Head out onto any city street, and the majority of vehicles you’ll see driving by will be delivery vehicles. Whether they’re delivering to stores and supermarkets or to homes and apartments, these vehicles are becoming more and more profuse as we head into an age where most shopping is conducted online – and that means that there is constantly a terrific number of delivery jobs to be found online, which is music to the ears of someone looking to start out in delivery driving.
If that’s you, the how-to guide below will help give you a leg-up into the career.
Do You Have License and Insurance?
Before we look at how you’ll secure customers and find new jobs, it’s important to note that all delivery drivers should be aware of the licensing and insurance laws in their state, and whether there are any specific laws that apply to delivery drivers. Some insurance policies stipulate that vehicles not be used for commercial purposes – which means you may instead wish to buy a new policy that will cover you commercially. The same can be said for licenses and the type of vehicle that you’re going to drive – be careful to always remain lawful when setting up as a delivery driver.
How Can You Find Your First Jobs?
Your first jobs will be the hardest to find. Often, if you own a truck, you’ll find that your friends and family can refer you to their friends and family, and soon you’ll be known in a large network as someone who can perform delivery jobs. You can also approach small local stores in your area that you know offer home deliveries, and ask them if they need an extra driver. In this way, you’ll get your first experiences of being paid to get behind the wheel and take things from A to B.
Can You Use Job Boards?
Now that you’ve gathered some confidence and enthusiasm for the job at hand, it’s time to turn yourself to more expansive and longer-term gigs. You’ll find these on specific shipping and delivery job boards, which allow you to pick, quote for and secure truck loads online. These boards match the driver with a business that’s looking for delivery services, and they can host thousands per day. This is an excellent way to develop your experience and work on ever-larger and more important jobs, while maintaining flexible working hours.
How Can You Work With Contracts?
As you progress as a delivery driver, you might feel inspired to make more of a career of your profession – either by setting up as a business and hiring more drivers, or by yourself contracting with a haulage firm. There are upsides and downsides to this approach. On the one hand, a guaranteed income comes from contracts, which is helpful for your financial stability – but contracts also mean you’re obliged to work less flexibly, and these new responsibilities mean your work is less flexible. It’s up to you whether you’d like to take this last step to being a contracted delivery driver or not.
With hundreds of new deliveries to perform in your area each day, here’s how to set up as a delivery driver who will be able to accept them.
