How to become a delivery operative
Official title: Delivery operatives
Also called: Hub operative, Delivery assistant, Removals operative, Van porter, Baggage man, Removal man, Coal porter, Meat porter, Puller-back, Removal hand, Lorry loader, Goods porter
Delivery operatives load and unload goods from removal vans and delivery vehicles, convey household and office furniture, goods, equipment or other items, accompany drivers of road vehicles, and perform other elementary goods handling tasks.
Main tasks
- Loads and unloads goods from removal vans or delivery vehicles either by hand or using trolleys and lift trucks
- Takes receipt of goods from customers and maintains and accurate record of deliveries
- Dismantles and packages items for transport if necessary
- Accompanies driver on journey and assists with manoeuvres and to load and unload vehicle
How to become one
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is typically provided off or on-the-job.
Pay · Outlook
- Median full-time pay: £28,749 a year The middle half earn £24,840 to £33,166.
- About 19,000 people work in this job now, and about 18,300 are projected by 2035. (-3.7%)
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Questions people ask
How do I become a delivery operative?
There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is typically provided off or on-the-job.
How much does a delivery operative earn in the UK?
Median full-time pay is £28,749 a year (Office for National Statistics). The middle half earn £24,840 to £33,166.
Is a delivery operative a growing career in the UK?
Employment is projected to fall 4% by 2035, from about 19,000 to about 18,300 people (Department for Education).
Do you need a degree to become a delivery operative?
Usually not. Only 9% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
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