Quick facts
- Many trucking companies offer both local and long-distance opportunities.
- Most local delivery drivers primarily drive in urban areas.
- Local delivery drivers are generally home every night and enjoy a better work/life balance than drivers in other sectors.
- Highway driving experience is valuable to many employers, so drivers interested in local delivery should consider looking for a position where they may be able to earn both types of experience.
Seasonality
Work is nonseasonal, but some employers will have busier periods.
Method of pay
Hourly pay for local drivers is common but drivers may also be paid by a percentage of the truck’s revenue or by the load.
Equipment and tasks
While the daily tasks of local delivery drivers will vary significantly between companies, all work is local.
Equipment
Equipment used in local delivery can range from small vans that only need a Class 5 licence to full-sized tractor-trailers with specialized equipment, like power-takeoffs for loading fluid products or boom cranes for loading flatbed trailers. Those working in general freight will most commonly see van trailers. Powered liftgates, pallet jacks, and hand trucks are common pieces of equipment that local freight drivers will use during their routines.
Tasks
Drivers can expect to perform common driving-specific tasks, like city and highway driving, pre-and post-trip vehicle inspections, cargo securement, and customer service-related responsibilities. They may have paperwork or electronic devices to track their shipments, may have to unload and load their vehicles at customer sites, and may have to load and unload their vehicles at terminals or warehouses.
Lifestyle in the industry
Local delivery work is characterized by being close to a central location. As a result, a better work/life balance is often seen in this sector; although, the work can be more physically demanding and customer service-orientated than sectors involving long-distance driving.
Work shifts
Day shifts of 10 hours or less are quite common for local delivery jobs. Some companies specifically service customers who require nighttime deliveries. In these instances, drivers will work at night. Overtime and weekend work may be required.
Physical demands
The physical nature of local delivery jobs depends on the freight being hauled. Dockworkers, not drivers, are often responsible for loading and unloading at warehouses; however, drivers often physically handle heavy items either by hand or with an assistive device like a pallet jack. Drivers frequently climb in and out of their cabs and trailers.
Work/life balance
With local delivery, drivers are generally home at night (or during the day if they’re night shift workers).
Predictability
Work and shifts are generally predictable and scheduled if a driver has a dedicated run. This varies greatly between employers.
On call
Many positions have an on-call component, but this varies between employers.
Unionization
In this sector, unionization is common but not universal.
Getting Started
Drivers have to pass standard pre-hire safety checks before being hired. While the new hire learns their position, there should be a company orientation followed by a period of mentorship with an experienced driver. Often, a new driver may work as a swamper (someone who assists a driver in loading and unloading tasks) to learn how to do the job before being able to work independently.
Local driving positions are a great entry point for commercial drivers in Alberta, and local delivery drivers may get started in many different ways. They could apply for a warehouse position (like dockworker), and then later apply to be a driver. This could include gaining Class 1 experience as an in-yard shunt driver. They may also start on smaller vehicles and work their way into larger ones as they obtain higher licence classes.
Mandatory requirements
The right class of licence will be needed for the vehicles being driven, which could be a Class 5 licence for drivers at companies where small delivery vans and cube trucks are in use. Drug and alcohol testing is common along with criminal record checks.
Preferred skills & previous experience
Applicants with excellent customer service skills, a positive attitude towards safety, and calmness under pressure are preferred, along with previous driving experience in the local area.
Red flags
Drivers in this sector work alongside large equipment, like forklifts and shunt trucks. They also interact with many people, including members of the public, throughout their day. Those interested in starting a career as a driver in this sector should be on the lookout for these potential red flags (aka signs that an employer may not be operating safely):
- Equipment and vehicles that are in poor condition.
- Being pressured to become an owner-operator early into one’s career or any other signs of employee misclassification.
- A lack of safety training by an employer, including transportation-specific training for the vehicles being driven and training on how to safely load and unload equipment.
- Dangerous warehousing and freight management practices, such as not providing dangerous goods training and storing such products haphazardly.
