How to become a delivery driver or courier
Official title: Delivery drivers and couriers
Also called: Driver, Courier, Cit driver, Van driver, Uber driver, Bank courier, Parts driver, Cycle courier, Online driver, Delivery agent, Courier-driver, Dot com driver
Delivery drivers and couriers collect, transport and deliver goods using a range of vehicles, including bicycles and motor vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes in weight.
Main tasks
- Checks tyres, brakes, lights, oil, water and fuel levels and general condition of the vehicle
- Drives vehicle from depot to loading/unloading point
- Assists with loading/unloading and obtains receipts from customers for goods collected/delivered
- Drives vehicle to destination in accordance with schedule
- Maintains records of journey times, mileage and hours worked
- Undertakes minor repairs and notifies supervisor of any mechanical faults
How to become one
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Entrants must possess a clean car driving licence. In order to drive vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes, entrants must pass an additional test for a category C1 licence. Minimum age restrictions apply according to the weight of vehicle and whether the driver holds a Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence). NVQs/SVQs in relevant areas and at various levels are available.
Ways in
- Apprenticeship (England): Express delivery operative (level 2). England. Typically 12 months. Skills England standard ST0103.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £27,854 a year The middle half earn £24,583 to £33,472.
- About 349,300 people work in this job now, and about 347,300 are projected by 2035. (-0.6%)
Related jobs
- Heavy and large goods vehicle drivers
- Bus and coach drivers
- Taxi and cab drivers and chauffeurs
- Driving instructors
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Questions people ask
How do I become a delivery driver or courier?
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Entrants must possess a clean car driving licence. In order to drive vehicles between 3.5 and 7.5 tonnes, entrants must pass an additional test for a category C1 licence. Minimum age restrictions apply according to the weight of vehicle and whether the driver holds a Driver CPC (Certificate of Professional Competence). NVQs/SVQs in relevant areas and at various levels are available.
How much does a delivery driver or courier earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £27,854 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £24,583 to £33,472.
Is a delivery driver or courier a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to stay about the same by 2035: about 349,300 people now and 347,300 later (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a delivery driver or courier?
Usually not. Only 16% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Express delivery operative (level 2).
Sources
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Population Survey: employment by occupation (April 2025 to March 2026), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: SOC 2020 Volume 1: structure and descriptions (2026-08-27 edition), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Department for Education: Skills Imperative 2035: employment projections by occupation (2021 to 2035 (Warwick IER / Cambridge Econometrics)), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Office for National Statistics: Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings, Table 14 (2025 provisional), OGL v3.0, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03