### Bureau of Labor Statistics U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers Summary
                        
            
                                                        
                                                                
                        
            
            
            
                            
                                                
                                                
                                                
                                                
            						
							
				                                                
                                            




            			delivery truck drivers and driver sales workers imageDelivery drivers and driver/sales workers transport goods around an urban area or small region.							
						Quick Facts:     Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers2023     Median Pay
            						$39,950     per year
										$19.21     per hourTypical Entry-Level Education
                                    High school diploma or equivalentWork Experience in a Related Occupation
                                    NoneOn-the-job Training
                                    Short-term on-the-job trainingNumber of Jobs, 2022
                                    1,705,600Job Outlook, 2022-32
                                    10% (Much faster than average)Employment Change, 2022-32
                                    175,700What Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers Do
                                                
                        
                        
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers pick up, transport, and drop off packages and small shipments within a local region or urban area.
            
                        Work Environment
                        
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers have a physically demanding job. Driving a truck for long periods can be tiring. When loading and unloading cargo, drivers do a lot of lifting, carrying, and walking.
            
                                                How to Become a Delivery Truck Driver or Driver/Sales Worker
                                                
                        
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter these occupations. However, some opportunities exist for those without a high school diploma. Workers undergo 1 month or less of on-the-job training. They must have a driver’s license from the state in which they work and have a clean driving record.
            
                        Pay
                        												                            																				    														The median annual wage for driver/sales workers was $35,420 in May 2023.									                                														The median annual wage for light truck drivers was $42,470 in May 2023.									                                					
						
            
                        Job Outlook
                        						
												Overall employment							of delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers is projected to grow							 10 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
						About 203,800 openings for delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
            			
            			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
						State & Area Data
                       Explore resources for employment and wages by state and area for delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers.
            
            
						
                        Similar Occupations
                        
                                                    Compare the job duties, education, job growth, and pay of delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers with similar occupations.
            
            
                        More Information, Including Links to O*NET
                        
                                               
                        Learn more about delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers by visiting additional resources, including O*NET, a source on key characteristics of workers and occupations.
 What Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers Do 
            

			Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workersDelivery drivers drop off packages with customers.			
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers pick up, transport, and drop off packages and small shipments within a local region or urban area. They drive trucks weighing less than 26,001 pounds total for vehicle, passengers, and cargo. Delivery truck drivers usually transport merchandise from a distribution center to businesses and households.
Duties
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers typically do the following:
Load and unload their cargo
Communicate with customers to determine pickup and delivery needs
Report any incidents they encounter on the road to a dispatcher
Follow applicable traffic laws
Report mechanical problems to the appropriate personnel
Keep their truck and associated equipment clean and in working order
Accept payments for delivery
Handle paperwork, such as receipts or delivery confirmation noticesMost drivers generally receive instructions to go to a delivery location at a particular time, and it is up to them to determine the best route. Other drivers have a regular daily or weekly delivery schedule. All drivers must understand an area’s street grid and know which roads allow trucks and which do not.
The following examples are types of delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers:
***Driver/sales workers*** are delivery drivers who also have sales responsibilities. They recommend products to businesses and solicit new customers. These drivers may have a regular delivery route and may be responsible for adding clients who are located along their route. For example, they may make regular deliveries to a hardware store and encourage the store’s manager to offer a new product.
Some driver/sales workers use their own vehicles to deliver goods to customers, such as takeout food, and accept payment for those goods. Freelance or independent driver/sales workers may use smartphone apps to find specific delivery jobs.
***Light truck drivers,*** often called *pickup and delivery* or *P&D drivers,* are the most common type of delivery driver. They drive small trucks or vans from distribution centers to delivery locations. Drivers make deliveries based on a set schedule. Some drivers stop at the distribution center once only, in the morning, and make many stops throughout the day. Others make multiple trips between the distribution center and delivery locations. Some drivers make deliveries from a retail location to customers.
 Work Environment
			Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workersDelivery truck drivers load and unload packages.			

