1513-NOC

Delivery service drivers and door-to-door distributors

(NOC 75201)
Annual Earnings
$42,442
Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities
No Formal Education
Job Openings
(2023-2033)
6,000

Career Overview

Delivery service drivers: 

  • Drive cars, vans and light trucks to pick up and deliver various products

Door-to-door distributors:

  • Deliver items to residences and businesses

They work for dairies, drug stores, newspaper distributors, take-out food establishments, dry cleaners, mobile caterers and many other establishments. They may be self-employed.

 

Duties

Delivery service drivers and door-to-door distributors perform some or all of the following duties:

  • Operate and drive cars, vans and light trucks to pick up and deliver various products, such as fast food, newspapers, magazines, bakery and dairy products, and items such as dry cleaning
  • Perform pre-trip and post-trip inspection of vehicle
  • Plan delivery travel schedules and service routes
  • Load and unload cargo, goods or merchandise
  • Provide customer service by selling products, delivering over established routes and accepting or making payments for goods
  • Record information on pick-ups and deliveries, vehicle mileage and fuel costs and report any incidents or problems encountered
  • May ride a bicycle
  • May scan and sort freight or cargo for delivery
  • May assemble, install or set-up delivered goods or merchandise
  • May communicate with central dispatch using mobile communications equipment

Earnings

Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.

Annual Earnings

$42,442

Provincial Hourly Rate

High$31.25/hr
Median$20.35/hr
Low$16.75/hr
Source: B.C. Labour Market Information Office, derived from 2023 Job Bank Wage data

Work Environment

# Workers Employed

15,430

% Employed Full Time

34%
Source: 2021 Census

Work involves driving vehicles or riding bicycles.

Door-to-door distributors use technology for administrative tasks, such as mapping out deliveries, using GPS for directions and providing customers with proof of delivery. People with these careers must be comfortable using technology to record deliveries and document issues that may arise.

 

Career Pathways

Progression to supervisory positions or to non-driving occupations, such as driver trainer or dispatcher, is possible with additional training or experience.

Occupational Interests

It’s important to understand what kinds of occupations align with your interests.

For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.

Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:

Realistic
Realistic

Job Titles

Bread deliverer
Canteen driver
Delivery driver
Door-to-door distributor
Driver salesperson
Dry cleaning driver
Flyer distributor
Newspaper carrier
Newspaper delivery driver
Pizza delivery driver
Vending machine driver-supplier

Education, Training and Skills

  • Completion of secondary school is usually required
  • A driver's licence appropriate to the class of vehicle being driven is required
  • One year of safe driving experience is usually required
  • On-the-job training is provided
  • Eligibility for bonding and transportation of dangerous goods (TGD) certification may be required for delivery service drivers

 

Education programs in B.C.

The following program areas are related to this occupation:

  • Academic/Basic Upgrading
EducationPlannerBC Logo
Find out more information about programs offered specifically for this career.

Skills

Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.

Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.

See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!

Speaking

Talking to others to share information effectively.

62%
Active Listening

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

59%
Service Orientation

Actively looking for ways to help people.

53%
Social Perceptiveness

Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

52%
Reading Comprehension

Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.

50%
Time Management

Managing one’s own time and the time of others.

50%
Critical Thinking

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

49%
Judgment and Decision Making

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

47%
Writing

Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.

46%
Persuasion

Convincing others to change their mind or behaviour.

46%

Labour Market Statistics

Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.

Employment

Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.

Employment

15,430
Source: 2021 Census

Employment by Region

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Employment % Employment of this Occupation
Cariboo 420 2.7%
Kootenay 270 1.7%
Mainland/Southwest 9,995 64.8%
North Coast and Nechako 145 0.9%
Northeast 165 1.1%
Thompson-Okanagan 1,750 11.3%
Vancouver Island/Coast 2,685 17.4%
Source: 2021 Census

Labour Market Outlook

The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.

Forecasted Job Openings (2023-2033)

6,000
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Forecasted Job Openings

Forecasted Employment Growth Rate

Composition of Job Openings

Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Job Openings by Region (2023-2033)

Map of BC Map of BC highlighting Cariboo region Map of BC highlighting Kootenay region Map of BC highlighting Mainland/Southwest region Map of BC highlighting North Coast and Nechako region Map of BC highlighting Northeast region Map of BC highlighting Thompson-Okanagan region Map of BC highlighting Vancouver Island/Coast region
Cariboo
Kootenay
Mainland/Southwest
North Coast and Nechako
Northeast
Thompson-Okanagan
Vancouver Island/Coast
Region Job Openings Avg. Annual Employment Growth
Cariboo 100 -0.1%
Kootenay 70 0.8%
Mainland/Southwest 4,260 1.7%
North Coast and Nechako 70 1.1%
Northeast 50 0.8%
Thompson-Okanagan 490 0.7%
Vancouver Island/Coast 970 1.3%
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Industry Highlights

Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.

Forecasted Job Openings by Industry

IndustryJob Openings (2023-2033)
Transportation And Warehousing3,100
Retail Trade880
Accommodation And Food Services680
Wholesale Trade490
Manufacturing250
For additional industry information, visit the Industry Profiles page.
Source: B.C. Labour Market Outlook

Resources