Surviving Your First Week
Your first week as a delivery driver is overwhelming. You are learning a new app, navigating unfamiliar streets, and handling 50-200 packages per shift. The good news: every experienced driver went through the same thing. Here are 15 tips that will save you hours of frustration and help you hit the ground running.
1. Sort Your Packages Before Leaving the Depot
This is the single most important habit you can develop. Spending 10-15 minutes sorting before you drive saves 30-60 minutes on the road. (Source: Route4Me)
The LIFO Method
Load your packages Last-In, First-Out: packages for your first delivery go in last and sit closest to the door. This eliminates digging through your vehicle at every stop. (Source: Delivery Quote Compare)
Zone-Based Organization
- Passenger seat: Envelopes and small packages for stops 1-10
- Back seat: Medium boxes organized by stop number
- Trunk/cargo area: Large boxes, earliest deliveries closest to door
- Use a Sharpie to write the stop number on each package after scanning — makes identification instant (Source: Flex Swag)
2. Count Your Packages Before You Leave
Verify your total package count against your manifest before leaving the parking lot. If you leave with a missing package, you will be held responsible for the undelivered item. If you have an extra package not on your route, you will waste time looking for a matching address. (Source: Ridesharing Forum)
3. Download Offline Maps
Cell coverage drops in rural Canada and even in some suburban pockets. Download your route area in Google Maps before leaving the depot. Go to Settings > Offline maps and download the region covering your entire delivery zone. (Source: Google Maps Help)
Alternative: HERE WeGo is a must-have GPS app for areas with unreliable cell service, as it works fully offline. (Source: Upper)
4. Use Google Maps Satellite View to Preview Stops
Before your shift, quickly scan satellite imagery for any addresses that look unusual — rural stops, long driveways, gated properties. Google Maps provides 94% accuracy for address finding and Street View lets you preview the drop-off location before you arrive. (Source: Upper)
Satellite view helps identify hidden driveways, building entrances, and parking spots that are invisible on the regular map. (Source: Q Couriers)
5. Master Apartment Building Deliveries
Apartment buildings are the biggest time sink for new drivers. Budget 5-10 minutes per apartment stop until you learn the buildings on your route. (Source: ButterflyMX)
Access Tips
- Check delivery notes first — customers often include buzzer codes, gate codes, or special instructions (Source: Avenue Living)
- If no answer after 30 seconds, call the customer directly
- Look for a concierge or parcel room — most large Canadian apartment buildings have one. Delivering to the parcel room saves significant time (Source: Ridesharing Forum)
- Never leave packages in unsecured common areas unless the customer explicitly requests it
- Consolidate: If you have 5 deliveries in one building, deliver them all in one trip
6. Handle Missing House Numbers
Missing or invisible house numbers are one of the top frustrations for delivery drivers. Wrong addresses cause an almost 40% delivery failure rate. (Source: Google Maps Platform)
- Check neighbour house numbers to extrapolate (if you see 142 and 146, the house between them is 144)
- Look for the number on mailboxes, garage doors, or curbs — not just the front door
- Call the customer if the address looks incomplete or ambiguous
7. Know What to Do About Dogs
Canada Post reports approximately 500 dog-related incidents per year involving its employees. (Source: CCOHS) In the US, USPS recorded 6,088 dog attacks in 2024, with the average insurance claim per bite nearly $70,000 USD. (Source: USPS)
Safety Rules
- Look for warning signs before approaching: dog bowls, chew toys, "Beware of Dog" signs, dog doors
- If confronted: stand still, avoid eye contact, do not run. Back away slowly. Use your package as a barrier
- Never pet customers' dogs, give treats, or approach sleeping/eating dogs
- When in doubt, skip the delivery and mark it as unsafe. No package is worth a hospital visit
In Ontario, Manitoba, and Newfoundland, dog owners face strict liability — they are responsible regardless of whether they knew the dog was dangerous. Ontario fines can reach $10,000. (Source: Animal Law Info)
8. Take Delivery Photos Like a Pro
Every photo should show the package AND a recognizable feature of the delivery location (house number, door, mailbox) in the same frame. (Source: Amazon Flex FAQ)
- Place packages where the recipient can see them but they are hidden from street view to deter porch pirates
- Scan the package before the customer takes it — this prevents delivery confirmation issues (Source: Delivery SoCal)
- Take photos even when not required — they protect you from false "not delivered" claims