	    
				
	
	
	
	
	
	
	    					 Driver/sales workers held about 541,000 jobs in 2022. The largest employers of driver/sales workers were as follows:
        Restaurants and other eating places
                45%Wholesale trade
                18Retail trade
                11Self-employed workers
                8Light truck drivers held about 1.2 million jobs in 2022. The largest employers of light truck drivers were as follows:
        Couriers and messengers
                37%Retail trade
                16Wholesale trade
                14Self-employed workers
                8Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers have physically demanding jobs. When loading and unloading cargo, drivers do a lot of lifting, carrying, and walking. Driving in congested traffic or adhering to strict delivery timelines can also be stressful.
Injuries and Illnesses
Light truck drivers have one of the highest rates of injuries and illnesses of all occupations. Injuries can result from workers lifting and moving heavy objects, as well as from automobile accidents.
Work Schedules
Most drivers work full time, and some work more than 40 hours per week. Those who have regular routes sometimes must begin work very early in the morning or work late at night. For example, a driver who delivers bread to a deli every day must arrive before the deli opens. Drivers often work weekends and holidays, and their schedules may vary.
 How to Become a Delivery Truck Driver or Driver/Sales Worker

			Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workersDrivers need to maintain a clean driving record and be able to navigate city streets.			
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers typically need a high school diploma or equivalent to enter these occupations. However, some opportunities exist for those without a high school diploma. Workers undergo 1 month or less of on-the-job training. They must have a driver’s license from the state in which they work and have a clean driving record.
Education
Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers typically enter the occupation with a high school diploma or equivalent.
Training
Companies train new delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers on the job. This may include training from a driver-mentor who rides along with a new employee to make sure that the driver is able to operate a truck safely on crowded streets.
New-driver training also covers company policies about package dropoffs and returns, taking payment, and what to do with damaged goods.
Driver/sales workers must learn detailed information about the products they offer. Their company also may teach them proper sales techniques, such as how to approach new customers.
Licenses, Certifications, and Registrations
All delivery drivers need a driver’s license.
Other Experience
Some delivery drivers begin as package loaders at warehouse facilities, especially if the driver works for a large company. For more information, see the profile on hand laborers and material movers.
Important Qualities
***Customer-service skills*.** When completing deliveries, drivers often interact with customers and should make a good impression to ensure repeat business.
***Hand–eye coordination*.** Drivers need to observe their surroundings at all times while operating a vehicle.
***Math skills*.** Because delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers sometimes take payment, they must be able to count cash and make change quickly and accurately.
***Patience*.** When driving through heavy traffic congestion, delivery drivers must remain calm and composed.
***Sales skills*.** Driver/sales workers are expected to persuade customers to purchase new or different products.
***Visual ability*.** To have a driver’s license, delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers must be able to pass a state vision test.
 Pay

			



	
 
                                                     
            
    
                        Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales WorkersMedian annual wages, May 2023Total, all occupations$48,060  Motor vehicle operators$47,490  Light truck drivers$42,470  Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers$39,950  Driver/sales workers$35,420Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics
 

	
	



		
	
	
	
The median annual wage for driver/sales workers was $35,420 in May 2023. 


The median wage is the wage at which half the workers in an occupation earned more than that amount and half earned less. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $20,800, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $61,080.The median annual wage for light truck drivers was $42,470 in May 2023. 


The lowest 10 percent earned less than $28,070, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $75,090.





		
	    					 In May 2023, the median annual wages for driver/sales workers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Wholesale trade
                $45,700Retail trade
                35,200Restaurants and other eating places
                27,370In May 2023, the median annual wages for light truck drivers in the top industries in which they worked were as follows:	
        Couriers and messengers
                $46,990Wholesale trade
                41,140Retail trade
                32,020Some drivers/sales workers, such as pizza delivery workers, receive tips in addition to hourly wages. Sales workers can also receive commissions from the products they sell.
Most drivers work full time, and some work more than 40 hour per week. Those who have regular routes sometimes must begin work very early in the morning or work late at night. For example, a driver who delivers bread to a deli every day must arrive before the deli opens. Drivers often work weekends and holidays, and their schedules may vary.
 Job Outlook

   
        
    
          
        
    
                        Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales WorkersPercent change in employment, projected 2022-32Light truck drivers11%  Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers10%  Driver/sales workers8%  Motor vehicle operators7%  Total, all occupations3%Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the U.S. Economy.Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program
            
            
			 
	
	
	

			Overall employment				of delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers is projected to grow				 10 percent from 2022 to 2032, much faster than the average for all occupations.
			
