Courier, parcel, and pickup and delivery drivers are commonly referred to as P&D drivers or as first and last mile drivers. This is because these drivers take products directly to their final destinations—often a personal address. As a result, P&D companies often work alongside long-haul trucking companies, have their own warehouses, or offer their P&D services as one part of a larger list of trucking services.

Drivers in this sector generally work locally by filling their trucks or vans with packages at warehouses and then delivering these packages around their city or to rural areas. Some drivers service specific routes; others go wherever is necessary based on that day’s deliveries.

  • Seasonality

    Work is nonseasonal, but holidays are often busier.

  • Method of Pay

    Drivers are typically paid hourly, but pay may be based on the number of deliveries or pickups made.

Equipment and Tasks

P&D drivers use different vehicles and techniques for packages of different sizes. They may also spend considerable time working in a warehouse, organizing freight, and preparing for loads.

  • Equipment

    Drivers generally operate enclosed vans, straight trucks, and trailers, which are often temperature-controlled (i.e., heated). Sometimes flatbed vehicles are used for some items. Vehicles vary in size from minivans to tractor-trailers. Drivers may use power liftgates and vehicle-mounted forklifts to help with the loading and unloading of freight.

  • Tasks

    Drivers can expect to perform common driving-specific tasks: city and highway driving, pre-and post-trip vehicle inspections, cargo securement, and customer service-related responsibilities. P&D drivers often physically handle packages to load and unload their vehicles. Trip planning is important to ensure deliveries are made as efficiently as possible.

Lifestyle in the Industry

P&D drivers enjoy local work and a good work/life balance. These delivery driver jobs may be physically demanding. While work is steady, it’s often busier at certain times of the year depending on customer needs.

  • Work Shifts

    Delivery jobs are typically during the day and 8 hours in length, so pickups and delivery can be made during regular business hours. However, overtime may be required during busier times.

  • Physical Demands

    P&D drivers frequently get in and out of vehicles and handle packages, so it can be physically demanding.

  • Work/Life Balance

    P&D drivers are typically home at night, work during the day, and have regular time off. This offers a good balance between work and home when compared to many other driving careers.

  • Predictability

    Work for courier, parcel, and pickup and delivery drivers is predictable and work hours are generally known in advance. Drivers may have to unexpectedly cover a different driver’s route if someone is sick or otherwise absent.

  • Unionization

    Unionization is uncommon, especially when working for a smaller contractor. However, there are large, well-known employers that have unionized pickup and delivery driver jobs.

Getting Started

To get started in this sector, larger employers generally have online application systems whereas smaller employers, like contractors to larger employers, may be harder to access and require research to identify. Onboarding generally includes basic training and supervision for a period of time before a driver can work independently.

At larger companies, individuals may be able to start as warehouse workers or in other labour positions before advancing to become pickup and delivery drivers. These companies sometimes help pay for the costs of a commercial licence for people they know and believe will continue to work for them.

  • Mandatory
    Requirements

    Pickup and delivery drivers will need the correct licence class for the vehicle(s) they operate. This may just be a Class 5. For employers with larger vehicles, airbrake endorsements and licences up to a Class 1 may be necessary. Criminal record checks are also a common requirement.

  • Preferred Skills &
    Previous Experience

    Being competent at using technology, like tablets and smartphones, is important for P&D employers since parcel deliveries are tracked electronically. Attention to detail, previous driving experience, and customer service experience are attributes that matter to employers.

Red Flags

P&D work presents various hazards to workers, such as repetitive strain and overexertion from handling packages. There are also potential psychosocial issues related to working with many different clients and members of the public under tight timelines. People interested in starting a career as a P&D driver should be on the lookout for these potential red flags (aka signs that an employer may not be operating safely):

  • Equipment and vehicles that are in poor condition.
  • Being pressured to become an owner-operator early into one’s career or any other signs of employee misclassification.
  • A lack of safety training by an employer, including transportation-specific training for the vehicles being driven.
  • Being hired by a contractor and not being trained in accordance with the safety program of the larger company to which they are contracted.
  • Being pushed into a lease or owner-operator position without sufficient experience.
  • Being required to move large or heavy items alone.
Quick Facts:
  • P&D work is often the final step in an item’s journey.
  • P&D drivers may work in residential, commercial, or industrial settings and drive a large variety of delivery vehicles.
  • A good work/life balance is possible with P&D work.
  • P&D drivers should be on the lookout for predatory employment practices, like being asked to work as a contractor despite not owning the vehicle.

More Help

Are you interested in learning more about working safely in transportation? Check out our Resources page for insights from industry experts and organizations. We’ve taken great care to present information relevant to those interested in truck and bus driving careers, those already employed in trucking or busing, and employers navigating labour challenges.

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Contact Information

If you have questions or want to learn more about the content of this website, please contact the Alberta Motor Transport Association (AMTA). AMTA employs experts in trucking and busing across Alberta. We would be happy to help you further.

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