With the spike in online shopping, perhaps no job is better equipped to grow in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic than Light Truck/Delivery Drivers. Like in the job itself, getting started early provides an advantage, and reacting quickly to the shift toward online shopping and home delivery has created a huge opportunity for delivery drivers.
Many drivers start their days early in the morning loading trucks and planning their routes. For people who like a fast-paced and active work environment, this job provides a lot of benefits. However, it also requires some physically demanding work including lifting and sorting packages, driving for long periods of time, and getting in and out of trucks throughout the route.
Delivery drivers usually have a high school diploma and must have a driver’s license and clean driving record. A few weeks of on-the-job training is typical to learn the truck, the routes, and how to use the company-specific mapping software. Drivers also need to be able to inspect and monitor their vehicles, and may even do some minor repairs as needed.
Drivers must follow safety procedures and benefit from a strong attention to detail while tracking and recording details of shipments and deliveries. In addition, it helps to have a friendly personality because of the frequent customer interactions both at homes and businesses.
With most weeks during the summer feeling more like the Christmas season in terms of busyness, demand for delivery drivers is heating up across the state. The median wage for Delivery Drivers was $18.75 in 2020, with half of workers earning between $15 and $25 per hour. Wages were even higher in the Twin Cities metro area, where demand for more immediate delivery services is higher.
According to the most recent Job Vacancy Survey, there were more than 1,500 jobs posted for delivery drivers in Minnesota, continuing a streak of new record highs four years in a row. Demand continues to grow for these workers across the state.
f you are interested in more information about opportunities as a Light Truck/Delivery Driver, check out Jobs in Demand here on the CareerForceMN.com website for wage ranges, educational and training requirements, current open positions in Minnesota and more.
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