How To Become a Courier Driver: Opportunities, Challenges, and Future Trends

What is a courier driver?

Courier services and delivery drivers are the lifeblood of the digital economy, bridging the gap between e-commerce websites and real people. In 2023 there were over 1.1 million people working in the courier and local delivery services sector in the United States, and the number was growing by 2% a year. 

Becoming a courier is a great way to make money, be your own boss, and set flexible hours that suit your lifestyle.

In this article, we’ll explain what the job of a courier involves, what you need to know to get started, and what kind of people are suited to the job.  

What’s the difference between a courier driver and a delivery driver?

The work of couriers and delivery drivers is very similar. Both jobs require you to show up at a pick-up point, collect packaged items, put them in your vehicle and deliver them to customers on time. But they’re not exactly the same. Here are some of the most important differences:

Delivery drivers:

• Usually drive a pre-planned delivery route, dropping off multiple parcels along the way. 
• Are often regular contractors or permanent employees of a delivery company. 
• Often drive a company vehicle. 
• Are more likely to get a fixed salary and work regular hours.

Courier drivers:

• Usually work on demand, picking up each package and delivering it before picking up the next one.
• Are usually self-employed independent contractors to larger courier companies. 
• Use their own transport.
• Choose their own flexible hours — but if they don’t work, they don’t get paid.  

What about drivers for on-demand delivery apps like DoorDash, Uber Eats and Instacart? They’re self-employed, they work on demand, and they’re paid per delivery — so why do we call them delivery drivers instead of courier drivers?

Our honest answer? We’re not 100% sure. But our best guess is that these apps are still really new, and so the language around them is still catching up. From a customer point of view they’re delivery services, so workers are called delivery drivers. 

So yes, it can get confusing! In this article, we’re focusing on traditional courier drivers — but most of the lessons will also apply to delivery gig workers like Uber Eats drivers.

What does it take to succeed as an independent courier driver?

To succeed as an independent courier, whether you do it part-time or full time, you will need:

• Excellent customer service skills
• Good time management
• A cell phone
• Good communication skills
• Flexibility
• Safe driving skills
• Your own vehicle — which could be a truck, car, moped, scooter, bicycle, or e-bike.

What does the job of a courier driver involve?

As a courier driver, your most important task is to get packages to their destinations safely and on time.  Along the way you will need to:

• Communicate with shippers and dispatchers to get job assignments and details. Most of the time these days, this is done via phone. 
• Meet package delivery times and deadlines.
• Collect proof of delivery, like a photograph or signature. 
• Do basic vehicle maintenance so your ride doesn’t let you down in the middle of a job. 
• Deal with customers, whether it’s handing over a package in person or just dropping it off on their doorstep. 
• Solve problems like incomplete address information, missing buzzer codes, or aggressive dogs.
• Stay safe on the road, to protect yourself and others around you. 

What kinds of packages does a courier driver handle?

There are no limits to what a courier can deliver! But although some truly weird things get sent by courier, most of the time you’re like to be transporting things like:

• E-commerce packages: You name it — shoes, cellphones, diapers, dog food — people buy it online and a courier driver delivers it. 
• Documents: Legal contracts, passports, and court papers are commonly handled by legal couriers.  
• Perishables: Food, cosmetics, and flowers all count as perishable items that need to be carefully packaged and handled to preserve their freshness.
• Fragile items: Delicate packages like electronics, antiques, and jewelry also need special handling. 
• Medical items: This could include blood samples, organs for transplant, or even body parts.
• Pharmaceuticals: Prescription delivery is a big business. 

 It all depends on your level of expertise, the type of vehicle you have, and what the client needs. 

What qualifications do you need to become a courier driver?

One of the best things about courier driver jobs is that the barriers to entry are low. There are few educational requirements: you don't need a degree or an expensive education to enter the industry. But that doesn’t mean that anything goes: you will need a high school diploma or GED, a valid driver's license, a clean record, and to be presentable. 

Before you apply for a position, make sure you have the following:

• A delivery vehicle
• Good time management skills
• A valid driver’s license
• A clean driving record
• A smartphone to communicate with dispatch and consumers
• A bank account so you can get paid!
• A GPS or route planning app to help you navigate your neighborhood

💡Check out our list of the best route planning apps.

7 common vehicle types and what they are used for

Most courier companies will allow you to do the job with any type of vehicle, provided that it is licensed, roadworthy, and up to the task. Because there is such variety in the types of parcels that need to be delivered, there is also variety in the vehicles you can use to fulfill the delivery. 

