What You'll Do

  • Walk, ride bicycles, drive vehicles, or use public conveyances to reach destinations to deliver messages or materials.
  • Load vehicles with listed goods, ensuring goods are loaded correctly and taking precautions with hazardous goods.
  • Unload and sort items collected along delivery routes.
  • Receive messages or materials to be delivered, and information on recipients, such as names, addresses, telephone numbers, and delivery instructions, communicated via telephone, two-way radio, or in person.
  • Plan and follow the most efficient routes for delivering goods.
  • Deliver messages and items, such as newspapers, documents, and packages, between establishment departments and to other establishments and private homes.
  • Sort items to be delivered according to the delivery route.
  • Obtain signatures and payments, or arrange for recipients to make payments.
  • Record information, such as items received and delivered and recipients' responses to messages.
  • Check with home offices after completed deliveries to confirm deliveries and collections and to receive instructions for other deliveries.

Essential Skills

Active Listening 3.25/5
Speaking 3.25/5
Time Management 3.25/5
Reading Comprehension 3.0/5
Writing 3.0/5
Critical Thinking 3.0/5
Service Orientation 3.0/5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.88/5
Monitoring 2.75/5
Social Perceptiveness 2.75/5
Coordination 2.75/5
Active Learning 2.62/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Helper: Supporting people and making a difference matters to you.

Common styles

Dependability, Attention to Detail, Integrity, Independence, Self-Control

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Oral Comprehension 3.62/5
Oral Expression 3.62/5
Written Comprehension 3.25/5
Multilimb Coordination 3.25/5
Near Vision 3.25/5
Far Vision 3.25/5
Speech Recognition 3.25/5
Written Expression 3.12/5

Technologies & Tools

Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Word Route mapping software

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.68/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.56/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.4/5)
  • Independence (High importance: 3.84/5)
  • Self-Control (High importance: 3.77/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Bank Courier Bank Messenger Bank Runner Bicycle Messenger Bill Distributor Bill Hiker Bill Peddler Call Person Call Worker Person Caller Circular Distributor Copy Chaser Copy Messenger Copy Worker Courier Courier Delivery Driver Court Messenger Crew Caller Deliverer Delivery Clerk Delivery Courier Delivery Driver Delivery Person Diplomatic Courier Distributor DOT Courier (Department of Transportation Courier) Driver Driver Messenger Errand Runner Food Courier Freight Caller General Runner Laboratory Courier Mail Carrier Mail Messenger Mailroom Courier Medical Courier Merchandise Deliverer Message Clerk Messenger Messenger Floorperson Office Messenger Office Messenger Helper Office Runner Outside Deliverer Package Delivery Room Service Runner Page Pager Pick Up Man Pick Up Worker Proof Carrier Route Aide Runner Sample Distributor Security Messenger Service Runner Singing Messenger Telegraph Messenger Telegraph Office Route Aide Telephone Messenger Transporter Tube Operator Vehicle Delivery Worker Yard Caller