Bored with the daily commute? Is the traditional nine to five working day taking its toll and beginning to feel slightly repetitive? If you’re seeking a role where not only will you deal with an interesting array of industry sectors, but also entrepreneurial start-ups, mid-sized businesses and global corporations, no two days are the same and you’ll be valued for your service, why not consider becoming a courier?
The need for safe, secure and reliable deliveries is on the rise. Speed is of the essence as companies require a convenient means of getting their products to their end destination with the minimum of fuss. In an industry where meeting deadlines is therefore crucial, the role of the courier is to immediately step in, take away the worry and ensure packages and consignments are effortlessly transported to their intended recipients.
There are plenty of opportunities to become a courier, whether that’s as a self-employed driver using your own vehicle or long distance work with a well-known national organisation – but the question is: what is it really like to be a courier?
So let’s shed a little light into the role of the courier, the skills and attributes needed to be successful as well as pointing out the benefits and potential pitfalls.
You need to be a good driver and enjoy being out on the road
Being out on the road all day may seem appealing. You’re free, independent, out on your own, but can you handle the challenges?
A good courier needs to be able to handle the stresses and strains of being out on the open road.
You need to familiarise yourself with road conditions, likely delays and diversions whilst factoring in sufficient time for your route of scheduled deliveries. Local geographical knowledge is always a bonus. Are there any short cuts you could take or any congested areas you really should avoid?
Don’t forget that while you’re driving your employer’s vehicle, you’re acting as an advertisement for the company and brand. You need to drive well at all times, remain calm when dealing with unexpected issues and not take any risks which could damage your employer’s reputation.
You need a good level of fitness
There’s no need for that gym membership! Your role as a courier may involve lifting and carrying heavy parcels of all shapes and sizes from your delivery vehicle to their designated drop off point for signature.
You’ll also need to understand basic health and safety rules when loading, unloading, lifting and carrying your consignments. Failing to do so could result in trips, falls and injury. If you’re self-employed without any form of insurance cover for emergency ill health, your livelihood will of course suffer, but regardless of your employment status, being strong and fit enough to carry goods up flights of stairs without flagging as well as having the stamina to continue with a hectic delivery schedule is a real necessity.
You need to be resilient
Can you cope with working under pressure and deal with inevitable setbacks? Being able to manage stress is a major benefit when considering the role of a courier. You’ll have to drive in all weathers, perhaps in the dark and within a very tightly set timeframe. You’ll definitely need to be able to manage stress effectively and deal with any obstacle you’re likely to face in a calm manner.
You need to maintain a high level of customer service
After a long day coping with the complexities of multiple drop offs, traffic and congestion issues en route as well as having a stringent time schedule to comply with, can you remain pleasant and polite to your client?
After a long day coping with the complexities of multiple drop offs, traffic and congestion issues en route as well as having a stringent time schedule to comply with, can you remain pleasant and polite to your client?
Being a courier is also a client-facing role. You’re representing your employer as its public face, so you’ll always have to maintain excellent customer service skills. No matter how difficult your day has been, there’s never any room for rudeness, arrogance or showing a temper. In practice, the adage of the customer always being correct may not always ring true, but a high level of patience and self-control plus good people skills and a cheerful personality are always essential.
Still interested in becoming a courier?
If you prefer to be out on the road, liaising with a variety of people, and perhaps even having a greater opportunity to fit work around the family or other personal commitments, becoming a courier might be the ideal profession for you. Courier work doesn’t necessarily involve driving long distances. It’s equally possible to be a courier within your own locality, thus providing your clients with a more personal service whilst also enabling you to work flexible hours or shifts which suit your lifestyle and improve your work / life balance. Hand in hand with this though, flexibility has to be countered with customer demand. The amount of work available may fluctuate according to the season and self-employed or freelance couriers will have to weigh up the pros and cons of the job in relation to their own individual circumstances.
However, perhaps beyond measure is the level of satisfaction to be gained from working as a courier.
However, perhaps beyond measure is the level of satisfaction to be gained from working as a courier.
You may have played your part in ensuring vital medical supplies or even life-saving organs are delivered to a hospital on time. You may have delivered confidential legal papers to a court in readiness for an important hearing or supplied a theatre company with a whole new wardrobe of period drama costumes and props for their opening show. No two days will ever be the same – but the courier’s role and responsibility in ensuring the wheels of industry continue to turn effectively surely makes it a most rewarding and worthwhile career.
Same Day Couriers Direct are a dedicated team with proven expertise in delivering urgent consignments throughout the UK and across Europe. To find out how we can help your organisation with time critical deliveries, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 0333 772 1010