50 Wild And Unexpected Pictures From The Lives Of Delivery Drivers

It’s never been easier to order something online. Countless apps now let us receive bags of groceries, hot and steamy meals, and virtually any item we so desperately need in mere minutes. But sometimes, we forget about the people bringing us these goods, and all too often, we lack the understanding of what they have to endure day in and day out.

Any courier can attest that making deliveries is far from an easy job. They simply don’t have the luxury to glide through the day at their own pace and take their sweet time carrying packages and bringing them to customers’ doorsteps. Delivery drivers usually spend their working hours under pressure, driving fully-loaded vans and simultaneously juggling many duties. Plus, they then have to report their tasks to their companies that consistently rush them to transport more packages at a much faster pace.

Richard Console Jr., an attorney and founding partner at Console and Associates, P.C., explained that delivery drivers carry a great risk of getting seriously hurt. It looks like many of us don't realize that danger and delivery drivers go hand in hand. While auto accidents are one of the most obvious and dangerous hazards workers face, risks don’t end once they leave the road.

Drivers encounter an abundance of safety hazards when they step out of their vehicles, and one of the most common ones is poorly restrained pets at purchasers' residences. In 2020 alone, more than 5,800 postal workers were attacked by dogs while delivering the mail, according to the United States Postal Service (USPS). Whether they got gently nipped at their ankles, viciously bitten or even attacked, aggressive pet behavior puts many employees in danger. Any courier is at risk, Console Jr. stated, "especially to hand-deliver packages or messages to a private residence, could be bitten in the course of their work. That includes not only postal workers employed by the USPS but also employees of companies like FedEx, UPS, DHL, and smaller logistics and delivery companies."

Interestingly, Console Jr. mentioned that the most dangerous day of the week to make deliveries is Wednesday (so be careful out there today, folks!). "More than 8 times as many couriers and messengers got hurt on the job on Wednesdays than on Sundays. Monday is the second most dangerous day to make deliveries, followed by Tuesday and Thursday," he added.

Another thing that increases the risk of danger is when companies ask too much of their employees. "Some delivery drivers feel pressured to exceed the speed limit, roll through stop signs, and otherwise pay less attention to the road and more attention to the clock and to the dispatcher constantly demanding more deliveries in less time,” the attorney noted. "All of these actions can raise drivers’ risks of being in a car accident." Moreover, the rush to deliver the goods on time can make workers skip breaks which in turn can make them lose their attention while on the road.

The fact that some managers bend over backward to frustrate their employees and make them wonder about quitting daily is nothing new. A longtime UPS driver who preferred to stay anonymous recently told INSIDER that during their years on the job, they experienced everything from the good and the bad to the downright ugly. First, they explained that the position comes with many perks, especially for those who prefer solitude. "I'm on my own all day without any supervisors or co-workers, and that's how I prefer it," they said.

The driver has also locked in a regular route. This means they make the same trip instead of picking up new available routes every day, and it "makes a major difference as far as quality of life goes." But even after they moved up the career ladder from a cover driver (someone who shows up for their shift and hopes that the management will assign them a favorable route), they’re still unsure of when their workday will end. "Every morning when I leave the house, my wife asks what time I'll be home. All I can do is shrug my shoulders because it's definitely not a 9-to-5 job," the UPS driver explained. "Some days, you can get everything done in nine hours; other times it can take 14 hours. That kind of inconsistency makes it difficult to have a life outside of work."

While the driver is overall satisfied with their route, their pay, and their job in general, one thing that grinds their gears is the management. "For example, despite our contract stipulating that we are entitled to sick and personal days — as well as bereavement time — trying to take it is a whole other story," they said and added that every time they take time off, managers are sure to make them feel guilty about it. So when it comes to unhealthy practices and treatment, UPS is no better than Amazon and FedEx which have been notoriously talked about in the news. "Somehow, they just do a better job of keeping it under wraps," the driver said. "Drivers are the reason UPS is able to run, and sometimes our bosses forget that."