Newspaper Carrier

Duties and Responsibilities:

Deliver Newspapers

The primary duty of a newspaper carrier is daily newspaper delivery to customers, which may include retailers, institutions, and individual customers. A newspaper carrier may also be tasked with stocking newspaper boxes for the day. These deliveries tend to occur early in the morning to ensure that retailers receive their daily allotment of newspapers for resale and individual customers receive their newspapers before leaving the house for work or school.

Assemble and Display Newspapers

Newspaper carriers assemble and bag newspapers prior to delivery. May be responsible for placing newspapers in retail displays at a customer’s location.

Load and Unload Vehicles

Newspaper carriers are responsible for loading and unloading their vehicle at the distribution center. This may mean loading several bundles of newspapers at the start of the day and offloading unsold and returned inventory at the end of the shift. This aspect of the role requires the ability to lift somewhat heavy loads and pack the delivery vehicle so that newspapers are easily accessible at each stop on the delivery route.

Route Planning

Carriers have set daily routes, however they are ultimately responsible for planning their daily rounds and determining the most efficient way to distribute newspapers. Newspaper carriers review their routes and expected delivery time frames to determine the proper order of deliveries and anticipate potential delays. This requires extensive familiarity with the delivery area, as well as the ability to plan a route and make changes along the way to prevent delays.

Collecting Payment / Receiving Unsold Newspapers

In addition to delivering the day’s papers, a newspaper carrier is also responsible for collecting unsold papers from customers and returning them to the distribution center. This requires excellent record-keeping, since the newspaper carrier needs to note the number of newspapers initially delivered, collected, and returned, as well as any credit toward future orders that the newspaper or distributor allows based on returns.

Newspaper Carrier Skills and Qualifications

Newspaper carriers need a high level of organization and timeliness as well as the ability to lift heavy loads and successfully plan routes.

Skills:

• Newspaper carriers will need a driver’s license and a reliable vehicle to successfully deliver newspapers across a wide geographic area.
• Physical stamina for loading and unloading bundles of newspapers, carriers should also be able to successfully lift and manage heavy loads.
• Carriers should have some familiarity with their delivery area as well as the ability to plan an efficient delivery route.
• This role requires a great deal of time management, both to arrive at the distributor on time and to successfully make deliveries according to set schedules and customer expectations.
• Newspaper carriers should also be highly organized and able to maintain detailed records of deliveries, pickups, and customer request.