What a DZ driver does
DZ drivers operate heavier straight trucks with air brakes, such as box trucks, flatbeds with cranes or tailgate lifts, dump trucks and some service vehicles. In Ontario, this work requires a Class D licence with a Z endorsement. Most DZ roles are local or regional, with several stops a day, and they often involve loading and unloading, using a pallet jack or truck-mounted forklift, collecting signatures and dealing directly with customers. Your DZ driver is often the face your customer sees most.
Hiring well means matching licence, equipment and the physical side of the job. Finch confirms licence class and endorsement, reviews a current driver's abstract and asks about the trucks, routes and loading work a candidate has done. We also check how they handle city traffic, tight loading docks and job site deliveries. You meet a shortlist of DZ drivers who are licensed, careful and ready for your routes.
Typical responsibilities
- Drive straight trucks with air brakes on local and regional routes
- Plan stops, load and unload freight and secure it for transport
- Complete daily inspections and report defects before leaving the yard
- Deliver to homes, businesses and job sites and collect proof of delivery
- Operate tailgate lifts, pallet jacks or truck-mounted equipment where trained
- Keep logs and delivery paperwork accurate and complete
Qualifications and credentials
- Valid Ontario Class D licence with a Z (air brake) endorsement
- A clean driver's abstract, or one that falls within your insurer's limits
- Experience with your truck type, such as dump, boom or box truck
- Forklift or truck-mounted forklift training where the job requires it
- Physical ability to load, unload and handle freight
Who hires a DZ driver
- Building supply and lumber yards
- Furniture and appliance retailers
- Construction and landscaping companies
- Food service and beverage distributors
- Equipment rental and waste management firms
Where we recruit DZ driver candidates
We fill DZ driver roles for employers across Toronto and the GTA, including North York, Scarborough, Etobicoke, Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, Mississauga, Brampton, Oakville, Burlington, Oshawa and Pickering, and for employers across Canada. GTA employers can meet us at our North York office by appointment.
What Finch checks before you meet a candidate
- Class D licence, Z endorsement and abstract review
- Truck types, routes and loading equipment the candidate has used
- Customer service at residential and job site deliveries
- Physical readiness for the loading side of the job
Interview questions to ask
- How do you plan a day with many stops when a customer calls to change their delivery time?
- Tell me about the tightest delivery spot you have handled. How did you approach it?
- What do you check on the truck before leaving the yard each morning?