How To Become A Van Driver: What It Is and Career Path

What is a van driver and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Van drivers are individuals who operate a van for transporting goods, equipment, or people. They may work for delivery companies, courier services, or transportation firms. Van drivers are responsible for loading and unloading cargo, planning routes, and ensuring the safety and security of their vehicle and its contents, while maintaining records and paperwork related to their deliveries. They must have a valid driver's license, a good driving record, and be familiar with traffic laws and regulations.

ScoreVan DriverUS Average

Salary

2.8

Avg. Salary $36,254

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

7.3

Growth Rate 4%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

4.8

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.79%

Asian 3.57%

Black or African American 12.18%

Hispanic or Latino 17.12%

Unknown 4.64%

White 61.69%

Gender

female 34.07%

male 65.93%

Age - 49

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 49

Stress Level

7.3

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

4.6

Complexity Level is intermediate

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

1.4

Work Life balance is very poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Van Driver?

Pros

Ability to work independently
No need for formal education or qualifications
Opportunity to listen to music or podcasts during work hours
Possibility of being your own boss if you own the van
Demand for van drivers is increasing due to e-commerce growth

Cons

Long hours spent driving can be physically taxing
Risk of accidents or traffic violations
Some customers may be difficult or unpleasant to deal with
Possibility of theft or damage to packages being transported
High fuel costs and maintenance expenses for the van

Key steps to become a van driver

Explore van driver education requirements

Most common van driver degrees

High School Diploma

38.2 %

Bachelor's

20.1 %

Associate

19.6 %

Start to develop specific van driver skills

Skills	Percentages
CDL	17.51%
Customer Service	13.33%
OTR	8.90%
Mechanical Problems	8.75%
GPS	7.19%

Complete relevant van driver training and internships

Accountants spend an average of Less than 1 month on post-employment, on-the-job training. New van drivers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a van driver based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real van driver resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed van driver usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed van driver in most of states. 18 states require van drivers to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License Url
Kentucky	Specific course required	State exam required	School Bus Driver
Maryland	Specific course required	State exam required	BUS DRIVER, SCHOOL
Alaska	Specific course required	State exam required	Bus Driver, School
Idaho	-	State exam required	Commercial Drivers
Illinois	Specific course required	State exam required	COMMERCIAL DRIVER (TRUCK AND BUS OPERATOR)

Gain additional van driver certifications

Van driver certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific van driver certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for van drivers include Commercial Driver License (CDL) and OSHA Safety Certificate .

More About Certifications

Research van driver duties and responsibilities

Perform basic math sufficient to process axle weights at shipping docks.
Maintain knowledge of first-aid procedures including CPR.
Plot route pickup and drop off points.
Have taken additional training in HAZMAT and international audit procedures.

Prepare your van driver resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your van driver resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a van driver resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Van Driver Resume templates

Build a professional Van Driver resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Van Driver resume.

Apply for van driver jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a van driver job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

How do van drivers rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Van Driver reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2023

Pros

You don’t have a supervisor hovering over your shoulders all day. It’s great not to be stuck in an office all day too. Sometimes you really do form a good relationship with some of the students and parents (special needs)

Cons

Unruly and disrespectful children sometimes with dangerous behavior. You may not always be supported by your supervisor, parents or school staff. Hours can be very conflicting with your doctor’s or other appointments

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023

Pros

Severing the public , being able to get people to and from work and home is a good day work as a bus driver.

Cons

Not enough overtime , the hours are not enough, and since their are meaningful, being able to sign up for overtime helps . Then there are the class C drivers who take advantage of bus drivers, by cutting us off, or just not being aware that a 40ft/ 60ft bus can not stop on a dime And while class C drivers take unnecessary traffic risk. A bus driver must stay alert and expect the unexpected every minute under the wheel of a bus

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023

Pros

Flexible hours, you can kind of control your income, even travel to high demand areas (while traveling) to make bigger money. It’s just nice to be able to go almost anywhere and have an opportunity to make money.

What is a van driver and how to become one

What are the pros and cons of being a Van Driver?

Van Driver career paths

Key steps to become a van driver

Explore van driver education requirements

Most common van driver degrees

Start to develop specific van driver skills

Complete relevant van driver training and internships

Obtain the necessary licensing

Gain additional van driver certifications

Research van driver duties and responsibilities

Prepare your van driver resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Van Driver Resume templates

Apply for van driver jobs

How Did You Land Your First Van Driver Job

Average van driver salary

How do van drivers rate their job?

Van Driver reviews

Van Driver jobs by state