To become a van driver, you must meet certain requirements, such as having a high school diploma or GED certificate. As well as a clean record and exceptional driving skills. You will likewise need to have communication and customer service skills and the ability to manage your time wisely.
Driving a van can be a great job if you have the necessary qualifications and the ability to do the work. This is a great job option for anyone looking to work alone or have extra freedom while working.
As a van driver, you will be able to work on your own with limited supervision and with above minimum pay. It’s the perfect option for anyone who loves to drive and can do so for hours at a time.
You Have to Meet Certain Requirements
To become a van driver, you have to meet certain requirements to get the job. The good thing is that these requirements are minimal, and most people already have them.
Unlike other jobs, you don’t need to have previous experience to become a van driver. Most companies will overlook a lack of experience if you have the driving qualities.
This is why this is oftentimes an ideal job option for those with limited education and a lack of real-world job experience. With this type of job, you just jump in and start to do the work with minimal fuss or hassle.
Have a High School Diploma or GED
In order to become a van driver, you need to have your high school diploma or have gotten your GED certificate. Either one will work, but you must have one to prove your level of education.
This is mainly just used to show that you have the necessary math, writing, and language skills required to do the job. Even though this is a simple job, it still requires a certain level of education.
Though the bulk of the job is driving, there will be plenty of written work that will need your attention. There are other small tasks that have to get done, and these companies need proof that you are capable of doing the job.
Many companies even value a GED certificate more highly than they do a high school diploma.
Clean Driving Record
In order to become a van driver, you must have a clean driving record, this is non-negotiable. All driving companies are required by law to do this kind of background check.
This will often include a basic three-year background check to look for any driving-related incidents. They will also look into your driving record in every state you have lived in.
This is a necessary requirement as they are liable for the drivers they hire. None of these companies want to hire someone who has been shown to be a dangerous or reckless driver.
This is one thing that could make or break your chances of getting the job if your record is not clean.
Strong Driving Skills
If you want to become a van driver, you must have very strong driving skills. This is an obvious requirement for the job as you will be doing a lot of driving for your work.
Driving is the bulk of the job, which is why these companies will be looking to see how strong a driver you are. The better the driver, the safer and faster they will be.
This will often involve the company giving you a driving test to test out your driving skills. This won’t be anything too complicated; it is just an example of your abilities to drive and navigate a van.
If you are not used to driving a large van, you may want to find a way to practice beforehand so that you look more experienced. It is important that you come across as confident when taking this kind of driving test.
Communication and Customer Service Skills
Van drivers are required to have exceptional communication and customer service skills. This may seem odd for a job that mainly includes driving, but that isn’t all you will be doing.
Though the bulk of your job will be driving, you will also need to communicate with your supervisor and the companies that you are delivering to.
As a driver, you will often have to report on your progress and communicate with the places you are transporting to. This will require a certain level of communication and customer service skills.
This is something to keep in mind when applying for van driving jobs, as this is an important part of the job listing.
Time Management Abilities
As a driver, you will be running practically on your own schedule as you drive to meet your deadlines. These deadlines can be tight at times, but you have the freedom to meet them as you please.
Because you will be creating your own driving schedule, it is very important that you be good at time management. If you aren’t and underestimate the time it takes to complete a delivery, you could end up in big trouble.
This is why time management is another key detail that companies will look into. Even though this is not necessarily something they can check up on, you want to make sure you are being honest. Although if you are using a company’s delivery app, they might be able to trace you through it.
You will only be hurting yourself if you pretend to have exceptional time management skills. It’s a lie that will eventually come back to haunt you.
Van Drivers Typically Make $29,352 Yearly
Van drivers typically earn about $29,352 per year, which comes to about $13.43 per hour. This is almost double the federal minimum wage, which is $7.25 per hour.
The minimum wage differs by state, however, so where you live may affect just how much you make per hour. The company you are working for might also make a difference as higher-class driving companies may pay a bit more.
This is not an exceptional wage as it puts you slightly below what is considered a lower-class income in the U.S.
For some people, this might be their dream job as they get to work alone with minimal supervision. Driving all day at the times that they prefer. But for some, the effort might not be worth the ultimate reward.
Drivers typically work long hours and can often struggle to pick up more work while juggling what they already have. This can make becoming a driver a dead-end job.
As a driver, there is very little opportunity for moving up the work ladder, leaving you with the same job and the same wage for years. This leaves very little room to grow your income or excel at your job.
Though this income is manageable for many, it is not an ideal income. It may even not be enough to meet your basic needs depending on where you live. These are some concerns that people have about becoming a van driver.
Van Drivers Typically Work 40 Hours a Week
Most van drivers work around 40 hours per week which is considered to be a full-time job. There is a cap on how many hours you can work as you cannot work more than 60 hours over the course of seven days.
You also cannot work more than 8 hours per day over the course of eight days. Drivers must also keep a detailed log of how many hours they drive daily.
