Pros and Cons of Courier Jobs to France

Some courier jobs are that little bit more glamorous if they involve a quick delivery across the channel into France. It’s often considered to be something of a perk but, in reality, there are both pros and cons to courier jobs that involve travelling outside of the UK.

The pros

Door-to-door courier jobs delivering to France are comparatively rare these days because many of the major national mail services have what they call faster "express services". Even so, some people don’t trust these (sometimes with good reason) and are prepared to pay extra to make sure a particularly important delivery is made quickly and on a guaranteed personal basis. When such jobs to come up, they are often the subject of intense competition between individuals in the company concerned. Some of the reasons are as follows:

• Even in these days of mass global travel, France is still seen as being a bit exotic, and certainly very different in the course of a job. • It’s a great chance to experience an entirely different culture – including the food. If you're sick of typical UK roadside cafe ‘grub’, you’re in for a very pleasant surprise in France!
• Outside of two or three of the biggest cities in the country, traffic jams are comparatively rare and the roads seem empty by UK standards.
• Unlike the UK, the French have a much more tolerant attitude to town centre parking. It is extremely unusual in France to be unable to park almost immediately outside where you are dropping off - and even if you can’t, there’s bound to be a parking space relatively close by. There is also a relative absence of parking meter wardens as well!
• As countless generations of Britons over the centuries have discovered and puzzled over, the weather almost always shows a miraculous improvement once you cross the English Channel.
• Oddly, French culture has always seemed to offer a greater degree of respect to people going about their work in things such as courier jobs and goods deliveries, than seems to be the norm in the UK.

Of course, as in anything, there are a few downsides to take into account as well.

The cons

• Unless you're lucky enough to be delivering close to a channel port or the French side of the Chunnel, you may be facing a night away from home.
• French traffic laws can still be quite idiosyncratic from a British point of view.
• France is the undisputed world-leader in seemingly pointless officialdom and bureaucracy. This can filter down into everyday life and might sometimes mean that you are filling in a lot more forms at your point of delivery or collection than would be the norm in the UK.
• You’ll be paying if you choose to use the French auto routes (motorways) and it can be quite expensive - though that’s not going to be a big issue if you (or your company) build them into your pricing. • In spite of much argument to the contrary from French businesses, the reality of life is that punctuality in France remains, on the whole, poor. Anticipate delays!
• Both official and unofficial holidays are numerous and ‘knocking off early’ is relatively widespread. Be cautious if your journey involves a delivery late Friday afternoon or late on a day before a public holiday.
• You really may have to dust off a little bit of that school French, as although things are changing with the younger generation, many middle aged and older French people don’t speak English. Of course, they shouldn’t be expected to in their own country, so it is your job to learn a few words of their language to help you get by.

Of course, courier jobs to France inevitably end up being great fun and that’s why they are typically so sought after. Bon voyage et bon courage!

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Over 3,000 transport exchange businesses are networked through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.