Becoming a self-employed delivery driver isn’t just about finding a job; it’s a unique role filled with challenges and opportunities that can help you grow personally and professionally. While the core task is delivering goods to customers, the experience can equip you with valuable soft and hard skills applicable to various aspects of life. In this article, we’ll explore ten skills you’re likely to gain as a self-employed delivery driver.
1. Mastering Time Management
As a delivery driver, you’ll become a pro at managing your time. Planning efficient routes, sticking to delivery schedules, and optimising your workday becomes second nature. This skill isn’t limited to your profession; it spills over into managing personal tasks effectively.
2. Navigational Expertise
Navigating through city streets and rural roads becomes a breeze for delivery drivers. You’ll become skilled at reading maps, using GPS systems, and developing an in-depth knowledge of local geography, which enhances your overall sense of direction.
3. Problem-Solving Abilities
Delivery drivers often encounter unexpected challenges, from traffic jams to address issues. These experiences sharpen your problem-solving skills as you find creative solutions to ensure deliveries go off without a hitch.
4. Exceptional Customer Service
Interacting with customers is a significant part of the job. You could take this opportunity to learn how to communicate effectively, handle inquiries, and provide excellent customer service, skills that can be applied in various customer-facing roles as your career progresses.
5. Adaptability to Change
The delivery landscape is ever-evolving. Adapting to new delivery technologies, apps, and routes is a must to ensure you remain efficient in your role. Learning to be adaptable extends to changes in your personal and professional life too and will serve you well in any future role.
6. Organisational Skills
Managing packages, invoices, and delivery records demand excellent organisational skills. Keeping on top of your workload and finding ways to better the efficiency of your day-to-day tasks increases your productivity and in turn your income prospects. The ability to keep things in order extends to better efficiency in all areas of your life.
7. Responsibility and Accountability
As a self-employed delivery driver, your success is in your hands and ultimately you will get back what you put into it. Being self-employed gives you the opportunity to develop a real sense of responsibility for your actions, meet deadlines, and be accountable for your work. While this can be a challenge and does require hard work, this will enhance your critical skills for self-discipline and entrepreneurship.
8. Stress Management
The role of a delivery driver can be demanding and occasionally stressful with successful deliveries and targets being a priority every day. Learning to manage stress is crucial for maintaining your composure and making rational decisions under pressure, this is especially important while driving. Learning to manage your stress, honing your workflow, and finding more efficient ways of working may be challenging, but it will give you the skills that enable you to handle all types of situations calmly and effectively, which often produces the best results.
9. Financial Skills
Self-employed delivery drivers often manage their finances independently. As a delivery driver, you will gain valuable financial skills including budgeting, tracking expenses and allowances, and understanding taxation. While these skills are all important to help you run your business and maximise your income, they are also transferrable to your personal life. Check out our recent article “A guide to Allowable Expenses for Self-Employed Delivery Drivers”, for handy tips on which expenses you are able to claim for.
10. Building Customer Relationships
Building good rapport with regular customers and/or the companies that you contract can lead to good working relationships and repeat business. The ability to establish and nurture business relationships as a delivery driver is a skill that can also be applied in networking settings. Networking with these skills could further encourage new business and word-of-mouth referrals and increase your earning opportunities.
Conclusion
Being a self-employed delivery driver isn’t just about delivering packages; it is an opportunity to enhance your professional and personal life from the skills you gain as a result of being a delivery driver. From time management to customer service, these skills will serve you well in many areas of your life. So, as you start on your career as a delivery driver, remember that you are not just delivering parcels; you’re also investing in your own growth.
