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What is a pick up and delivery driver and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
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A pick up and delivery driver transports goods and products from one location to another. This can include picking up items from a warehouse or supplier and delivering them to a customer or retail store. They may work for food delivery services, courier companies, and freight carriers. Additionally, they ensure the proper securing and handling of items. A pick up and delivery driver must have a valid driver's license, a clean driving record, and communication skills.

ScorePick Up And Delivery DriverUS Average
Salary
3.0

Avg. Salary $38,724

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
5.8

Growth rate 11%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
5.1
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.82%

Asian 3.76%

Black or African American 12.14%

Hispanic or Latino 19.31%

Unknown 4.74%

White 59.24%

Gender

female 6.30%

male 93.70%

Age - 49
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 - 49
Stress level
5.8

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
6.7

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a pick up and delivery driver?

Pros

  • Good exercise

  • Possibility of earning tips

  • Variety in daily tasks

  • Potential for career advancement

  • Opportunity for entrepreneurial endeavors

Cons

  • High pressure to deliver on time

  • Long hours behind the wheel

  • Physically demanding work

  • Working weekends and holidays

  • Low pay and lack of benefits

Pick up and delivery driver career paths

Key steps to become a pick up and delivery driver

  1. Explore pick up and delivery driver education requirements

    Most common pick up and delivery driver degrees

    High School Diploma

    48.3 %

    Associate

    19.3 %

    Bachelor's

    16.6 %
  2. Start to develop specific pick up and delivery driver skills

    SkillsPercentages
    CDL22.26%
    Post-Trip Inspections17.72%
    Pallet Jack15.43%
    Federal Regulations9.64%
    LTL9.51%
  3. Complete relevant pick up and delivery driver training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New pick up and delivery drivers 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 pick up and delivery driver based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real pick up and delivery driver resumes.
  4. Research pick up and delivery driver duties and responsibilities

    • Own and experience with GPS systems.
    • Learned and operate the standard DIAD package label scanner, ensuring accurate deliver update status and signatures.
    • Enter parcel delivery verification into mobile company DIAD computer.
    • Load truck with appropriate product and deliver accordingly, return to warehouse for receiving and other warehouse duties including monthly inventory.
  5. Prepare your pick up and delivery driver resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your pick up and delivery driver 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 pick up and delivery driver resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable pick up and delivery driver resume templates

    Build a professional pick up and delivery driver 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 pick up and delivery driver resume.
    Pick Up And Delivery Driver Resume
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    Pick Up And Delivery Driver Resume
    Pick Up And Delivery Driver Resume
  6. Apply for pick up and delivery driver jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a pick up and delivery driver job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first pick up and delivery driver job

Zippi

Are you a pick up and delivery driver?

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Average pick up and delivery driver salary

The average pick up and delivery driver salary in the United States is $38,724 per year or $19 per hour. Pick up and delivery driver salaries range between $27,000 and $53,000 per year.

Average pick up and delivery driver salary
$38,724 Yearly
$18.62 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do pick up and delivery drivers rate their job?

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Pick up and delivery driver reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Pros

Flexible hours, you can kind of control your income, even travel to high demand areas (while traveling) to make bigger money. It’s just nice to be able to go almost anywhere and have an opportunity to make money.

Cons

The pay, benefits, and low tips.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2022
Cons

Cinema

Pros

Experience 8 year GCC county almost work driving responsibility passenger drop location and food delivery timing driving delivery I am work hope


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Cons

The sitting gets blow drug out sometimes I pretty much get all the ins and outs out of the way before I start the detail or accept the assignment so there's really no Lykes to say about I love my job

Pros

The ability to gain the trust of a customer to know satisfied and happy with the assignments set all personal belongings and artifacts have not been touched or moved and deliver to him one time it is a sure note for return business which Fields customer service and repetitive returns safety orientated and knowledgeable have a special detail and driving skills safety assured first and foremost


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

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