10 Most Common Delivery Driver Interview Questions

Want to get your new delivery driver (and your whole delivery driving team) to work at maximum efficiency? Circuit for Teams can help with optimized delivery routes, customer updates, and proof of delivery. 

From food delivery drivers and medical equipment delivery to general package delivery, the world runs on delivery drivers.

And with so much demand (the industry is expected to grow by 12% by 2030), it can be hard to find and hire the best of the best.

When you do find a candidate, you want them to succeed — otherwise, they’ll cost you money, and that’s not the point of business.

But you still have to do your due diligence and ask the right questions.

It’s no secret that the interview is one of the most important steps of the hiring process.

After all, it’s your chance to get to know the candidate and see if they’re a good fit for the job.

But how do you know what to ask?

There’s a lot to consider when hiring a delivery driver — from their experience to their driving record.

That’s why I’ve come up with a list of the most common delivery driver interview questions, plus some other questions to consider.

With these questions in your toolkit, you’ll get a better sense of each candidate’s skills and experience.

How to effectively interview a delivery driver

Interviews can be tricky.

If you miss red flags (like the job candidate rescheduling repeatedly, being late, or being disorganized), you could end up with a delivery driver who makes those three actions part of their regularly scheduled programming.

If you neglect to ask them about their past driving experience, you might be surprised when they can’t pass a curb without hitting it.

A good interview guarantees you and your job seeker are on the same page.

You both have clarity on the job’s requirements and expectations.

It can help you avoid potentially hiring the wrong candidate.

But it takes some skill to be a good interviewer.

Here are some tips to make sure you get accurate, truthful, and relevant information from job seekers. 

• Know the exact job duties of the position and determine what questions will give you the best info about the candidate and their ability to handle the job. Are you seeking specific work experience? Does your driver need a CDL? Do they need experience driving a commercial vehicle or navigating busy downtown streets? Will they be handling hazardous materials or working with a partner to haul appliances or furniture? You might want to find someone who works well with others and has the physical strength to do the job well.
• Come prepared with questions that focus on their ability to do the job, punctuality, customer service skills, and driving record. If they claim to have a spotless driving record but their background check comes back looking like a dalmatian, you might want to steer clear. Do they say they hate dealing with customers or have a temper? They might not be ideal for any position that involves engaging with your customers.
• As you decide on your list of questions, consider the answers you’re seeking. Think about some sample answers you may hear from job seekers. For example, what if they don’t have their own car? Is that a deal breaker? What if they’ve recently been in a car accident? Will that disqualify them from the position?
• Drill down on your list of deal breakers and consider adding these to the job description to save time. Do your candidates need driving experience? Can they work for another delivery service at the same time? Do they need a specific skill set?
• Take note of how the candidate answers your questions. Are they vague? Do they give honest and direct responses?
• Pay attention to their body language and overall attitude. Do they seem like someone who’d be a good fit for your company’s culture? The goal is to get a well-rounded picture of the person — not just their ability to do the job.
• Make a note of their communication skills. Listen closely to how the candidate articulates their thoughts and answers questions. Do they speak clearly and confidently? As a hiring manager or decision-maker, you want to find a candidate who you (or your dispatchers) can communicate with easily.

These tips can help you get the most out of your delivery driver job interviews and make sure you’re hiring the best possible candidates.

10 most common delivery driver interview questions

Delivery driver jobs vary widely, so it’s important to tailor your questions to specific positions. 

For example, long-distance truck driver interview questions might differ from local Amazon delivery driver questions.

That said, some common interview questions are relevant for all delivery driver positions.

We’ve come up with a list of 10 delivery driver interview questions that will give you the insights you need to hire the right candidate.

#1 Tell me about your driving record (accidents, speeding, and more) 

This is one of the most important questions you can ask a delivery driver candidate.

You want to make sure they have a clean driving record and are comfortable driving in various conditions.

Are they comfortable driving in the rain, heavy traffic, or snow?

Be sure to ask for specific details about any accidents or incidents. This can give insight into their skill level and safety as a driver.

Of course, everyone makes mistakes, so you shouldn’t necessarily disqualify someone if they’ve had an accident or two — that’s what insurance is for, right?

But if they’ve been repeatedly cited for speeding or other reckless driving behaviors, that’s definitely a red flag.

You want a driver who will take care to follow the rules of the road and get your packages delivered safely and on time.

