23 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You usually start by checking the vehicle, fuel, and a digital manifest (package location and tracking). Dispatch sends routes via automatic routing or GPS around 6–8 AM, and you confirm loads against shipping papers and inventory management records.
Most of the day is driving in urban areas, loading and unloading vans, carrying packages to doors, reporting delays or accidents by radio or phone, and updating computerized inventory tracking and vehicle logs. You finish by returning undelivered items, cleaning duties, and filing records in FreightDATA or Excel.
Expect automatic routing and GPS for navigation, package location and tracking systems for scans, and computerized inventory tracking or FreightDATA to match loads to shipping papers. Companies also use Microsoft Excel and Outlook for logs and messages.
You’ll also use mobile radios or phones to report delays and may enter vehicle mechanical reports into a recordkeeping system like Eko or the company’s inventory management platform. Learn basic Excel and how to read the tracking interface.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports 983,300 employed in related roles. Median pay is $44,860 per year. The lowest tenth earn about $30,800 and the top tenth about $80,310, according to BLS 2025 data.
Pay varies by employer, hours, location, and whether you drive heavy trucks or vans. Overtime and tips (if allowed) can raise weekly take-home pay.
If you’ll manoeuvre heavy trucks you usually need a commercial driver’s license (CDL) — the specific class depends on vehicle weight and your state. Employers also train you on safe stowage equipment and loading bulk trucks.
For vans and light trucks, companies often provide on-the-job training: reading maps, using GPS and automatic routing, vehicle cargo capacity rules, and how to report mechanical problems and keep vehicle logs.
You can use AI for ideas, like suggesting efficient routes, but rely on the company’s automatic routing and GPS for final plans because they account for live traffic, delivery windows, and vehicle capacity. Don’t overwrite those systems without dispatcher permission.
For customer messages, use AI drafts cautiously: verify times, avoid giving guarantees you can’t keep, and don’t share private tracking numbers. Always log any message in the company system (Outlook, FreightDATA, or package tracking).
A home delivery concierge spends most of their time driving and delivering to customers’ doors, using GPS, automatic routing, and package tracking. You handle vehicle logs, perform cleaning duties, and may report traffic incidents by radio.
Warehouse pickers focus on pulling items and inventory management inside a facility, though both use inventory tracking systems. Couriers often carry smaller loads and may not handle supervised teams, routing optimization, or heavy truck manoeuvring.
Strong route planning and map-reading skills plus comfort with GPS and automatic routing systems matter. Good ones match inventory loads to shipping papers quickly, keep accurate vehicle logs in Excel or FreightDATA, and report issues fast via radio or phone.
People skills are also key: resolving delivery issues and calming upset customers, mentoring junior drivers if you lead a team, and physically safe loading/unloading using stowage equipment. Reliability and clear recordkeeping make you valuable.