Delivery Driver Job Description
Use this template to create a clear, practical job advert for a Delivery Driver. It outlines the core duties, realistic requirements and candidate questions employers should answer up front.
What does a Delivery Driver professional do?
A Delivery Driver collects, transports and delivers parcels or goods to customers and businesses, managing safe loading/unloading, route navigation and customer-facing handovers.
Delivery Driver job description template
Use this employer-ready example as a starting point, then replace the placeholders and adjust the content so it accurately reflects your vacancy.
Delivery Driver
About the role
We are looking for a reliable Delivery Driver to join our team operating from [Location]. You will load and deliver parcels to customers on scheduled routes, handle paperwork and electronic scanners, and provide friendly customer service. This is a [full-time/part-time] role working [working hours] with [pay details] and [vehicle/allowance details].
Key responsibilities
- Collect, load and deliver parcels or goods safely and securely to customers or businesses on scheduled routes
- Plan and follow efficient routes, using maps or route-planning apps and adjusting for traffic or priority deliveries
- Operate handheld devices or paperwork to record deliveries, obtain signatures and report issues
- Handle goods carefully while loading and unloading, using safe manual handling techniques and trolleys where provided
- Maintain basic vehicle checks, keep the vehicle tidy, and report any defects or incidents promptly
- Provide professional, courteous customer service, resolving minor queries and escalating issues when necessary
- Comply with company policies, road traffic laws and health & safety procedures, including PPE and manual handling guidance
- Occasionally assist with warehousing tasks such as sorting, packing or stocking during quieter periods
Essential skills and experience
- Valid UK driving licence appropriate for the vehicle used (category B for cars/vans)
- Right to work in the UK
- Proven ability to lift and carry the role’s typical loads safely (for example up to 20–25 kg where required)
- Good timekeeping and basic route navigation skills
- Basic numeracy and the ability to complete delivery paperwork or use a smartphone/scanner
- Good customer-facing skills and a professional attitude
Desirable
- Previous experience in delivery, courier or driving roles
- Familiarity with handheld scanning devices, route-planning apps or TMS (transport management systems)
- Experience driving in urban areas and handling restricted parking or loading situations
- Basic vehicle maintenance knowledge (checks, tyre/fluids) and minor troubleshooting
- Experience with multi-drop routes or same-day express deliveries
What we offer
- [Competitive pay or hourly rate]
- [Paid holiday entitlement]
- [Pension scheme or employer pension contributions]
- [Overtime and weekend pay rates where applicable]
- [Vehicle provided / fuel card / mileage allowance – specify which]
- [Uniform and PPE provided]
How to apply
Apply with your CV and any additional information requested. Make the interview process, closing date and any assessment stages clear where known.
Use this as a starting point rather than a final advert. The strongest version will reflect the real role, salary, location, systems, responsibilities, benefits and working arrangements.
What is a Delivery Driver role?
Delivery Drivers collect goods from warehouses or depots and transport them to customers or businesses on scheduled or ad-hoc routes. The role combines safe vehicle operation, manual handling of parcels, accurate record-keeping and customer service. Drivers must follow road regulations, company procedures and health & safety guidance while meeting time and delivery targets.
Typical vehicles
Vans, small trucks or cars depending on load size; some roles may provide a company vehicle or expect use of a personal vehicle with mileage pay.
Shift patterns
Shifts vary from early starts and day rounds to evening or weekend work; employers should state predictable patterns, rotas and any on-call expectations.
Customer contact
High customer interaction — drivers must present professionally, handle queries and obtain signatures or photo proof of delivery.
Safety & compliance
Drivers must follow manual handling procedures, carry out vehicle checks and comply with road safety and company policies.
Typical Delivery Driver responsibilities
Responsibilities should reflect the real scope of the vacancy rather than every task someone in this profession might ever complete.
Collect
Collect, load and deliver parcels or goods safely and securely to customers or businesses on scheduled routes
Plan and follow efficient routes
Plan and follow efficient routes, using maps or route-planning apps and adjusting for traffic or priority deliveries
Operate handheld devices or paperwork
Operate handheld devices or paperwork to record deliveries, obtain signatures and report issues
Handle goods carefully while loading
Handle goods carefully while loading and unloading, using safe manual handling techniques and trolleys where provided
Maintain basic vehicle checks
Maintain basic vehicle checks, keep the vehicle tidy, and report any defects or incidents promptly
Provide professional
Provide professional, courteous customer service, resolving minor queries and escalating issues when necessary
Comply with company policies
Comply with company policies, road traffic laws and health & safety procedures, including PPE and manual handling guidance
Occasionally assist with warehousing tasks
Occasionally assist with warehousing tasks such as sorting, packing or stocking during quieter periods
Delivery Driver skills and experience to look for
Keep the essential list focused on what the person really needs to perform the role. Move useful-but-trainable experience into desirable criteria.
