3 Qualities You Need to Succeed in Courier Work

Although those taking on courier work offer a service that is very similar to that offered by such huge companies as FedEx or DHL, they are much better when it comes to answering customers’ last-minute delivery needs (especially rush jobs) on a local level. Small operators can provide a friendly, intimate, and familiar service - not to mention the flexibility, which large companies often do not have. If you’re thinking about engaging in this kind of work, the following are the basic qualities you must have.

Flexibility

You’re probably a one-man outfit whose main goal each and every day is land as much courier work as possible, and the only way to do so and compete against the more established and trusted brands is by offering something unique to you. If you’re operating in a small town or city, chances are you know the locals by their first name. Take advantage of that. Whenever you do your job, give it your own distinct personal touch: be friendly, ask them about their day, and remember that doing your work as nicely as possible can go a long way as far as recall is concerned. And, of course, be flexible. Whenever a customer has a special request, or extends a job that goes a little beyond the standard, try to meet the expectations.

Speed

Needless to say, only those who take on courier work and accomplish each task as fast as possible can be considered on top of their game. If you do not have a work ethic that is based on efficiency and speed, you will have to rethink your plan of entering the business. However, if you’ve always lived by the clock and have a professional, deeply ingrained respect for deadlines, then being a delivery worker is just perfect for you. Moreover, what will set you apart is integrating the aforementioned flexibility with speed, enabling you to even take on last-minute delivery jobs, those tasks that have a fairly limited window of time (‘must be delivered within one hour’ or ‘should reach destination by 5 PM’ kind of jobs), or those that involve special items (fragile flower vases or works of art, for example).

Reliability

As they say, you’re only as good as your last performance. And for those who make a living with courier work, the adage could not be more relevant. Reliability is no accident or quirk of nature; it is a product of one’s adherence to a set standard, schedule or business principle. Being reliable means customers can expect something and they must be a hundred per cent assured that their expectations will be met, perhaps even exceeded. In a business that handles goods important to people in a deeply personal way (your client may be sending his most sentimental work of art to a recipient, for example), reliability is a major currency and one that cannot be short-changed without incurring eventual failure.

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier work in the express freight exchange industry. Over 2,500 transport exchange businesses are networked together through their website, trading jobs and capacity in a safe 'wholesale' environment.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.