#2 Tell me about your past experience as a delivery driver 

This is a great question to get a sense of the candidate’s qualifications and experience.

You want to hire a candidate who is fast and efficient.

Time is money — the more deliveries your driver can get through in a day, the more your company can make.

You also want to make sure they have some experience driving the type of vehicle you need them to drive.

If you’re hiring a truck driver, for example, they should have experience driving trucks.

Do they need a CDL? Do they already have one?

Are they comfortable driving in heavy traffic? Can they take on rush-hour stresses without losing their cool?

You’ll also want to find out how long they’ve been driving and what kinds of routes they’re familiar with (like city streets, highways, and alleyways).

You should also ask about the driver’s experience with different deliveries and whether they have any special skills or qualifications that could benefit your business.

For example, they may have a lot of experience using furniture moving straps, hand trucks, or dollies.

Are they used to being on the road for long periods? Do they know what a typical day as a delivery driver is like?

Even if the job description doesn’t require previous driving experience, this question can still help you get an idea of how extensive the training and learning curve might be.

#3 Tell me about yourself

This is a common interview question, but it’s still relevant for delivery driver interviews.

You want to get a sense of the candidate’s personality and see how they present themselves.

Are they friendly and personable? Do they have a good sense of humor?

Upset customers and late deliveries can lead to lost customers, lost business, and lost revenue.

You’re looking for a driver who will be polite and professional with your customers.

Do they seem like someone who’ll offer excellent customer service?

You should also pay attention to the candidate’s body language. Do they make eye contact? Do they seem nervous or comfortable?

You can also get an idea of how well they’ll fit in with your company culture during the interview.

Do their answers align with the company’s mission and values?

Do they seem like they’d get along well with co-workers?

Are they easy to talk to? Do they communicate clearly or trail off into unrelated bunny trails?

#4 How would you handle an unexpected delay during a time-sensitive delivery? 

This question can help gauge the driver’s ability to handle stress and think on their feet.

Heavy traffic, road closures, angry drivers, upset customers — you never know what a day of delivery driving might bring.

You want to know they can think quickly and make the best decisions for your business if something goes wrong.

Drivers who are stressed out and running late are more likely to drive aggressively, take risks, and make careless mistakes.

You need someone who will keep their cool even when the situation is getting hot.

The candidate’s answer can also give some insight into their problem-solving skills.

Do they have a plan for handling unexpected delays?

For example, will they reach out to the customer and update them?

If their delivery vehicle breaks down, will they remember to contact you after contacting the mechanic?

Do they seem like they could handle the situation calmly and effectively?

Try to think of a sample answer you’re looking for before asking this question. 

For example, you may want the job seeker to say something like, “If my truck breaks down, I’d make sure to call the mechanic, let my supervisor know, and check with another driver to see if they could pick up the time-sensitive package and deliver it ASAP. Then, I’d give the customer a call and let them know the game plan.”

Think about how you want your delivery drivers to handle situations to determine the answer you want.

#5 Tell me about a time you appropriately handled an angry customer 

This is a classic customer service-related question.

You want to know that the driver can handle difficult customers calmly and professionally.

Every once in a while, a delivery driver encounters an upset customer.

It could be because of a late delivery or because the customer received the wrong package.

Whatever the reason, the driver must know how to handle these situations.

The candidate’s answer will give insight into their customer service skills.

Do they seem like they’d be able to diffuse the situation and calm the customer down?

Do they have a plan for how they would handle an angry customer?

For example, do they know how to de-escalate the situation by acknowledging their feelings, listening without interruption, staying calm, and speaking in a level, controlled voice?

Or are they a little hot-tempered and tend to yell right back?

You can also get an idea of the driver’s personality from their answer to this question.

Are they someone who remains calm under pressure?

Remember, losing their cool could result in lost customers, lost business, or — if things escalate out of control — even legal woes.

#6 How did you handle a mistake you made at work/while driving?

Everyone makes mistakes (I’m not perfect either — shocker!), but it’s important to know how the candidate deals with them.

If they can’t think of a single mistake they’ve made, that can be a red flag.

It can mean they aren’t self-aware and may dodge taking responsibility when they inevitably drop the ball.

This question can help you gauge the driver’s ability to take responsibility for their actions and learn from their mistakes.

Maybe they missed a scheduled meeting, but now they take greater care to update their calendar and set reminder notifications so it won’t happen again.