9. Know When to Skip vs. Reattempt
- Skip when: Aggressive dog, dangerous access, weather makes the location hazardous, or you cannot access the building after multiple attempts
- Reattempt when: The stop is on your way back, you have delivery notes with instructions, or the customer calls you back
- "Amazon won't penalize exceeding delivery slots and won't reduce points for reattempts." (Source: KeeperTax)
- 5-minute rule: If a stop takes more than 5 minutes of troubleshooting, move on and come back later
10. Invest in the Right Gear
Phone Mount (Non-Negotiable)
You will mount and unmount your phone dozens of times per shift. Get a mount with strong suction, one-hand operation, and adjustable angle. Popular options: iOttie, AINOPE Gravity Mount ($15-30). (Source: KeeperTax)
Power Bank (Essential)
GPS + scanning apps drain your battery fast. Get a 20,000mAh power bank — enough for 3-4 full phone charges. Anker and INIU are top brands. Bring a car charger cable as your primary, with the power bank as backup. (Source: TechRadar)
Comfortable Shoes
You will walk 15,000-25,000 steps per day. Invest in shoes with slip-resistant outsoles, waterproof uppers, and arch support. Top picks: Brooks Addiction Walker 2, New Balance 990v5. (Source: Upper)
Canadian Winter Kit
- Boots: Keen or Merrell for door-to-door delivery; Sorel or Baffin (rated to -70C) for extreme cold (Source: Canada's Modern Post)
- Traction cleats: Slip-on ice grips to prevent falls on icy walkways
- Gloves: Keep 2-3 pairs — once wet, they are useless. Look for touchscreen-compatible, moisture-resistant gloves (Source: PK Safety)
- Emergency vehicle kit: Flashlight, thermal blankets, small shovel, sand or kitty litter, windshield scraper (Source: OHSE Canada)
11. Park Smart
Searching for parking wastes more time than most new drivers realize. Research shows providing curb availability information reduces parking search time by 27.9%. (Source: Nature / Scientific Reports)
- Use hazard lights for stops under 3 minutes (Source: Upper)
- Pull into driveways when safe and permitted in residential areas
- Use loading zones (15-30 minute limits) in business districts
- Always assess your exit strategy — choose spots that allow safe departure. Collision repairs average $2,500-$6,000 (Source: Upper)
12. Do a Pre-Trip Vehicle Check
A quick 5-minute check prevents breakdowns that cost you an entire shift:
- Tires: Pressure and tread (proper inflation saves fuel — NHTSA confirmed) (Source: OptimoRoute)
- Lights: Headlights, brake lights, turn signals, hazards
- Fuel: Start with at least 3/4 tank
- Fluids: Windshield washer fluid (critical in winter)
- Phone: Fully charged, mount ready, power bank packed
13. Plan Your Bathroom Breaks
This is a real concern that experienced drivers plan for proactively. Identify gas stations, Tim Hortons, McDonald's, and Walmart locations along your route before you start driving. (Source: Gridwise)
Apps like Flush and Bathroom Buddy help locate public restrooms. Some routes have stretches with no facilities — plan ahead. (Source: Route4Me)
14. Drive Smoothly, Not Fast
Aggressive driving lowers fuel efficiency by 15-30% on highways and 10-40% in stop-and-go traffic. (Source: US DOE) Many carriers use telematics that monitor hard braking, speeding, and sharp turns — these affect your driver score.
Control your pace to spot street names and house numbers. Rushing causes missed turns, backtracking, and damaged packages.
15. Take Your Breaks
Delivery driving is physically demanding and isolating. "This is a very solitary job — you are literally driving around for 10 hours by yourself." (Source: Indeed)
- Take a 15-minute break every 2-3 hours
- Stay hydrated and eat protein-rich snacks for sustained energy
- Schedule breaks at the midpoint of your route, not at random
- Skipping breaks leads to fatigue, mistakes, and burnout (Source: OHSE Canada)
Bonus: Common Rookie Mistakes to Avoid
- Following the app's default route blindly — customize your route order based on your knowledge of the area
- Forgetting to scan packages at delivery — develop a routine: park, grab, walk, scan, place, photo, return
- Not bringing essential supplies — phone mount, power bank, charger, snacks, water, flashlight, pen
- Skipping vehicle insurance check — personal auto insurance does NOT cover delivery driving. Verify your coverage before your first shift
The Right Tools Make Everything Easier
The biggest time-waster for new drivers is manually entering addresses. FlexMesh Driver eliminates this completely:
- AI waybill scanning — Point your phone at shipping labels, addresses extracted automatically. No typing.
- 498-stop route optimization — Handles massive delivery loads that no other mobile app supports
- Works with every carrier — FedEx, UPS, Purolator, Canada Post, Amazon, Intelcom, and more
- One-tap navigation — Optimized route sent directly to Google Maps or Waze
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