Job description Small Van Driver in the Halifax Region

Find out what work is like for a small van driver in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Delivery and courier service drivers (NOC 75201).

Delivery service drivers and door-to-door distributors

Description

Delivery service drivers drive automobiles, vans and light trucks to pick up and deliver various products. Door-to-door distributors deliver items to residences and businesses. They are employed by dairies, drug stores, newspaper distributors, take-out food establishments, dry cleaners, mobile caterers and many other establishments, or they may be self-employed.

Work week duration

Delivery service drivers and door-to-door distributors usually work less than 35 hours per week.
Less than 35 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Delivery service drivers and door-to-door distributors have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Operate and drive automobiles, vans and light trucks to pick up and deliver various products, such as food, newspapers, magazines, bakery and dairy products, and items such as dry cleaning
  • Deliver newspapers, flyers, handbills, telephone directories and similar items to residences and businesses
  • 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 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.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Handling material manually
  • Bending or twisting the body
  • Making repetitive motions
  • Sitting

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Delivery service drivers and door-to-door distributors are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Dairies
  • Drug stores
  • Dry cleaners
  • Courier and messenger service companies
  • Self-employed
  • Mobile caterers
  • Take-out food establishments
  • Businesses and other establishments
  • Newspapers distributors

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Outside, exposed to weather
  • In an enclosed vehicle or equipment
  • Indoors, environmentally controlled
  • Extreme temperatures
  • Indoors, not environmentally controlled
  • Extremely bright or inadequate lighting

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 75201), and a list of similar occupations:

  • 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

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Delivery service drivers and door-to-door distributors in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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