Determining the Right Vehicle for Courier Work

Those who take on courier work – and fully meet the need and specifications of a range of different customers - must make the right choice for their delivery vehicles. ‘Rightness’ does not only refer to being the biggest or the fanciest of truck in the lot, but one (or more) that can specifically meet customer requirements. The following are vital considerations when looking for the right vehicles for your business.

The Right Size

Being of the ‘right size’ means being big enough for most loads. If you’ve been doing courier work for quite some time, then you know that there is the occasional customer with that very tall, very wide or very heavy load whose dimensions simply exceed the capacity of the truck you regularly use. That’s why there’s a need to have one truck that can handle these requirements (of course, you can charge a special premium for such loads). On the other hand, it’s not always a battle to have the biggest truck; most often, having one that’s of the right size for your usual clientele is enough. So if you regularly serve clients who only need delivery of small parcels or packages, then it’s enough to have a normal van or truck, as these are more economical to maintain and run.

The Right Accessories

Anyone who has been doing courier work for any length of time understands that the truck is not the be-all and end-all of their service. To fully meet your client’s needs, your truck must come complete with certain accessories and other appropriate equipment. For example, you should have dollies and pallet jacks, even straps and devices to secure your load. At times, you may also need two-wheel carts. But perhaps the most crucial aspect of a delivery truck - especially if you have struck a deal with a big regular client - is that the truck should align with loading docks, to ensure the shipment can be easily rolled on board and thereby enhancing efficiency and speed.

Manoeuvrability

Depending on the area where you operate in terms of your courier work, it is also important to have a vehicle with excellent manoeuvrability. There are areas in the city or even on urban outskirts where narrow alleys or backstreets are the only means possible to access your destination. If all you’ve got is a huge truck, there is either no way to service the clientele in those areas, or you may literally have to walk the extra mile in order to do the job. Manoeuvrability does not only mean being small enough for such narrow roads, but also to be excellent at negotiating tight corners. One excellent vehicle is the snub-nosed delivery truck, primarily because the driver of such vehicle is located at the very front and can see straight down with no blind spot - even one with an 18-foot magnitude may successfully go in and out of a particularly difficult stretch of urban road.

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.