's also important to know that the average income for a delivery driver is just under $30,000 as of 2017.

Work on Sharpening Your Skills

Just like with any job, you need to possess certain skills to become a delivery driver. If these skills don't come naturally to you, you may need to practice before you seek out a job. They include:

Driving skills: You'll need to know how to drive a large vehicle safely in any conditions, including heavy traffic and bad weather. Time management skills: When you have packages to deliver, you generally have a schedule to adhere to. That means managing your breaks, taking the quickest routes and moving quickly from destination to destination. Customer service skills: Just because you aren't working directly with customers, it doesn't mean you won't have customer encounters. You're also in charge of making sure a person's product arrives in good condition.

Graduate High School

There are no specific educational requirements to become a delivery driver, but many companies who hire delivery drivers require you have a high school diploma or the equivalent document. If you want some additional training, consider taking business classes in school to get a better understanding of how your company works. You may also want to take a driver's education course to beef up your abilities out on the road.

Make Sure You Have the Right Licensing

Depending on what you plan to deliver and what vehicle that requires, you may need some licensing before you can begin your job. Of course, at the very least, you'll need a driver's license that's valid and not expired. If you plan to drive a truck, you may need to obtain a CDL license. Check with your state for CDL license requirements, as well as the company where you plan to work to see what it requires you have when you start.

Look for an Entry-Level Job

Even if you plan to start your own delivery service on day, you can gain some experience and determine whether or not you like being a delivery driver by starting out at an entry-level job. It can be a local company, like a pizza place or a restaurant, or it can be one of the big names in delivery, like UPS or FedEx. In many cases, if you stick it out, you can work your way up to become a trainer or supervisor.

Pass Background and Drug Tests

Once a company hires you, it'll most likely require you to pass a background check and drug test. It may also check your previous driving record. This ensures you can be trusted driving a company vehicle without incident. If you know you can't pass any of these, take some time and do what's necessary to clean them up.

how to become a truck driver

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