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Charlotte Has A Lot Of Delivery Drivers Compared To Other Cities

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed many aspects of American life, from work and the economy to social interactions to entertainment and much more. For consumers, one significant change has been the…

FedEx Shipping Deadlines

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA – AUGUST 07: A FedEx delivery truck is seen on August 07, 2019 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The FedEx company announced today it will stop delivering ground shipments for the Amazon company. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The COVID-19 pandemic transformed many aspects of American life, from work and the economy to social interactions to entertainment and much more. For consumers, one significant change has been the accelerated adoption of delivery services as a part of commerce. I usually get some sort of package delivered every week. And I have to say I also have strong opinions about which service I prefer. It seems like at the apartment complex I live in, there is always at least one delivery truck out.  And there might be a reason for that. Charlotte actually does have a lot of delivery drivers compared to other cities of the same general size.

The Delivery Driver Industry

The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects continued growth in the delivery driver profession over the years ahead. Between Light Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers there are expected to be an additional 182,900 jobs for delivery drivers between now and 2030. This would be a 12% increase, which is faster than the average for other professions.

As it stands now, some locations have higher concentrations of delivery drivers available than others. The concentration of delivery drivers also varies at the local level. One of the major factors affecting delivery driver concentrations at the metro level is whether a location has a significant shipping and logistics industry. For example, leading cities Memphis and Louisville are home to FedEx and UPS, respectively. While other cities like Cincinnati, Columbus, and Chicago also serve as significant shipping and distribution hubs.

Methodology

The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics. To determine the locations with the most delivery drivers per capita, researchers at Porch calculated the number of delivery drivers per thousand residents. In the event of a tie, the location with the higher percentage of delivery drivers as a share of total employment was ranked higher. To improve relevance, only metropolitan areas with at least 100,000 residents were included. Read on to see just where Charlotte ranked when it comes to delivery drivers.

Large Metros With The Highest Delivery Drivers Per Capita

15. Kansas City, MO-KS

  • Number of delivery drivers per thousand: 4.8
  • Delivery drivers as a share of total employment: 1.02%
  • Total number of delivery drivers: 10,490
  • Average hourly wage for delivery drivers: $16.97
Kansas City(Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for NAMM)

14. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA

  • Number of delivery drivers per thousand: 4.8
  • Delivery drivers as a share of total employment: 1.10%
  • Total number of delivery drivers: 28,980
  • Average hourly wage for delivery drivers: $17.38
Atlanta, GASean Pavone/Getty Image Plus

13. Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis, WI

  • Number of delivery drivers per thousand: 4.9
  • Delivery drivers as a share of total employment: 0.96%
  • Total number of delivery drivers: 7,670
  • Average hourly wage for delivery drivers: $16.28
Milwaukee(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

12. Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX

  • Number of delivery drivers per thousand: 5.0
  • Delivery drivers as a share of total employment: 1.07%
  • Total number of delivery drivers: 38,370
  • Average hourly wage for delivery drivers: $19.21
Dallas(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)

11. Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC

  • Number of delivery drivers per thousand: 5.0
  • Delivery drivers as a share of total employment: 1.11%
  • Total number of delivery drivers: 13,430
  • Average hourly wage for delivery drivers: $15.59
Charlotte's Air QualityShutterstock

10. Oklahoma City, OK

  • Number of delivery drivers per thousand: 5.0
  • Delivery drivers as a share of total employment: 1.17%
  • Total number of delivery drivers: 7,160
  • Average hourly wage for delivery drivers: $17.17
OKC

Downtown OKC at sunset

9. Nashville-Davidson–Murfreesboro–Franklin, TN

  • Number of delivery drivers per thousand: 5.1
  • Delivery drivers as a share of total employment: 1.04%
  • Total number of delivery drivers: 10,000
  • Average hourly wage for delivery drivers: $16.75

NASHVILLE, TN - APRIL 28: General view of the Nashville Downtown skyline during the St. Jude Rock 'n' Roll Marathon Nashville on April 28, 2018 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Donald Miralle/Getty Images for Rock 'n' Roll Marathon)

8. Raleigh, NC

  • Number of delivery drivers per thousand: 5.3
    Delivery drivers as a share of total employment: 1.21%
    Total number of delivery drivers: 7,520
    Average hourly wage for delivery drivers: $14.89
Raleigh NCShutterstock

7. Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT

  • Number of delivery drivers per thousand: 5.4
  • Delivery drivers as a share of total employment: 1.18%
  • Total number of delivery drivers: 6,470
  • Average hourly wage for delivery drivers: $18.30
Hartford, Connecticut

Hartford, Connecticut, USA downtown skyline at dusk in early autumn.

6. Salt Lake City, UT

  • Number of delivery drivers per thousand: 5.5
  • Delivery drivers as a share of total employment: 0.95%
  • Total number of delivery drivers: 6,870
  • Average hourly wage for delivery drivers: $19.51
Salt Lake City, UTShutterstock

5. Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI

  • Number of delivery drivers per thousand: 5.8
  • Delivery drivers as a share of total employment: 1.25%
  • Total number of delivery drivers: 54,310
  • Average hourly wage for delivery drivers: $22.22
ChicagoPhoto By Rudy Balasko/Shutterstock

4. Columbus, OH

  • Number of delivery drivers per thousand: 5.9
  • Delivery drivers as a share of total employment: 1.23%
  • Total number of delivery drivers: 12,610
  • Average hourly wage for delivery drivers: $15.96
Columbus

Columbus, Ohio, USA skyline on the river at dusk.

3. Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN

  • Number of delivery drivers per thousand: 5.9
  • Delivery drivers as a share of total employment: 1.27%
  • Total number of delivery drivers: 13,110
  • Average hourly wage for delivery drivers: $16.44
Cincinnatshutterstock

2. Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN

  • Number of delivery drivers per thousand: 6.4
  • Delivery drivers as a share of total employment: 1.32%
  • Total number of delivery drivers: 8,100
  • Average hourly wage for delivery drivers: $18.51
Louisville, KentuckyPhoto by Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

1. Memphis, TN-MS-AR

  • Number of delivery drivers per thousand: 7.7
  • Delivery drivers as a share of total employment: 1.71%
  • Total number of delivery drivers: 10,390
  • Average hourly wage for delivery drivers: $18.41
Memphis, TennesseeSean Pavone/Shutterstock
Melanie Day is a graduate of North Carolina State University. She has worked for Beasley since 2012 in a variety of behind-the-scenes roles in both digital and promotions. Melanie writes about a diverse range of topics some of her favorites include travel, restaurants, Taylor Swift, and college athletics. When not at work you'll find her at a country concert or NC State sporting event.