3 Essentials Skills that Make You a Better Courier Driver

There are many good reasons to strive to improve your skills - some are personal, some are professional. No matter what your area of work, there is a push, from within and from those around you, to develop and grow. This growth is all the more important when the quality of your work results in more jobs and more money!

This is especially true for a courier driver and there are certain basic skills that can help you develop in the transport and delivery industry and help you find more work.

An Internal Clock

Running late is never a good look, and even less so in your professional capacity. The impact of tardiness goes beyond just being a little annoying when you are a courier driver. You are expected to arrive at your destination on time and make sure your packages are handed over within a deadline, no matter how flexible that deadline may. This is especially the case when you are sent to deliver important things like court documents or perishable items that rely on speedy transportation to be effective. Planning is key to timeliness, but all the planning in the world is for nothing if you're absent-minded and continually get side-tracked by other issues. It's not hard to develop a virtual 'internal clock' that will help you stay aware of time passing. Basically, it just means staying on your game and being focused on the job at hand. In time, your body will adjust to staying on deadline and being hyper-vigilant of time constraints. All it takes is a little brain training and your body will follow suit. It might sound a little New Age, but mindfulness and focus really do work in both your professional and personal life.

A Mental Map

Being on time is definitely linked with knowing the best way to arrive at your destination. A good courier driver does not leave his or her route up to chance. Whether you work as a independent contractor or for a large firm, whether you have to manage your routes ad hoc or whether you have set routes given to you, you'll need have a good sense of how to get from point A to B. Even if the trip seems simple, unforeseen events or traffic snarls can force you into sudden change. A solid sense of direction and a mental map of your area and potential alternative routes will limit the amount of times you will need to resort to traffic as an excuse for lateness.

An Open Manner

A courier driver handing over a package on time is not the be all and end all of a successful delivery. The client or recipient may not recall your name or face as they will, naturally, be more interested in what you have to hand over, but they will be put off if you are rude or dishevelled – and you can guarantee they'll remember that. Good presentation and an open manner are far more likely to make a positive impression. A smile, clear communication, and polite friendliness will reinforce this manner and will often determine whether or not the client calls on your services again or gives good feedback to your boss. Politeness and presentation should be considered essential features of your business persona.

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day delivery service in the express freight exchange industry.

Writer and Online Marketing Manager in London.