A van driver cannot drive for more than 11 hours at a time and must take one to two 15 minute breaks within that time. A driver may also drive for 14 hours if they have been off duty for at least 10 hours beforehand.
These are the rules for U.S. van drivers and may be different depending on other places you work.
These rules are very detailed as it can be very dangerous for drivers to become overworked without adequate time to rest. This could result in falling asleep at the wheel, causing collisions and other vehicle accidents.
This is something that driving companies are required to keep an eye on. It is their responsibility to make sure that their drivers are not exceeding the safety rules.
These rules can make it difficult to meet tight deadlines and pick up extra work. You may want to quickly meet your deadlines so that you can pick up more work, but you may be hindered by these tight rules.
This is another thing that can make it difficult for drivers to move up the ladder and make more money per hour.
Van Drivers are Transporting Goods
The main job that van drivers do is to transport goods from one place to another. This is often done for companies, businesses, and warehouses.
Van drivers are required to operate very large vans, often built specifically for commercial purposes like hauling and transporting. They are usually very large, with an ample amount of cargo space for storing goods.
Companies and other facilities will hire you to pick up and deliver all kinds of goods. This will be your main job as you are a kind of delivery person.
Occasionally transportation companies will hire van drivers to shuttle passengers from one place to another. This is much rarer though, and will most likely not be a very common job.
Especially since many larger vans do not have seating in the back as they are meant for hauling cargo.
As a driver, you can be certain that the majority of your job will be transporting goods from one place to another. It will be your responsibility to pick up and get the goods to their destination on time.
Depending on the items and the company, the deadlines will vary, and some might be very tight. Which is where having time management skills comes in.
Van Drivers are in High Demand
One of the best things about becoming a van driver is that van drivers are in high demand. There will always be goods that need to be transported, which gives you a certain amount of job security.
This also gives you the opportunity to move to different companies depending on what you are looking for in a job. With so many job openings, you can pick the highest-paying option or an option with other benefits.
This also means that even if you move to another location, you will most likely still be able to find employment in your area. This gives you job security as well as the freedom to move as you like without the risk of being without a job. However if you damage your clean license such as by speeding, your ability to work anywhere quickly disappears.
With van drivers in such high demand, it is also easier to get hired as companies are looking to fill up their open slots. This can give you the opportunity to start this type of work without any experience.
These types of jobs are typically so high in demand because more and more companies are needing drivers. With the consumer demands only rising, more and more drivers are needed to transport goods back and forth.
This is why becoming a driver can be such a stable job as you will always be needed. Drivers will always be required to transport goods and get them where they need to go.
Being a Driver can be Hard Work
As much as you may think that becoming a van driver will be a walk in the park, it isn’t always that. In fact, being a driver can be very hard work for many.
It may sound like a dream to simply sit in a van driving from place to place and getting a paycheck for it, but it isn’t quite that easy. Being a delivery driver can be very hard work and can become quite difficult over time.
As nice as it is to have the extra freedom, many may struggle with the long hours of driving and sitting down. It can start to take a toll on your back and leave you feeling stiff and worn out.
Driving is a boring kind of work that can make you more tired purely because it is not entertaining. To be a good driver, you will have to find ways to keep yourself alert and focused while driving.
You may also have to work shorter hours to stay sane or take more breaks to stretch your legs.
It is one of those kinds of work that sounds incredibly easy, but don’t let that fool you, it is still work.
Pros and Cons of Becoming a Van Driver
If you are thinking of becoming a van driver, there are a few things that you may just want to consider. This is one of those jobs that could be perfect for one person and a nightmare for another.
Before you jump into this kind of work, it is important to understand what you are getting into and weigh the pros and cons.
Pros
- You have the freedom to work on your own schedule as long as you meet the deadlines.
- Driving can be a very peaceful job where work alone and get to see new sights and surroundings.
- Some driving jobs allow you to basically be your own boss and work as you please, as long as you follow certain guidelines.
- It allows you to become a better driver, more skilled at navigating and driving larger vehicles.
- Some driving companies allow their drivers to bring their pets along with them on their jobs. This can help you keep them close and make the driving more enjoyable.
Cons
- This amount of driving can become pretty isolating and start to feel lonely. Not everyone will thrive while working on their own..
- Because you will be sitting down for hours at a time, this kind of work can start to take a toll on your back. It can become very uncomfortable, and you will need to practice good posture.
- Because you will be on the road most of the time, you won’t have time to really stop and eat, let alone cook. This can lead to some pretty unhealthy food habits, which could result in weight gain. You should of course make sure you have the time, but this is easier said than done.
- Though you have the opportunity to travel and see new places, you won’t get to experience much. Since you are working, you won’t get to sightsee or stop at special places.
- It can become a very sleepy job to be driving for such long hours every day. Even if you get enough rest each day, you may still find yourself struggling to stay awake after a few hours.