What does a Driver do?
Drivers can work for many different types of companies, including wholesalers, couriers, supermarkets, launderettes and online retailers. Depending on the type of business, Drivers could deliver anything including furniture, plants, food, books, household and electrical items. They make sure the customer’s goods arrive at their destination on time and in good condition. They usually work long hours and the job may be physically taxing.
Driver skills and qualifications
Apart from having to be skilled and experienced Drivers, these professionals need good interpersonal skills, as the job involves working with people on a regular basis. In addition to interacting with other staff members and management, Drivers come into direct contact with clients during their daily duties and will need to act professionally at all times. A successful Driver candidate will have various prerequisite skills and qualifications including:
- An ability to concentration ensuring road safety
- Knowledge of the area to know which back roads to take when necessary
- A clean driving record and a U.K. Driver’s licence
- Good customer skills to keep clients happy and retain them
- Being able to work well independently
- The ability to remain calm under pressure, for instance, when driving in inclement weather conditions
- Basic knowledge of computers, handheld devices and relevant electronic applications
- Good communication skills to follow instructions, work with colleagues and deal with clients
- Good eyesight and depending on the type of goods they’ll be working with, enough physical stamina and strength to pick up heavy packages of up to 70 pounds plus bending and twisting
Driver experience requirements
Drivers mostly need a few years of driving experience and must have an immaculate driving record. Depending on the employer and type of job, Drivers may also need a certain amount of professional driving experience and may need experience in driving specific types of vehicles. Previous experience in logistics will be advantageous.
Driver education and training requirements
There are no fixed education or training requirements for Drivers. However, they will need a valid U.K. Driver’s licence and employers may also require a few GCSEs, such as English and maths. As delivery Drivers, in general, don’t drive vehicles that are larger than 3,500 kilograms, they only need a standard U.K. category B Driver’s licence. Those who want to drive heavier vehicles will need to upgrade to a category C Driver’s licence. Although it’s not a requirement, candidates could complete an intermediate apprenticeship with a delivery company, which normally takes around 12 months to complete.
Driver salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for Drivers is £127 per day. Senior Drivers with more extensive experience earn on average around £29,323 per year. However, salaries will vary depending on variables like the work environment, employer and location.
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