These are the most common modes of transport for delivery drivers: 

1. Bicycles and e-bikes: Used for small, light packages in urban areas. Ideal for navigating congested city streets and making quick local deliveries.
2. Motorcycles and scooters: Suitable for slightly larger packages than bicycles, but still focused on speed and maneuverability in urban settings.
3. Cargo vans: The workhorse of most courier services. These vehicles handle a wide range of package sizes and weights, suitable for both residential and commercial deliveries. (Find more cargo van business ideas here.)
4. Box trucks: Used for larger shipments, bulky items, or multiple packages to a single location. Often employed for business-to-business deliveries or home appliance transport.
5. Tractor-trailers: For long-distance, high-volume shipments. These are typically used for interstate transport or deliveries to distribution centers.
6. Refrigerated trucks: Specialized vehicles for temperature-sensitive items like food, pharmaceuticals, or certain chemicals.

How to stay safe as a courier driver

As a courier driver, safety needs to be one of your top priorities. Not only so that you can deliver your packages on time and in good condition, but so that you can look after yourself and your vehicle and sustain a long, successful career in the industry.

Safety breaks down into three broad categories:

• Yourself
• Your cargo
• Your vehicle

Let’s look at each of these in more detail:

1. Protecting yourself

Being a courier driver can be a dangerous job. According to one study in the American Journal of Industrial Medicine, “the number of injuries and illnesses sustained by couriers and messengers has been continuously on the rise over the past decade”. And data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics puts it in the top ten most dangerous civilian occupations.

What makes it so dangerous? There are several factors:

• Road crashes (what the US government calls “transportation incidents”).
• Injuries related to carrying heavy loads. This could include repetitive strain injuries as well as falls and slips. 
• Violent crimes like robberies and hijackings.
• Pressure from employers to increase the number of deliveries per shift (Amazon is the most dangerous company to work for).

The top ways to protect yourself are:

1. Improve your driving skills. Defensive driving courses are easily available.
2. Make sure your vehicle is well maintained. Checking brakes and tires should be part of your everyday routine.
3. Learn how to carry heavy packages properly so that you don’t throw out your back or your knees while doing the job. 
4. Know your neighborhoods, and where the safe parking spots are. 
5. Consider investing in safety equipment like trolleys and high-visibility clothing. 

💡Read our blog post on driver safety for more tips on how to stay safe.

2. Protecting your cargo

There’s nothing that can ruin a day for a driver like making it to a location on time, only to discover that your package is broken or damaged and it’s your fault.  

To protect your cargo, you can:

• Always make sure your cargo is safely secure. 
• Keep a supply of tension straps, bungee cords, ropes, tarps, or whatever is appropriate for your vehicle. 
• Use cargo nets and non-slip mats. 
• Load your vehicle so the heaviest items are at the bottom and fragile items are on top.

3. Protecting your vehicle

Your vehicle is your livelihood, so look after it! Keep your vehicle safe by:

• Keeping up to date with maintenance.
• Always locking up when you leave the vehicle.
• Keeping your keys with you.
• Investing in a security system like a GPS tracker, immobilizer, or alarm system.

What do courier drivers earn?

According to the online job portal ZipRecruiter, the average hourly wage for a courier driver in the United States is $21. This changes depending on your exact location and the kinds of jobs you do — ZipRecruiter says it is “seeing hourly wages as high as $40.38 and as low as $6.49”. Not surprisingly, the highest earners are in California and New York state, while the lowest earners are in Arkansas and other southern states.

You can also expect to receive tips when dealing with items such as food delivery if you do a good job. 

Indeed.com also has a useful list of average salaries for delivery drivers. 

A few highlights to consider: 

• DoorDash, Instacart and UberEats delivery personnel each earn around $54 000 annually. 
• USPS mail carriers do even better, earning around $75 000 and “good benefits such as federally backed insurance plans, long-term care insurance, life insurance and job security.”
• A FedEx driver earns around $71 000 and is not required to use their own vehicle.

What about other countries?

• In the UK, the average hourly wage for a courier driver is £9.
• Canada’s pay scale is equivalent to that of the US. 
• The average salary for a German courier driver is €16 per hour. 

How do you find work as a courier driver?

