Top Courier Tips - Important Items to Keep in Your Vehicle

There are plenty of reasons why a person may get fed up with office life and want to get into a job with a bit more freedom, autonomy and movement. One of the best ways to get all of that and more (while getting paid) is to take on courier jobs. Transporting good and documents up and down the roads of the United Kingdom is an excellent way to earn a living: while doing courier jobs you'll be out on the road, get to see and experience new places, and get paid for it at the same time.

One of the best benefits of being a self-employed owner-driver is that you can register with various networks that allow you to match your general destination and size of vehicle with the loads and return loads that need transporting from and to various locations. Not only does this cut down on empty return trips, but it also allows you to pick and choose to bid on work that suits you. Once you have registered and booked that first job, you're set on the road to success – so to speak! But there are a few things a novice delivery person should not leave home without.

A lifehammer

This is a tool that many drivers may not have come across in their day-to-day dealings, but it is a very useful thing to have when you start out on courier jobs. The tool is small and can fit in your glove box. It comes equipped with metal studs on either side of the head that work as hammer heads, to break through glass, while at the other end is a covered razor blade, which is ideally shaped should you need to suddenly cut yourself out of a seatbelt (for example), or any other situation that might arise. They often have a luminescent appearance, so you can find it even in the dark.

A recovery strap

While this may be another of those tools that your average drivers don’t keep in the boot, if you are running up and down the country, especially through the hills of the highlands, then you should have one. This flat, woven rope can hold up to 30,000 pounds and can be used to pull you out of many a sticky situation, literally. It can also be used to strap down items that may have come loose and can even be used to pull fallen debris or objects off the road in front of you.

Sustenance

While it is less than likely in the United Kingdom that you may find yourself stranded somewhere without food or water, it is always something that you should consider when you head out on the road for longer courier jobs. In addition to cold weather gear if you are headed up north in the winter months, having some food and water in your vehicle is a wise move. When you are stocking up your glove box, however, don’t go for things that are complicated; instead get hearty bars that last ages and provide a big bang of energy for your buck. Likewise, since it always seems to be raining in the UK, you may be able to skip carrying water, but why not keep a small water purifier in the vehicle just in case.

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 2,500 transport exchange businesses are networked through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.