Vending Machine Route Worker

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:

• 2006 NOC: Delivery and Courier Service Drivers (7414) 
• 2006 NOC-S: Delivery and Courier Service Drivers (H714) 
• 2011 NOC: Delivery and courier service drivers (7514) 
• 2016 NOC: Delivery and courier service drivers (7514) 

Vending machine route workers usually visit machines in 10 to 20 locations each day. They may have a set route or plan their own routes.

Duties and responsibilities may vary from one company to another. In general, they:

• Load supplies in a vehicle such as a van or light truck
• Drive to vending machine locations
• Open and refill machines and change product labels if necessary
• Collect money, lock machines, and ensure float bags for coin machines are balanced
• Record the amount of money collected and stock required to refill machines, or download this information into hand-held devices
• Ensure that machines are clean and in good working order
• Ensure adherence to product dates and health codes
• Establish and maintain good customer relations with business owners and operators
• Report damage to machines
• Make minor repairs and report broken machines

They also may deliver and install machines that do not require special electrical or plumbing connections.

Vending machine route workers drive in all types of weather conditions. However, they spend most of their time indoors servicing machines. They usually work shifts from early morning to mid-afternoon. They may work weekends and holidays or be on call. Overtime may be required during busy periods or when driving conditions are poor. In rural areas, long-distance travel may be needed.

Vending machines are usually exposed to pedestrian traffic. Working conditions around them often are cramped. The work is physically demanding. Vending machine workers routinely lift and carry heavy supplies and bend and stoop to load machines.

Personal protective equipment such as steel-toed boots may be required.

Route workers are employed by vending machine companies and food and beverage manufacturers.

Experienced workers may move into vending machine repair or supervisory positions. For more information, see the Vending Machine Technician occupational profile.

Vending machine route workers are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 7514: Delivery and courier service drivers. In Alberta, 78% of people employed in this classification work in the following industries: 

• Transportation and Warehousing [pdf]
• Retail Trade [pfd]
• Wholesale Trade [pdf]
• Accommodation and Food Services [pdf]

The employment outlook [pdf] in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

• Trends and events affecting overall employment, especially in the industries listed above
• Location in Alberta
• Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
• Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
• Size of the occupation

In Alberta, the 7514: Delivery and courier service drivers occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 1.5% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 136 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the 136 new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Canadian Automatic Merchandising Association website: www.vending-cama.com

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