To find work as a courier driver, you can use a range of strategies:

• Apply directly to major courier companies online or in person.
• Check job boards like Indeed.com.
• Try gig economy platforms like Uber Eats or Doordash.
• Look out for local delivery companies operating in your city.
• Look into specialized niches if you have relevant skills and a suitable vehicle.

Ensure you have a clean driving record and, if needed, your own vehicle. Be aware that some roles may require specific certifications or background checks.

Cool and unusual niches for courier drivers 

If you are serious about a career as a courier, here are a few specialized niche areas that require additional skills.  

1. Medical courier services

Medical couriers are a very important part of the healthcare industry, tasked with transporting very fragile, temperature-controlled medical supplies (e.g organs and live tissue) in a safe and timely fashion. There is a lot of pressure on medical couriers to perform at the highest level, but it is a rewarding and well-paid niche worth investigating. Check out our articles on starting a medical courier business or becoming a medical courier to learn more.

2. Fine art logistics

Fine art logistics involves the transport of valuable artworks to and from galleries, collectors and museums. Art couriers are trained to handle delicate, valuable, and often irreplaceable pieces of art. Insurance and security often need to be taken into account for high-value pieces, and many courier companies offer specialized materials and techniques to package artworks securely for transport.

3. Secure couriers

There are a number of courier services that specialize in high-security jobs. For example:

• Sensitive legal documents and court filings where chain of custody is very important. 
• Financial instruments like bonds, cheques and sometimes cash.
• Election materials.
• High-end gourmet food that requires strict temperature control.

All of these industries require mature, responsible people with excellent credentials to fulfill this vital role of moving sensitive goods from one point to another. In some cases you may need to pass background checks or have a firearms license. 

What do real couriers love (and hate) about the job?

Like any other job, there are pros and cons to being a courier driver. 

On the positive side, you get to be your own boss, work your own hours, meet a lot of people and get to really know the area in which you live. That makes it attractive to self-motivated people who crave flexibility and hate the idea of sitting at a desk all day. 

The couriers of Reddit forum is a great place to get some insights from real, working couriers and delivery drivers. Here are some standout quotes:

“I have a very low-tolerance for the type of passive-aggressive dysfunctional toxic shenanigans that occur with co-workers in more conventional work environments. As a courier, we get to circumvent all that dumb sh&te. I come to the spot, pick up the package, hop on my bike, turn on my bluetooth speaker and I'm zen. Make the drop, then I'm back on my bike in full zen again until the next pick-up.” — Runoko-Ra

“Being a courier is about the hustle, the details, and being zen enough to handle the stress. It’s a job for somebody comfortable with ambiguity and complexity. It’s for somebody who is disciplined and knows how to multitask.’ — Souvenirs_Indiscrets

What about the downsides? Learning from the same Reddit users, you may need to live with:

• A lot of waiting around, which requires patience (and maybe a good book in your bag). 
• Climbing in and out of a vehicle carrying packages all day can be tough on the body. You need to be in decent shape to do this job. . 
• It can be quite lonely and isolating.
• Driving or cycling in bad weather can be an issue if you’re not used to it.
• There is often stress around finding the correct address for dropoff, particularly in rural areas where people have signs like ‘Trespassers will be shot!’.
• It gets tricky when you have too many deliveries due all at one time and demanding customers. 

What does the future hold for courier drivers?

The courier industry faces several challenges in the coming years:

• Automation and new technologies like self-driving vehicles and delivery robots may reduce the need for human drivers in some areas. 
• Sustainability concerns could lead to stricter regulations on emissions and urban traffic.
• Economic fluctuations and changing consumer behaviors might also impact delivery volumes.
• The rise of the gig economy is reshaping employment models, potentially affecting job security and benefits for courier drivers.

However, these challenges are balanced by significant opportunities:

• The continued growth of e-commerce and online marketplaces like Amazon and Shopify will increase demand for last-mile delivery services. 
• Urbanization and changing consumer expectations are creating new markets for ultra-fast, localized deliveries like DoorDash and Uber Eats. 
• The development of specialized niches, such as art transport or sensitive document delivery, offers opportunities for courier drivers to develop expertise in high-value sectors. 
• The shift towards sustainability could create demand for eco-friendly delivery methods, like electric vehicles or bicycle couriers, opening new roles in "green" logistics.

At the end of the day, the courier market is changing but it’s not going away anytime soon. For people who like to work on their own and who like to be out on the road, beinga courier driver is a great option to make money and be your own boss.