In this day and age, delivery driving as a career is becoming more and more popular. From food delivery to Amazon deliveries, there are plenty of opportunities for work in this industry!
Whether you’re looking for a side hustle in the evenings or a steady full-time gig, we’ve got you covered on how to become a delivery driver in BC.
Delivery Driver Licensing
Any type of delivery driver will require you to obtain a class 5 or class 7N licence at the minimum, and from there it will vary depending on the specific kind of delivery job you’re aiming for. For most food delivery companies like UberEats, DoorDash, and Skip the Dishes, a class 5 or class 7N is all you need as far as licensing is concerned!
If you’re interested in delivering people instead of food, you’ll need to hold a class 4 licence . For ride-hailing jobs, you’ll need a minimum of a class 4 restricted licence and for driving larger vehicles like ambulances, or limos with a seating capacity of greater than 10 and no more than 25, you’ll need a class 4 unrestricted licence. A class 4 licence, restricted or unrestricted, can be obtained once you have a class 5 licence. A class 2 licence also allows you to drive class 4 vehicles, and in addition allows you to drive transit and school buses that have a seating capacity of more than 25!
Some delivery driver jobs may require driving a larger, class 5/7 vehicle like a single-axle cube van. Vehicles that are rated for a larger carrying capacity will often come equipped with an air brake system to provide additional safety measures. To legally utilize an air brake equipped, class 5/7 vehicle, drivers must have the code 15 air brake endorsement . Make sure to confirm if this is a requirement of any delivery driver job you’re applying for!
Additional Requirements for Delivery Drivers
Aside from the licensing requirements, delivery drivers must also meet prerequisites set out by the specific company they’re applying to. These requirements will differ depending on the job and company, but you may be required to also have completed secondary school, have at least one year of safe driving experience, complete training through the company you’re applying to, have eligibility for bonding, and may even be required to hold a transportation of dangerous goods (TDG) certification.
In addition to what’s on your resume, some delivery jobs will also require tools and equipment every time you head out for a shift. For food delivery drivers, this can include providing your own vehicle and insurance, a smartphone with a data plan, as well as thermal bags. For cargo or package delivery, some positions will require you to have your own vehicle and smartphone while others will supply the vehicle for you.
No matter what you’re delivering, you should also wear some comfortable clothing and shoes, and have some outerwear on hand in case the weather turns. You may find yourself climbing stairs or frequently lifting heavy parcels or food deliveries. Being physically fit and in good shape could be a benefit for any delivery job. You may also want to consider equipping your vehicle with an emergency roadside kit and brushing up on your emergency vehicle maintenance, like changing a flat tire . since you’ll be spending a fair amount of time on the road you’ll want to be prepared!
Food & Package Delivery Companies
For some delivery jobs, like food and package delivery, you may be able to use your own vehicle and a class 5 or class 7N licence. Vehicle restrictions or requirements may apply depending on what company you’re delivering for, and what contents you’re delivering.
Food Delivery Services
Uber Eats is a food delivery service that is run by the company Uber. Users order their food or groceries and are then matched with a driver who will pick up the food and deliver it to the user’s desired location. Drivers are paid based on their trips as well as user tips.
Skip The Dishes couriers make money through delivery fees and customer tips. The take home wages will vary depending on how many deliveries a driver makes, and how far they drive for each order. Skip is a similar system to Uber Eats, where users order food or groceries and have them delivered by their driver. Skip the Dishes also bases income off of distance and tips from users. Drivers collect 100% of their tips.
DoorDash is another food delivery service that allows drivers to collect wages from a base pay system, plus tips, as well as promotions that the company runs periodically. The base pay is calculated on time, distance, and desirability of the order. Like Skip The Dishes, DoorDash drivers collect 100% of the tips. The promotions that DoorDash has for their drivers include peak pay, which offers higher rates for deliveries made during certain times, and challenges, which offer extra money for completing a certain number of deliveries within a set time.
Cargo & Package Delivery Services
Amazon Flex allows you to work as a delivery partner, choosing scheduled times and dates for delivering. When selecting a delivery block, you will be able to confirm the expected earnings and length of time required to complete the deliveries. Packages are picked up from an Amazon drop location and then it’s up to you to deliver and get paid! New opportunities regularly become available across BC, and other provinces, with Amazon being fairly transparent about what they have at any given time. All you need for Amazon flex is, at minimum, a class 5 or class 7N licence and a mid-sized vehicle.
Delivery agent positions are widely available through Canada Post as well. Canada Post requires their delivery agents to have a class 5 licence and a safe driving record that spans at least three years. Canada Post will typically require candidates to successfully complete a physical test to ensure you will be able to meet the requirements around walking, climbing stairs and lifting that the job requires. A marked company vehicle is provided for their drivers, and while Canada Post has a variety of full-time, part-time, temporary, and permanent positions, these are not considered contract work like many of the other delivery jobs out there.
In addition to the above cargo delivery companies, there are many local or national companies that are also looking for drivers. Consider employers like FedEx, UPS and DHL if you'd like to deliver parcels.
Ride-hailing Companies
Ride-hailing jobs within BC will require you to hold a class 4, class 2, or class 1 commercial licence, as per ICBC’s licensing requirements. Like food delivery services, you will need to supply your own vehicle and a smartphone.
Ride-hailing Services
Lyft was one of the first ride-hailing services to come to British Columbia, and promotes themselves as the leader in driver (and passenger) safety. In addition to the base fare, time, and distance that goes towards calculating the driver’s wages, Lyft also provides a long list of bonuses and rewards for driving with them. These include an earnings guarantee, ride streaks and challenges, power zones, new driver promos, referral rewards, and multi-tier bonuses.
Uber is a ride-hailing service where the user chooses a location and is then matched with a driver who will pick up and drop off at their chosen location. Rates are based on time, how busy it is, and length of trip. Drivers will receive a minimum payment for each trip which may be higher for longer trips or during surge pricing. During surge pricing, drivers are able to earn more money due to higher demand.
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Delivery driver jobs are a great option for adding some income to your day job. They can also be a long-lasting and legitimate driving career with endless opportunities to upgrade and improve. Once you have the right licence in your wallet, it’s easy to get started and get moving!