How To Become A Carrier: What It Is and Career Path

What is a carrier and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

3 min read

The job of a carrier depends on the organization or industry where they are working. A carrier working in the logistics industry is responsible for the delivery of goods in an efficient and timely manner. They travel to different areas to pick-up or deliver packages, coordinate with logistics managers, handle documentation, and communicate with clients for updates and others.

A carrier must be customer-focused, making sure that they meet the needs and instructions of the client. They should also be organized and solution oriented. They should be able to devise last-minute plans when problems arise. In addition, they should be a good team player, a people person, and accountable.

Some carriers have a college degree, but this is not necessary. A person who is a high school degree holder or GED holder can apply for the position, too. Some, if not most, employers look at the skills of the applicant. The average salary of a carrier is $70,577, and if they start as a driver, they can become technicians or account mangers someday.

ScoreCarrierUS Average

Salary

2.9

Avg. Salary $37,242

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

5.8

Growth rate -6%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.2

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.56%

Asian 6.47%

Black or African American 10.91%

Hispanic or Latino 16.73%

Unknown 4.28%

White 61.05%

Gender

female 38.28%

male 61.72%

Age - 51

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 51

Stress level

5.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level

6.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance

6.1

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a carrier

Explore carrier education requirements

Most common carrier degrees

High School Diploma

32.9 %

Bachelor's

30.4 %

Associate

18.5 %

Start to develop specific carrier skills

Skills	Percentages
Logistics	24.03%
Newspapers	14.94%
Delivery Sequence	14.69%
Customer Service	13.60%
Delivery Vehicle	9.41%

Complete relevant carrier training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New carriers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a carrier based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real carrier resumes.

Research carrier duties and responsibilities

Arrange mail in delivery sequence, operate llv, used scanner to collect cod and lift packages over 50 pounds.
Specialize in the small LTL division.
Carry hod and help out at construction sites.
Deliver mail by organization unit and/or individual's name.

Prepare your carrier resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your carrier resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a carrier resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose from 10+ customizable carrier resume templates

Build a professional carrier resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your carrier resume.