Usually worth prioritising
- Valid UK driving licence appropriate for the vehicle used (category B for cars/vans)
- Right to work in the UK
- Proven ability to lift and carry the role’s typical loads safely (for example up to 20–25 kg where required)
- Good timekeeping and basic route navigation skills
- Basic numeracy and the ability to complete delivery paperwork or use a smartphone/scanner
- Good customer-facing skills and a professional attitude
Useful where relevant
- Previous experience in delivery, courier or driving roles
- Familiarity with handheld scanning devices, route-planning apps or TMS (transport management systems)
- Experience driving in urban areas and handling restricted parking or loading situations
- Basic vehicle maintenance knowledge (checks, tyre/fluids) and minor troubleshooting
- Experience with multi-drop routes or same-day express deliveries
See our guide to what to include in a job advert before publishing.
How to write a Delivery Driver job advert
Small role-specific details can make the advert much easier for suitable candidates to assess.
Be specific about vehicle and licence requirements
State clearly whether you provide a vehicle, require a Category B licence, or expect applicants to use their own vehicle with mileage pay.
Set out shift patterns and flexibility
Give realistic working hours, start times and weekend expectations so candidates understand the role’s scheduling demands.
List physical and equipment expectations
Mention typical lifting weights, use of hand trucks/trolleys and whether drivers will use scanners or smartphone apps.
Explain the pay structure
Clarify whether pay is hourly, salaried, per-delivery or includes mileage/allowances and how overtime is paid.
Highlight training and progression
Note any training provided, licence checks or paths to supervisory or HGV roles to attract career-minded candidates.
Delivery Driver salary considerations
Delivery Driver pay varies widely. When setting or advertising pay, consider the vehicle type, required licence, route profile, shift pattern, local labour market and whether the role is employee or self-employed. Employers should also decide how to handle mileage, fuel, overtime and allowances and make that clear in the advert.
depending on experience
- Use a genuine range
- Separate variable pay
- Avoid “competitive” alone
- Match salary to seniority
What Delivery Driver candidates will want to know
Practical details can influence whether a suitable candidate applies, even when the title and salary are attractive.
Will a vehicle be provided or must I use my own?
Candidates want to know if the employer supplies a van, offers a fuel card or reimburses mileage when using a personal vehicle.
How is pay calculated and how often is it paid?
Applicants will expect clarity on hourly rate versus per-delivery pay, overtime rates and payroll frequency.
What are the exact hours, start times and rota patterns?
Drivers need to know daily start times, shift length, weekend working and whether rotas are fixed or rota-based.
What safety equipment and training do you provide?
Candidates often ask about PPE, manual handling training, vehicle checks and any in-house induction or driver safety courses.
What type of routes will I drive?
State whether routes are local, regional or long-distance and whether they involve frequent parking or access to restricted zones.
Will I have contact with customers and how should I handle issues?
Clarify customer-facing expectations, complaint procedures and when drivers should escalate problems.
Where to post a Delivery Driver job
For Delivery Driver roles target a mix of broad UK job boards and local channels (job centres, community groups) plus logistics-specific sites and recruitment agencies that place drivers. Use community social media groups and local newspapers to reach candidates prepared to work on local routes, and specialist driver forums or college job boards if you need applicants with specific driving experience.
Related logistics & transport job descriptions
Recruiting for a slightly different role? These templates may be a closer fit.
Delivery Driver job description FAQs
Do I have to provide a vehicle for a Delivery Driver role?
Not necessarily. Many employers supply a company van for the role, but some expect drivers to use their own vehicle and reimburse mileage. Decide which arrangement suits you and state it clearly in the advert, including any fuel card, insurance or mileage rates.
Should I require a clean driving licence or set a points limit?
You should check driving licences and endorsements to meet insurance and safety requirements. Rather than an absolute points limit, consider looking for a safe driving history appropriate to the role and document your policy consistently for all applicants.
Is a DBS check required for delivery drivers?
A DBS check is generally not required for standard parcel or goods delivery unless the role involves regular unsupervised access to vulnerable people or secure sites. Assess on a case-by-case basis and explain any checks in the advert.
Can I hire agency or self-employed drivers?
Yes — many employers use agency temps or self-employed couriers to manage demand. Ensure contracts and insurance arrangements are legally compliant and that pay and working conditions meet relevant employment regulations.
Do delivery drivers need an HGV CPC?
No for standard car/van roles (Category B). HGV CPC only applies to drivers of larger goods vehicles who require a category C licence. State the licence category you require in the advert.
What physical requirements should I include?
Be clear about typical lifting requirements and the use of trolleys or tail-lifts. Also state you will consider reasonable adjustments for applicants with disabilities and follow equality and health & safety obligations.
Ready to publish your advert?
Customise the advert paragraph above with your location, hours, pay and vehicle details, then post across local and logistics-focused channels to reach suitable candidates.
