Thinking about becoming a delivery driver? Many people are picking up delivery work on the side right now and this is because it can be a great way to earn. If you can drive and have access to a car, you can start making money as a delivery driver very quickly, and there is a lot of work that is available.
You need to know how to succeed in this role, though, as it has its own challenges, and it is important that you can satisfy your customers. With this in mind, this article will look at some of the best ways to succeed as a delivery driver.
1. Drive A Reliable Vehicle
Source: jobtoday.com
First, you need to ensure you have a vehicle you can rely on. If you have a temperamental car that breaks down regularly, this isn’t going to be a reliable vehicle that will get you from A to B to C, etc. You should make a change because you need to know that you can rely on your vehicle for work.
Ideally, this will be a fuel-efficient vehicle that is easy to drive and has a range of safety features.
2. Be A Confident Driver
Obviously, you need to be a good and confident driver if you are to succeed as a delivery driver. You will be spending a lot of time behind the wheel and often working to tight deadlines, so you must be confident and safe.
If you lack confidence behind the wheel but want to become a delivery driver, you might find it helpful to take a defensive driving course and practice any maneuvers you struggle with (parallel parking is a common one!).
Refreshing your knowledge and skillset of performing these will ensure no matter what you may face down all the streets you travel, you will know how to handle it.
3. Plan Your Routes Efficiently
Source: support.route4me.com
Any experienced delivery driver will tell you that smart route planning is what separates the great from the good. When you can plan the most efficient route for each delivery, you can maximize the amount of work you complete each day, keep your customers happy and save money on fuel.
You can use a GPS system or route planning software to help you pick the best routes and help you to avoid getting stuck in traffic.
4. Be Organized
It is also important that you are organized when you work as a delivery driver. It might not seem like the most complex role, but it can get tricky to stay on top of everything when you have multiple packages in your vehicle and are working against the clock.
You want to keep your car clean and tidy and have a clear system in place so that you can always find the package you need – this should help you avoid any delays and keep your customers happy.
Being organized is also important for peace of mind and reducing stress! In addition to being organized, you need to handle all packages carefully and ensure they are protected during transit.
5. Use Load Boards To Find Work
Source: jbhunt.com
You also want to ensure that you can always find work as a delivery driver. It can be hard to know how to go about finding work, especially when you first get started. Load boards like Shiply are a great option, as these are places where you can browse and bid on hundreds of different shipping jobs.
With constant access to shipping work, you can pick and choose the jobs that suit you each day and maximize the amount of money that you make as a delivery driver. This will also help you to build up your experience levels, make contacts and develop a positive reputation that will then make it a lot easier to find work.
6. Keep Customers Updated
You do not have to communicate a huge amount as a delivery driver, but it is important that you keep your customers updated on any important information that they need to know, such as any delays or issues that arise.
If you do talk to customers, you should be friendly and engage in conversation to develop a positive reputation. In addition, make yourself easy to contact and responsive if you have customers needing to get in touch about a delivery.
7. Have A Manageable Workload
Source: forbes.com
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when first starting delivery work is taking on as much work as possible. This is a mistake because it means that you might struggle to make every delivery on time, which would frustrate your customers and negatively impact your reputation.
Not only this but taking on too much work can create a great deal of stress. Burnout can be a common issue in this line of work, so you need to make sure that you take on a manageable workload and ensure that you can get each delivery made on time. As you become more experienced, you could then start to increase your workload.
8. Look After Yourself
Leading on from this, you must also ensure that you look after yourself. It can be hard to maintain a healthy lifestyle when you spend a lot of time behind the wheel, so you must know how to stay healthy.
This will include taking regular breaks during the day, eating a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep each night. You also need to use your time wisely, including spending time with loved ones, relaxing, hobbies, and exercising. Get into a good routine with this as early as possible after starting your career.
Delivery work can be a great way to make money and there is a lot of work available these days, but it is also a role that can be challenging. You need to know how to excel so that you can keep your customers happy, maximize the amount of money that you make, and also look after your physical and mental well-being.
Anyone thinking about becoming a delivery driver – or anyone that has recently started – should find the advice in this post to be useful.
