Like refrigerated truck drivers, food and beverage delivery drivers haul the things we like to eat and drink. However, these drivers specifically deliver these products to their final users: restaurants, bars, and other organizations that’ll serve the food and beverage items.

Drivers in this sector load their vehicles at warehouses or wait to have them loaded. Then, they drive a delivery route and are involved in physically unloading their trucks or trailers.

  • Seasonality

    Work is nonseasonal, but some customers may have busier times of the year.

  • Method of Pay

    Generally, drivers in this sector are paid by the hour. Pay per stop or by the stop may also be seen.

Equipment and Tasks

Food and beverage delivery drivers operate temperature-controlled equipment in urban and rural areas. Most of the work is within cities and towns, but some drivers may travel longer distances to bring products to smaller locations.

  • Equipment

    Drivers may see a variety of vehicles, including light vans for food delivery, larger straight trucks, and tractor-trailer units with day cabs—and some sleeper—tractors. Trailers range in lengths of 30’ to 53’, with shorter lengths common in urban deliveries. Drivers may also use ramps, pallet jacks, and power dollies to help them load and unload products.

  • Tasks

    Drivers can expect to perform common driving-specific tasks like city and highway driving, pre-and post-trip vehicle inspections, cargo securement, and customer service-related responsibilities. They may also have to load and unload their vehicles at warehouses, often outside of regular business hours at customer sites.

Lifestyle in the Industry

Food and beverage delivery drivers enjoy regular time at home. Their careers involve physical labour throughout their shifts—during the day and night.

  • Work Shifts

    Shifts are generally booked on a rotation and can be up to 14 hours in length, although they’re frequently shorter. Shift start times are often very early and can run late into the night; as a result, much of the driving work in this sector is done at night.

  • Physical Demands

    Hauling food and beverages is very physically demanding. Drivers must be able to lift, push, pull, and climb throughout their shifts. It’s common for drivers to spend more time unloading vehicles by hand rather than driving.

  • Work/Life Balance

    Drivers are generally home every night and enjoy regular days off.

  • Predictability

    Shifts are typically scheduled in advance, so work is predictable. There can be overtime opportunities during busy times.

  • On-Call

    On-call work is rare in this sector.

  • Unionization

    Unionized and nonunionized driving positions are both common.

Getting Started

Food and beverage delivery drivers often begin their professional journeys by applying online—as many employers in this sector are larger. After being hired, they’ll be given safety training and provided with supervision that gradually eases until they’re able to work independently.

A driver may be able to start on smaller vehicles and work their way into larger ones if their employer has a diverse fleet. It’s also possible to apply for a nondriving position, become familiar with the employer, and then ask to be transferred into a driving role.

  • Mandatory
    Requirements

    Food and beverage delivery drivers require the correct licence class. While a Class 1 licence is a major asset, drivers may be able to start at some employers on smaller vehicles with a lower licence class. Given the physical nature of this work, there are likely physical fitness requirements as part of the hiring process.

  • Preferred Skills &
    Previous Experience

    Previous driving experience, customer service experience, and physical fitness are valuable assets for employers. Previous experience in the grocery industry is also advantageous.

Red Flags

There are many significant health and safety hazards present in food and beverage delivery, especially ergonomic hazards related to lifting, working in awkward postures, repetitive movements, and overexertion. People interested in starting a career as a driver in this sector 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 and training on safely loading and unloading equipment.
  • Not being provided with helpers or assistive devices for moving heavy loads and packages. Even though this is a physically demanding driving career, drivers should not be causing damage to their bodies and working beyond their comfort levels.
Quick Facts:
  • Food and beverage delivery is closely related to the restaurant and bar business.
  • Drivers in this sector have physically demanding positions and often work outside of regular business hours.
  • The physical nature of this work can help drivers stay fit; however, it can also lead to injuries if proper precautions aren’t taken.

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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