Nobody warns you about the temperature extremes when you start this job. In summer, your van is an oven by 10am and the steering wheel is too hot to touch. In winter, you're starting in the dark at 5am with numb fingers trying to scan parcels. Both extremes affect your performance, your health, and your safety. Here's how to handle them.
Dealing with the Heat
Australian summers are brutal for delivery drivers. You're in and out of the van constantly, the cargo area has no air-con, and you're often carrying heavy freight in direct sunlight. Heat exhaustion is a real risk — and it creeps up on you. According to Healthdirect Australia, symptoms include heavy sweating, weakness, nausea, dizziness, and a rapid pulse. Left untreated, it can progress to heat stroke, which is a medical emergency.
Hydration Is Everything
Carry at least 3 litres of water. Not a 600ml bottle — three litres minimum. Freeze two bottles the night before and fill one fresh. The frozen ones will thaw throughout the day and you'll have cold water into the afternoon. Drink before you're thirsty — by the time you feel thirst, you're already dehydrated.
Skip the energy drinks. They feel like they're helping but the caffeine and sugar actually accelerate dehydration. Water and electrolyte drinks are your best friends. Hydralyte or even a pinch of salt in your water makes a real difference on 40°C days.
Manage Your Van Temperature
Park in shade wherever possible — even partial shade helps. Use a windscreen sunshade when you stop for more than a few minutes. Crack the windows slightly when you leave the van to prevent the greenhouse effect.
Keep a damp towel in an esky or cooler bag. Draping it over the back of your neck between stops brings your core temperature down fast. Some drivers keep a small spray bottle of water to mist their face and arms.
Clothing and Sun Protection
Light-coloured, loose-fitting shirts. Sunscreen on your arms, neck, and face — reapply it, because you're sweating it off constantly. A decent hat for the walk from van to door. Sunglasses that actually block UV, not just cheap cosmetic ones. Skin cancer is an occupational hazard for delivery drivers that nobody talks about.
Dealing with the Cold
Cold might seem less dangerous than heat, but it brings its own problems. Numb fingers make scanning difficult and dropping parcels more likely. Cold muscles are injury-prone muscles. And those 5am starts in winter mean driving in the dark on potentially foggy or frosty roads.
Layer Up Smart
The mistake most drivers make is wearing one thick jacket. You're warm while driving but overheating when you're moving freight. Instead, layer: a thermal base layer, a mid-layer fleece, and a windproof outer. You can strip layers as the day warms up. Fingerless gloves or thin touchscreen-compatible gloves keep your hands functional while scanning.
Keep a dry change of socks in the van. Wet feet in winter are miserable and a fast track to getting sick. If your shoes get wet in the morning, changing socks at lunch makes the afternoon bearable.
Cold Weather Driving
Check your tyres in cold weather — tyre pressure drops in cold temperatures, and low pressure affects handling. Allow extra braking distance on cold mornings as roads can be slippery even without visible frost. Keep your windscreen demister running and don't rush your first few stops while the van is still cold and your windows are fogging up.