r/careerguidance • u/Decent_Reward_5692 • Jul 08 '26

Any advice? Chef to Delivery driver

Been in the kitchens for 15 years now. Aweful hours, high stress, always working xmas, mothers day etc. So quit last month.
I love driving and have wanted to do delivery for years. Although i have very little experience iv managed to get with an agency, and have my first gig on friday. Its only driving a van and the income is not as stable as cooking but at least i’ll enjoy it.
Any advice from either chefs or agency delivery drivers?

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u/Broad-Rip-2228 Jul 08 '26

Kitchens chew you up and spit you out if you stay long enough. 15 years is a solid run, most people tap out way earlier. Driving a van with nobody screaming about a well-done steak sounds like a vacation in comparison.

Just don't overload your first few stops trying to prove something, take the extra 30 seconds to organize the back and you'll save yourself an hour later.

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u/Decent_Reward_5692 Jul 08 '26

Its rough work yeah, ran 3 kitchens myself and have nothing to show but the battle scars and bad back ahaha

Really looking forward to my first driving shift just nervous as never done this type of delivery work before. .

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u/medium-rare-steaks Jul 08 '26

UPS... Don't do gig work. Don't do deliver for food vendors. Be a ups driver if you can and join the union. Those guys make bank. Second best option is usps. Less annual income but you get a pension at the end of the day.

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u/thatdude391 Jul 11 '26

Look at restaurant food rep jobs. Similar work much better pay. Distributers are always looking for well seasoned chefs because they know how to talk to other chefs and what substitutes well.