Building delivery experience for the new courier
It’s an age old conundrum. The job is available, but only to the experienced courier. Likewise the inexperienced driver wants to get experience running deliveries. However, only experienced drivers are considered.
With this in mind, gaining delivery experience, can feel like a catch twenty two. Or an unsolvable dilemma. However, building delivery experience, is possible. Particularly, experience that will benefit the courier. Here are a few ideas to help build delivery experience. The table of contents below, can be used to skip ahead to a desired section.
- Building Delivery Experience
- Start Small
- Put in the Time
- Expand Experience
- Continue Learning
- Safety First
Whether it be for side hustle, or for a brick and mortar restaurant brand, delivery experience is actually cumulative. In fact, many articles on this site, reference the process of at home delivery. For example, the process is the same on every delivery. However, every delivery, is different.
Building delivery experience
The same holds true for gaining delivery experience. Starting somewhere, is starting. Furthermore, starting in some places, requires more experience than starting in other places. For example, a delivery app.
There’s a reason they want experienced drivers. Anyone using a delivery app to complete deliveries, wants to make money at it. And building experience is how to start. This isn’t to say the driver needs courier experience from the start. Indeed, courier experience, and road experience, are not mutually exclusive. They’re just different.
For this reason, potential couriers need at least two years of general road experience. Additionally, previous delivery experience is favored. Therefore getting the experience is important.
Start Small
They’re different, because one can lead to the other. Likewise, these two things compliment one another. In other words they lead to getting paid. Therefore, if the prospective courier is looking for experience, a merchant with a delivery crew is a good place to start. Not only will the courier learn the basics, but also there is help with the learning curve.
There are many merchants that also have in-house delivery crews. Be persistent, and apply to as many as possible. Talk to managers whenever possible, and express interest.
And the number one thing to remember is… open availability. And yes that absolutely means weekends. In fact, working the weekends is bread and butter for the courier.
Put in the Time for Delivery Experience
It may take consistent effort to land a delivery job. However, once the new courier is hired, persistent effort will be the key. Working extra hours is a great way to gain experience. And get paid. Similarly it allows the courier to become very familiar with an area. Or zone.
Familiarity with a zone, becomes one of the courier’s greatest assets. Having a reliable timing system, not tech related, is an underrated benefit. Therefore, it helps. Once again, consistency is the key.
Putting in the time needed, is a valuable way to learn. Once the courier becomes more familiar with the job and the process, the earning potential grows.
Expand the Experience
Now it’s time to grow. Once the new courier has some experience under their belt it’s possible to expand. Perhaps the courier is looking to drive for another brand. Or maybe it is a matter of adding additional income, by using a delivery app.
Once the new courier has some real world experience, it is easier to grow that experience.
This applies to jobs offered by employers. And also work that is available using a delivery app. In fact, delivery apps appreciate a courier that has real world experience.
This is training an app can use. Similarly there are many different merchants. So expanding work experience to include other brands, is an advantage.
Continue Learning
Expanding experience drives the need to continue learning. A courier that continues to learn, also improves. When a courier improves, so do the stats. Particularly completion times.
And every courier knows the faster a delivery is completed, the faster the courier is onto the next.
This is why learning delivery techniques is so important. Additionally, the courier can stay up to date on safety issues and current trends. Whatever it is the courier needs to learn, the benefit will be in learning it proactively. When possible.
Safety First
Safety first, is the first thing a new courier learns when starting out with a merchant. Many merchants with in-house delivery crews also have specific training for their couriers.
Similarly, most delivery apps have dedicated safety features for couriers. This is a bonus for the courier. Safety should always be a top priority. This is a general rule that is non-negotiable. On the road. And off the road.
With this in mind, a safety first approach to delivery completions, is important for the courier. Both new and old. Stay safe out there.
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