Nobody wants to talk about this, but it needs to be said. Delivery driving is physical work. You're sweating, you're in a hot van, you're lifting and carrying all day, and you don't always have access to a shower between your 4:30am start and your 3pm finish. By midday on a summer run, hygiene can slip — and when you're handing parcels to customers face-to-face, shaking hands with business receptionists, and working alongside other drivers at the depot, it matters. This isn't about being judgemental — it's about being professional and protecting your health.
Why It Matters Professionally
Customer-facing role. You interact with dozens to hundreds of people daily. You're the face of the courier company at every doorstep. A customer who has a negative experience — including an unpleasant one related to hygiene — may complain to the company. These complaints are taken seriously and can affect your assignments.
Depot relationships. You work in close quarters with other drivers during loading. The van cab is a small, enclosed space. Your colleagues notice, even if they're too polite to say anything. Maintaining good hygiene is a basic courtesy to the people you work alongside.
Professional image. Clean uniform, clean appearance, clean van — these all contribute to how you're perceived by customers, supervisors, and business contacts. Drivers who present well tend to get better runs, more trust with high-value deliveries, and better customer ratings.
Why It Matters for Health
According to Healthdirect personal hygiene guide, good personal hygiene is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of illness. As a delivery driver, you touch hundreds of surfaces daily — parcels, door handles, intercoms, scanners, steering wheels. Without regular hand hygiene, you're carrying and spreading bacteria and viruses between locations.
Skin infections, fungal issues (especially in feet from sweaty boots), and respiratory infections are all more common when hygiene lapses. In summer, sweat-related skin irritation and chafing can become genuinely painful and affect your ability to work.
Practical Tips
Shower before your shift. Even if it's 4am. Starting clean gives you a better baseline for the whole day.
Antiperspirant, not just deodorant. Deodorant masks odour. Antiperspirant reduces sweating. For physical work, you want both. Apply before your shift and carry a travel-size for reapplication at lunch.
Change your shirt. Keep a spare work shirt in the van. Changing at lunch on a hot day makes a significant difference for the afternoon.
Hand sanitiser. Keep a bottle in the cab. Use it after visiting public toilets, before eating, and periodically through the day. Your hands touch everything — keep them clean.
Clean your van cab. Wipe down the steering wheel, door handles, and dashboard weekly. The cab gets hot and sweaty — bacteria thrive in that environment. A quick wipe with disinfectant takes two minutes.
Foot care. Change your socks daily (carry a spare pair if needed). Use antifungal powder in your boots weekly. Air your boots out overnight — don't leave them sealed in the van.