In today’s fast-paced world dominated by online shopping and mass production of goods, delivery drivers play a vital role, ensuring the smooth flow of businesses and connecting them with their consumers. But what exactly do couriers do? Is the path to becoming one complicated? What does it truly entail to be a courier? And how much do they earn? Let’s dive into this article to find out about all of it.
At the heart of their role is the task of collecting parcels and various items, and transporting them safely to their destination. Sometimes this can be a physically demanding job: parcels can be heavy, especially when working solo, requiring a lot of strength and resilience.
The working hours of couriers can vary significantly depending on their contract type, whether it’s part-time at 20 hours a week or full-time at 40 hours. This fluctuation, particularly during night shifts, can lead to considerable stress, a challenge that delivery drivers must be ready to tackle.
Moreover, depending on their role and responsibilities, they can travel nationally and internationally. As a consequence, fixed schedules become a rarity, with adaptability becoming a fundamental trait for success in the field.
But a courier’s job is more than dropping off packages. There is a considerable amount of paperwork involved, including delivery documentation, invoices or payment receipts, safety and compliance documents, and vehicle logs among others.
Entering the field of delivery driving is quite easy, although companies might have some pre-conditions. It goes without saying that the first requirement needed is the possession of a valid driving licence. Depending on when your licence was issued, you might be allowed to drive vehicles heavier than 3.5 tonnes. It's really important to learn the rules about vehicle weights, so you can make sure you're allowed to drive the vehicles you need to. To learn more about a vehicle’s weight, check out our guide.
And of course, maintain a clean driving licence record if you want to be eligible as a candidate. Which translates as maintaining all your licence points, avoiding driving fines, and avoiding convictions for drink-driving and similar offences.
To improve your skills as a delivery driver and increase your chances of getting a job, consider working as an apprentice. Collaborating with seasoned industry professionals for a duration of 12 months provides hands-on experience, equipping aspirants with the required expertise. If you have difficulties finding an apprenticeship, the government website is the perfect platform to look and search. It provides a list of job opportunities tailored to your geographical area, depending on if you live in Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland.
Enhance your skill set by taking training courses on a variety of subjects. This also raises your employability and gives you a competitive edge. Some examples of training course related to the field are:
While not mandatory, these training courses are strongly recommended to enhance your skills and attract potential employers.
For those inclined towards entrepreneurship, initiating an independent courier business could be a suitable alternative. Following The suggested steps to start your own journey are as follows:
To help you start your journey as a self-employed courier, Shippr offers a comprehensive platform connecting you with companies in need of shipping services. Unlike other platforms, Shippr is exclusively designed for independent couriers and courier companies, granting you the freedom to operate on your terms.
Simply sign up on the Shippr website, and once our team validates your profile, you'll gain access to a range of delivery assignments tailored to your schedule and preferences through the Shippr app. With features like destination tracking, optimised itineraries, and an intuitive invoicing system, managing your deliveries has never been easier.
The only requirement is that you need to own a vehicle. Worried about not having a van? At Shippr you can make deliveries using any type of vehicle. From cars to cargo bikes to refrigerated vans and low-emission vehicles, we offer opportunities suitable regardless of your vehicle type.
Being a courier requires a diverse skill set, especially if you’re working solo. You'll need to handle physically demanding tasks, while also dealing with people on a daily basis. That explains why having cross-cutting skills is essential. The key skills of a courier include:
The salary of a delivery driver varies depending on the location, the contract, the experience, and the shift times. According to the UK government National Careers Service, a beginner delivery van driver earns around £16,500 a year, while an experienced one could earn around £27,000 a year.
However, working as a freelancer, your income might be higher, depending on your network of clients and how many deliveries you are able to make. In that case, remember to consider some added costs such as tax, National Insurance, vehicle costs, costs for opening the business, website costs (if you decide to open one), and other expenses.
Accordingto data from Indeed, the 8 cities with the higher salary for delivery drivers are:
But again, the salary of a courier can vary depending on the type of contract, experience and time shifts.
To sum up, embarking on a career as a delivery driver in the UK opens doors to a great number of opportunities for personal and professional growth. However, success in this field goes hand in hand with possessing a range of essential skills. And depending on your individual preferences, you have the opportunity to choose between traditional employment and or venturing into entrepreneurship.
For those inclined towards independent work but bothered by the administrative burden, Shippr offers a solution. Reach out to us for more information on becoming an independent courier with Shippr. We’ll provide you with all the details you require.