			About 203,800 openings for delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.
			
			 Many of those openings are expected to result from the need to replace workers who transfer to different occupations or exit the labor force, such as to retire.
			Employment
	
			
Projected employment of delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers varies by occupation (see table).
Continued growth of e-commerce should increase demand for package delivery services, especially for large and regional shipping companies. More light truck drivers will be needed to fulfill the growing number of e-commerce transactions. Drone delivery services also may be used for some deliveries over the projections decade. However, this technology is expected to complement rather than fully replace these workers, so the downward employment effect is expected to be modest.
The general demand for delivery options is expected to remain strong. Therefore, employment of driver/sales workers is projected to grow as these workers continue to be needed to deliver food, medical supplies, and other items.
			

                        Employment projections data for     delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers, 2022-32
                Occupational Title
                        SOC Code
                        Employment, 2022
                        Projected Employment, 2032
                        Change, 2022-32
                        Employment by IndustryPercent
                        NumericSOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program**Delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers**
			—
			1,705,600
			1,881,300
			10
			175,700
			—**Driver/sales workers**
			53-3031
			541,000
			582,900
			8
			41,900
			Get data**Light truck drivers**
			53-3033
			1,164,600
			1,298,400
			11
			133,800
			Get data
 State & Area Data **Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS)** The Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS) program produces employment and wage estimates annually for over 800 occupations. These estimates are available for the nation as a whole, for individual states, and for metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas. The link(s) below go to OES data maps for employment and wages by state and area. Driver/sales workers
					Light truck drivers **Projections Central** Occupational employment projections are developed for all states by Labor Market Information (LMI) or individual state Employment Projections offices. All state projections data are available at www.projectionscentral.com. Information on this site allows projected employment growth for an occupation to be compared among states or to be compared within one state. In addition, states may produce projections for areas; there are links to each state’s websites where these data may be retrieved. **CareerOneStop** CareerOneStop includes hundreds of occupational profiles with data available by state and metro area. There are links in the left-hand side menu to compare occupational employment by state and occupational wages by local area or metro area. There is also a salary info tool to search for wages by zip code.
 Similar Occupations This table shows a list of occupations with job duties that are similar to those of delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers. Occupation
                Job Duties
                ENTRY-LEVEL EDUCATION
                2023     MEDIAN PAY**Bus Drivers**
            Bus drivers transport people between various places.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $48,230**Hand Laborers and Material Movers**
            Hand laborers and material movers manually move freight, stock, or other materials.
            See How to Become One
            $36,770**Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers**
            Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers transport goods from one location to another.
            Postsecondary nondegree award
            $54,320**Material Recording Clerks**
            Material recording clerks track product information in order to keep businesses and supply chains on schedule.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $44,210**Postal Service Workers**
            Postal service workers sell postage and related products and collect, sort, and deliver mail.
            No formal educational credential
            $56,510**Railroad Workers**
            Railroad workers ensure that passenger and freight trains operate safely. They may drive trains, coordinate the activities of the trains, or control signals and switches in the rail yard.
            High school diploma or equivalent
            $73,580**Water Transportation Workers**
            Water transportation workers operate and maintain vessels that take cargo and people over water.
            See How to Become One
            $64,930
 Contacts for More Information
								
For more information about truck drivers, including delivery truck drivers and driver/sales workers, visit
American Trucking Associations

                                                
                                                        
                                                                                                    O*NET
                                        Driver/Sales WorkersLight Truck Drivers
 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S.  Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Delivery Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers, 
        	 at https://www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/delivery-truck-drivers-and-driver-sales-workers.htm (visited *May 21, 2024*).
 **Last Modified Date:**
                        Wednesday, April 17, 2024


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