Light Truck Drivers

Drive a light vehicle, such as a truck or van, with a capacity of less than 26,001 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), primarily to pick up merchandise or packages from a distribution center and deliver. May load and unload vehicle.

On the job, you would:

Obey traffic laws and follow established traffic and transportation procedures.
Report any mechanical problems encountered with vehicles.
Verify the contents of inventory loads against shipping papers.

Important Qualities

Customer-service skills. When completing deliveries, drivers often interact with customers and should make a good impression to ensure repeat business.

Hand–eye coordination. Drivers need to observe their surroundings at all times while operating a vehicle.

Math skills. Because delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers sometimes take payment, they must be able to count cash and make change quickly and accurately.

Patience. When driving through heavy traffic congestion, delivery drivers must remain calm and composed.

Sales skills. Driver/sales workers are expected to persuade customers to purchase new or different products.

Visual ability. To have a driver’s license, delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers must be able to pass a state vision test.

Personality

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Characteristics of this Career
		81%	Self-Control - Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
		81%	Attention to Detail - Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
		79%	Dependability - Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
		75%	Integrity - Job requires being honest and ethical.
		72%	Stress Tolerance - Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
		69%	Cooperation - Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
		69%	Independence - Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.
		66%	Adaptability/Flexibility - Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
		60%	Analytical Thinking - Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
		60%	Initiative - Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
		57%	Concern for Others - Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
		54%	Social Orientation - Job requires preferring to work with others rather than alone, and being personally connected with others on the job.
		54%	Innovation - Job requires creativity and alternative thinking to develop new ideas for and answers to work-related problems.
		53%	Persistence - Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Strengths
		100%	Realistic - Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.
		72%	Conventional - Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Values of the Work Environment
		61%	Support - Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

Aptitude

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Abilities \| Cognitive, Physical, Personality
		66%	Far Vision - The ability to see details at a distance.
		66%	Multilimb Coordination - The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
		63%	Spatial Orientation - The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
		56%	Near Vision - The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
		56%	Problem Sensitivity - The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
		53%	Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
		53%	Oral Comprehension - The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
		53%	Reaction Time - The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
		53%	Static Strength - The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
		53%	Trunk Strength - The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
		53%	Stamina - The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
		53%	Oral Expression - The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
		53%	Deductive Reasoning - The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
		53%	Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Job Details

Responsibilities

Record sales or transactions data.

Sell products or services.

Follow safety procedures for vehicle operation.

Inspect motor vehicles.

Maintain vehicles in good working condition.

Report vehicle or equipment malfunctions.

Collect fares or payment from customers.

Load shipments, belongings, or materials.

Verify information or specifications.

Process customer bills or payments.

Record details of deliveries or shipments.

Read maps to determine routes.

Receive information or instructions for performing work assignments.

Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards.

Operate vehicles or material-moving equipment.

Drive trucks or truck-mounted equipment.

Maintain work equipment or machinery.

Maintain vehicles in good working condition.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Attributes & Percentage of Time Spent
		90%	In an Enclosed Vehicle or Equipment - How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or equipment (e.g., car)?
		89%	Contact With Others - How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
		84%	Importance of Being Exact or Accurate - How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
		81%	Telephone - How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
		80%	Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls - How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
		80%	Time Pressure - How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
		79%	Outdoors, Exposed to Weather - How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
		77%	Deal With External Customers - How important is it to work with external customers or the public in this job?
		75%	Frequency of Decision Making - How frequently is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
		71%	Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results - What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
		67%	Face-to-Face Discussions - How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?
		64%	Spend Time Sitting - How much does this job require sitting?
		62%	Very Hot or Cold Temperatures - How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
		62%	Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets - How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?
		62%	Work With Work Group or Team - How important is it to work with others in a group or team in this job?
		61%	Importance of Repeating Same Tasks - How important is repeating the same physical activities (e.g., key entry) or mental activities (e.g., checking entries in a ledger) over and over, without stopping, to performing this job?
		59%	Spend Time Walking and Running - How much does this job require walking and running?
		59%	Freedom to Make Decisions - How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
		58%	Responsibility for Outcomes and Results - How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
		57%	Electronic Mail - How often do you use electronic mail in this job?
		53%	Responsible for Others' Health and Safety - How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
		52%	Structured versus Unstructured Work - To what extent is this job structured for the worker, rather than allowing the worker to determine tasks, priorities, and goals?
		52%	Exposed to Contaminants - How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
		52%	Consequence of Error - How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not readily correctable?
		52%	Coordinate or Lead Others - How important is it to coordinate or lead others in accomplishing work activities in this job?
		51%	Spend Time Bending or Twisting the Body - How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
		51%	Level of Competition - To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
		86%	Duration of Typical Work Week - Number of hours typically worked in one week.

A3	Your Strengths	Importance	Tasks & Values
		89%	Handling and Moving Objects - Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
		85%	Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment - Running, maneuvering, navigating, or driving vehicles or mechanized equipment, such as forklifts, passenger vehicles, aircraft, or watercraft.
		85%	Performing General Physical Activities - Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.
		84%	Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials - Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
		80%	Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates - Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
		78%	Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events - Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
		69%	Getting Information - Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
		69%	Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings - Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
		68%	Documenting/Recording Information - Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
		68%	Making Decisions and Solving Problems - Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
		66%	Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge - Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
		66%	Processing Information - Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
		65%	Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment - Servicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
		62%	Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work - Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
		60%	Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards - Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
		59%	Performing for or Working Directly with the Public - Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
		59%	Communicating with People Outside the Organization - Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
		57%	Controlling Machines and Processes - Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
		57%	Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others - Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.
		56%	Assisting and Caring for Others - Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
		55%	Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People - Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
		54%	Scheduling Work and Activities - Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
		52%	Developing Objectives and Strategies - Establishing long-range objectives and specifying the strategies and actions to achieve them.
		52%	Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others - Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
		52%	Training and Teaching Others - Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.

What Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers Do

Delivery drivers drop off packages with customers.

Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers pick up, transport, and drop off packages and small shipments within a local region or urban area. They drive trucks weighing less than 26,001 pounds total for vehicle, passengers, and cargo. Delivery truck drivers usually transport merchandise from a distribution center to businesses and households.

Duties

Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers typically do the following:

Load and unload their cargo
Communicate with customers to determine pickup and delivery needs
Report any incidents they encounter on the road to a dispatcher
Follow applicable traffic laws
Report mechanical problems to the appropriate personnel
Keep their truck and associated equipment clean and in working order
Accept payments for delivery
Handle paperwork, such as receipts or delivery confirmation notices

Most drivers generally receive instructions to go to a delivery location at a particular time, and it is up to them to determine the best route. Other drivers have a regular daily or weekly delivery schedule. All drivers must understand an area’s street grid and know which roads allow trucks and which do not.

The following examples are types of delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers:

Driver/sales workers are delivery drivers who also have sales responsibilities. They recommend products to businesses and solicit new customers. These drivers may have a regular delivery route and may be responsible for adding clients who are located along their route. For example, they may make regular deliveries to a hardware store and encourage the store’s manager to offer a new product.

Some driver/sales workers use their own vehicles to deliver goods to customers, such as takeout food, and accept payment for those goods. Freelance or independent driver/sales workers may use smartphone apps to find specific delivery jobs.

Light truck drivers, often called pickup and delivery or P&D drivers, are the most common type of delivery driver. They drive small trucks or vans from distribution centers to delivery locations. Drivers make deliveries based on a set schedule. Some drivers stop at the distribution center once only, in the morning, and make many stops throughout the day. Others make multiple trips between the distribution center and delivery locations. Some drivers make deliveries from a retail location to customers.

Work Environment

Driver/sales workers held about 541,000 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of driver/sales workers were as follows:

Restaurants and other eating places	45%
Wholesale trade	18
Retail trade	11
Self-employed workers	8

Light truck drivers held about 1.2 million jobs in 2022. The largest employers of light truck drivers were as follows:

Couriers and messengers	37%
Retail trade	16
Wholesale trade	14
Self-employed workers	8

Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers have physically demanding jobs. When loading and unloading cargo, drivers do a lot of lifting, carrying, and walking. Driving in congested traffic or adhering to strict delivery timelines can also be stressful.

Injuries and Illnesses

Light truck drivers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Injuries can result from workers lifting and moving heavy objects, as well as from automobile accidents.

Work Schedules

Most drivers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Those who have regular routes sometimes must begin work very early in the morning or work late at night. For example, a driver who delivers bread to a deli every day must arrive before the deli opens. Drivers often work weekends and holidays, and their schedules may vary.

Getting Started

Education:

74%

High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

25%

Less than a High School Diploma

How to Become a Delivery Truck Driver or Driver/Sales Worker

Drivers need to maintain a clean driving record and be able to navigate city streets.

Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter these occupations. However, some opportunities exist for those without a high school diploma. Workers undergo 1 month or less of on-the-job training. They must have a driver’s license from the state in which they work and have a clean driving record.

Education

Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers typically enter the occupation with a high school diploma or equivalent.

Training

Companies train new delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers on the job. This may include training from a driver-mentor who rides along with a new employee to make sure that the driver is able to operate a truck safely on crowded streets.

New-driver training also covers company policies about package dropoffs and returns, taking payment, and what to do with damaged goods.

Driver/sales workers must learn detailed information about the products they offer. Their company also may teach them proper sales techniques, such as how to approach new customers.

Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations

All delivery drivers need a driver’s license.

Other Experience

Some delivery drivers begin as package loaders at warehouse facilities, especially if the driver works for a large company. For more information, see the profile on hand laborers and material movers.

Job Outlook

Overall employment of delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers is projected to grow 10 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.

About 203,800 openings for delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade. Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.

Employment

Projected employment of delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers varies by occupation (see table).

Continued growth of e-commerce should increase demand for package delivery services, especially for large and regional shipping companies. More light truck drivers will be needed to fulfill the growing number of e-commerce transactions. Drone delivery services also may be used for some deliveries over the projections decade. However, this technology is expected to complement rather than fully replace these workers, so the downward employment effect is expected to be modest.

The general demand for delivery options is expected to remain strong. Therefore, employment of driver/sales workers is projected to grow as these workers continue to be needed to deliver food, medical supplies, and other items.

Contacts for More Information

For more information about truck drivers, including delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers, visit

American Trucking Associations

Similar Occupations

This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers.

Occupation	Job Duties	Entry-Level Education	Median Annual Pay, May 2022
Bus Drivers	Bus drivers transport people between various places.	High school diploma or equivalent	$44,440
Hand Laborers and Material Movers	Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials.	See How to Become One	$34,960
Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers	Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another.	Postsecondary nondegree award	$49,920
Material Recording Clerks	Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule.	High school diploma or equivalent	$40,490
Postal Service Workers	Postal service workers sell postage and related products and collect, sort, and deliver mail.	No formal educational credential	$53,680
Railroad Workers	Railroad workers ensure that passenger and freight trains operate safely. They may drive trains, coordinate the activities of the trains, or control signals and switches in the rail yard.	High school diploma or equivalent	$68,960
Water Transportation Workers	Water transportation workers operate and maintain vessels that take cargo and people over water.	See How to Become One	$66,100