Van loading is the part of the job that happens before most people think the job starts. But what happens in that first 30 minutes at the depot shapes every decision you make for the next eight hours. Get it wrong and you're digging through cargo at every stop. Get it right and your route practically runs itself.
The Core Rule: Load in Reverse Delivery Order
Your first stop should be at the rear of the van (or closest to the door you access cargo from). Your last stop should be at the front. This way, as you work through your route, each package is already at the front of the pile when you need it.
This sounds obvious, but under time pressure at the depot — especially on high-volume days — it's easy to just pile packages in and sort it out as you go. That approach costs you time on every single stop.
Keep Heavy Items Low and Toward the Cab
Weight distribution in a cargo van matters for both safety and practicality. Heavy boxes on top of lighter boxes shift, tip, and damage whatever's underneath. Place heavy items low and toward the front of the cargo area (near the cab partition), with lighter packages on top and toward the rear.
This also keeps your center of gravity lower, which improves handling — particularly important in winter or on tight turns.
Build Vertical Sections by Delivery Area
If your route has distinct geographic sections — say, a commercial district in the morning and a residential area in the afternoon — load them as separate vertical sections. Use straps, nets, or dividers to keep them from mixing. When you've completed one section, the next one is already ready to work from.
Some drivers use color-coded tape or labels on sections. Overkill for some routes, useful on complex ones.
Pre-Pull Problem Packages
Before you leave, spend two minutes identifying any packages that are oversized, fragile, or have special handling notes. Know where they are in the van before you need them. A large TV that's buried under 30 boxes is a problem you don't want to solve in a parking lot.
Leave Space for Returns
If your route includes pickups, leave a dedicated pickup zone in your cargo area. Don't let it fill with delivery overflow. When you pick up a return, it needs to go somewhere clean and secure — not thrown on top of the packages you're still delivering.
A few minutes of discipline at load-out is one of the best investments a driver can make. JWA drivers who get loading right are consistently faster on routes — and that efficiency compounds across every shift.