Maybe they left a package without getting a required signature first and the item was stolen. Now, they double-check for delivery instructions before dropping off a package.

You also want to know if the driver has a history of making the same mistake again and again.

If they do, that’s a red flag.

You want someone who learns from their mistakes and uses them as opportunities for growth.

Do they seem like someone who is honest and takes responsibility for their actions, or do they seem like someone who’d try to cover up their mistakes or blame others?

#7 Can you give an example of when you used time management skills? 

Delivery drivers need to manage their time well.

Time is limited, and they may have stacks of packages to get through.

They need to be able to plan their route and make sure they’re able to deliver the packages on time.

The candidate’s answer will give insight into their time management skills.

Maybe they have a strategy for stacking and organizing packages for easy access on their route. This can save time so they aren’t searching through a mess to locate the right package.

They also might have strategies to deliver quickly and make the most of their time.

For example, do they have a system for planning their route, like Circuit for Teams?

Do they seem like they’d be able to deliver their packages on time? 

#8 What do you consider great customer service?

This question gives insight into the driver’s customer service standards.

If they think customer service just means fast deliveries, they might end up tossing packages haphazardly just to get the job done faster.

If they think customer service is just delivering with a smile, an upset customer might catch them off-guard.

It’s also a good question to ask if you’re looking for a driver who’s passionate about offering excellent customer service.

Do they consider excellent customer service to be friendly and efficient?

Do they think it’s important to go above and beyond for the customer?

If they can’t think of examples of good customer service or have trouble defining it, that’s a red flag.

Check out our article on what makes a good delivery experience to know what goes into making your customers happy.

You want a driver who is passionate about giving great customer service and has a clear idea of what that means.

#9 What are your salary expectations?

This is a key question because you need to make sure the driver is willing to work for the salary you’re offering.

You want to know what they expect for a salary because it affects your business’s profits.

And you need to clarify how you will pay the delivery driver.

For example, some delivery drivers are paid based on the number of deliveries they make, while others make an hourly or annual salary.

If you pay per delivery, they need to understand their income may fluctuate by season or demand.

It’s also a good question to ask because it will give insight into the driver’s career goals.

If the driver is only looking for a job to make some quick cash, they’re probably not going to be very committed to the job.

But if the driver is looking for a long-term career, they’re more likely to be interested in the job — and you’ll be making a wise investment by training them.

You need to be on the same page when it comes to salary so both you and your job candidate are happy with the arrangement.

#10 Why should we hire you as a driver?

This is the candidate’s chance to sell themselves to you.

They should use this opportunity to highlight their skills and experience that make them the right candidate for the job.

They might tell you about their clean driving record, experience driving for long periods, or other qualifications that make them a good candidate for the position.

You also want them to share deeper character traits that will help them rock their new delivery driving job, like working fast (efficiently), adapting to changing scenarios (flexible), and embracing new technologies that make their job easier (like Circuit for Teams).

This is the candidate’s chance to really sell themselves and stand out from the other candidates.

Other delivery driver interview questions to gain insight

You can ask other questions during the interview to gain even more insight into the driver’s skills and experience.

These questions are designed to get the driver thinking on their feet and give you a better idea of how they would handle various situations.

Depending on the job description and specific role,  you can scan this list to see if any of these questions might be useful.

• What would you do if you got lost on your route?
• What would you do if a customer refuses to sign?
• What would you do if you had an accident on your route?
• What would you do if a package was damaged?
• Do you have experience working unsupervised?
• How flexible is your schedule? Can you work nights and weekends?
• Are you comfortable around dogs and pets you might encounter on your route?
• What would you do if your delivery needed a signature and the recipient was not available?

Manage your team of drivers with Circuit for Teams

You found the right driver thanks to the interview tips above.

They nailed the interview.

They have the skills you’ve been looking for, and you can’t wait for them to start.

But having the best drivers is just one part of the equation.

You need tools that help you manage your team of delivery drivers and help them succeed at their job.

Circuit for Teams can make your drivers faster and more efficient.

The route optimization software makes it easy to plan and optimize routes for your drivers.

Easily create and distribute routes for multiple drivers, invite your drivers in less than five minutes, and collect proof of delivery.

Plus, you can send automatic delivery updates to your customers.

Every time your drivers make a stop, they can collect recipient names, signatures, and photo proof, which you can easily manage from your dashboard.

Route, track, and manage your delivery operation without map books, local area knowledge, or learning curve.