10 Best Car Drivers Alternatives for Shoulder Development

Car Drivers are done standing with a barbell. Ranked closest by our scoring: the Rack Delivery, the Medicine Ball Scoop Throw and the Backward Medicine Ball Throw. A harder version, the Single-arm Linear Jammer, is listed below as a progression rather than a swap.

Car Drivers

Each substitute is scored on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. Read how we rank alternatives

How to Do Car Drivers

The steps for Car Drivers themselves, so you can judge how close each substitute below really is.

Delts, with forearms · Barbell · Intermediate · Compound

  1. While standing upright, hold a barbell plate in both hands at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions. Your palms should be facing each other and your arms should be extended straight out in front of you. This will be your starting position.
  2. Initiate the movement by rotating the plate as far to one side as possible. Use the same type of movement you would use to turn a steering wheel to one side.
  3. Reverse the motion, turning it all the way to the opposite side.
  4. Repeat for the recommended amount of repetitions.

The 10 Best Car Drivers Alternatives

10 substitutes, ranked by how closely each one matches Car Drivers on movement pattern, muscles worked, equipment and body position. The higher the score, the less you change. Cards with a "How to perform it" link open to show the steps; every card title links to that exercise's own alternatives page. Harder versions are tagged as progressions and kept out of the top spot even when they score higher.

Each link re-ranks the list below for the kit it names. Pick one to hide the substitutes you cannot set up.

  1. Rack Delivery

    1. Rack Delivery

    86% match

    Delts · Intermediate · Compound

    Pick this when you want to work the delts with less balance to manage.

    • Barbell
    How to perform it
    1. This drill teaches the delivery of the barbell to the rack position on the shoulders. Begin holding a bar in the scarecrow position, with the upper arms parallel to the floor, and the forearms hanging down. Use a hook grip, with your fingers wrapped over your thumbs.
    2. Begin by rotating the elbows around the bar, delivering the bar to the shoulders. As your elbows come forward, relax your grip. The shoulders should be protracted, providing a shelf for the bar, which should lightly contact the throat.
    3. It is important that the bar stay close to the body at all times, as with a heavier load any distance will result in an unwanted collision. As the movement becomes smoother, speed and load can be increased before progressing further.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as Car Drivers
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as Car Drivers
    • Body position: standing, the same as Car Drivers
    • Balance: easier to stay steady on than Car Drivers
  2. Medicine Ball Scoop Throw

    2. Medicine Ball Scoop Throw

    84% match

    Delts · Intermediate · Compound

    A good swap when you have a medicine ball to work with, and it still works the delts.

    • Medicine-ball
    How to perform it
    1. Assume a semisquat stance with a medicine ball in your hands. Your arms should hang so the ball is near your feet.
    2. Begin by thrusting the hips forward as you extend through the legs, jumping up.
    3. As you do, swing your arms up and over your head, keeping them extended, releasing the ball at the peak of your movement. The goal is to throw the ball the greatest distance behind you.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as Car Drivers
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as Car Drivers
    • Body position: standing, the same as Car Drivers
  4. Chest Push From 3 Point Stance

    4. Chest Push From 3 Point Stance

    81% match

    Pectorals · Intermediate · Compound

    A looser match: it works the pectorals rather than the delts.

    • Medicine-ball
    How to perform it
    1. Begin in a three point stance, squatted down with your back flat and one hand on the ground. Place the medicine ball directly in front of you.
    2. To begin, take your first step as you pull the ball to your chest, positioning both hands to prepare for the throw.
    3. As you execute the second step, explosively release the ball forward as hard as possible.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: pectorals, not delts
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as Car Drivers
    • Body position: standing, the same as Car Drivers
  5. Weighted Kneeling Step With SwingPlay demonstration

    5. Weighted Kneeling Step With Swing

    80% match

    Delts · Intermediate · Compound

    A straight swap when you want to keep working the delts.

    • Weighted
    How to perform it
    1. Start in a kneeling position with your knees hip-width apart and your back straight.
    2. Hold a weight in each hand, with your arms extended straight down in front of you.
    3. Engage your core and swing the weights up and overhead, keeping your arms straight.
    4. Lower the weights back down to the starting position and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as Car Drivers
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as Car Drivers
    • Body position: kneeling, not standing
  6. Left Hook. BoxingPlay demonstration

    6. Left Hook. Boxing

    78% match

    Delts · Intermediate · Compound

    Use this when you have nothing to train with, because it works the delts with bodyweight alone.

    • Bodyweight
    How to perform it
    1. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your knees slightly bent.
    2. Keep your left hand up to protect your face and your right hand by your chin.
    3. Rotate your hips and pivot on your left foot as you extend your left arm forward in a punching motion.
    4. Twist your torso and engage your core muscles to generate power in the punch.
    5. Snap your arm back to the starting position and repeat for the desired number of repetitions.

    Sets and reps: 3 or 4 sets of 6 to 10 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as Car Drivers
    • Equipment: bodyweight only, not free weights
    • Body position: standing, the same as Car Drivers
  7. Single-arm Linear Jammer

    Progression

    7. Single-arm Linear Jammer

    78% match

    Delts · Advanced · Compound

    Pick this when you want a harder version that still works the delts.

    • Barbell
    How to perform it
    1. Position a bar into a landmine or securely anchor it in a corner. Load the bar to an appropriate weight.
    2. Raise the bar from the floor, taking it to your shoulders with one or both hands. Adopt a wide stance. This will be your starting position.
    3. Perform the movement by extending the elbow, pressing the weight up. Move explosively, extending the hips and knees fully to produce maximal force.
    4. Return to the starting position.

    Sets and reps: 3 to 5 sets of 5 to 8 reps on each side.

    Why this matches
    • Primary muscle: delts, the same as Car Drivers
    • Equipment: free weights, the same as Car Drivers
    • Body position: standing, the same as Car Drivers

Car Drivers FAQ

What muscles does Car Drivers work?

Car Drivers primarily target the deltoids, especially the lateral and anterior heads, while recruiting the upper trapezius, triceps, and scapular stabilizers. The compound movement produces shoulder abduction and flexion torque, so the rotator cuff and serratus anterior also work to stabilize the humeral head during the lift.

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