Balancing Speed and Efficiency in Delivery Work

When you get some experience in delivery work under your belt you start to understand the nuances of the job. On the surface it is all about getting parcels from A to B in an efficient manner. However, there is more to it than that, as all experienced drivers will know.

Let’s explore this link between the speed at which you can do your job and the level of efficiency you can achieve at the same time.

Speed isn’t everything

We’re all familiar with the story of the tortoise and the hare. This is applicable to many drivers doing delivery work, especially those who are keen to get the job done quickly and don’t take the time to plot out the best route prior to leaving the depot.

You may be fortunate to have technology, like a GPS, that allows the best route to be mapped out on your behalf. All you then have to do is follow the route you are given. However, even then you have to know how to get from one property to the next in the best possible way. Over time you will certainly come to know the routes and the area in more detail, and it is this type of knowledge that can enable you to perform your job to a better degree.

Make it a rule that before you set out on any job you check every detail, and remember that speed doesn’t always count as the number one factor.

Getting the right balance means fewer mistakes

If mistakes are made during the course of delivery work they tend to involve delivering the wrong goods to the wrong address. They can also involve turning up at the wrong address altogether. These problems tend to be more prevalent if speed takes precedence over the cost of efficiency and paying attention to detail.

Naturally, it goes without saying that the aim of any reputable delivery company is to deliver everything required of it as quickly and efficiently as possible. If you consistently undertake your delivery work with this mantra in mind you can be sure your business will achieve everything it sets out to do. Word will spread, and one of the best ways to get more business is to serve your existing customers well and get more word of mouth business.

As you can see, there is a vital need to provide a fast service as well as one that is efficient. Getting the balance right will lead to bigger and better things in the future. If you focus more on one element than the other, your business will be out of balance. However, if you focus on them equally you should be able to strike a balance that will please your customers and have them coming back to you time and time again with plenty more business to boot.

Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry across the UK and Europe. It provides services for matching delivery work and to buy and sell road transport and haulage work in the domestic and international markets.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.