When it comes to being a courier, it’s not all just driving around listening to music and tossing a few parcels through doors. Taking on courier jobs means taking on the responsibility of a lifestyle that requires discipline, dedication and stamina. In many cases, you are, in effect self-employed, and you need to be able to manage your day in such a way that everything gets delivered on time; your van gets you from A to B with no hiccups; and, as the most valuable asset of your business, you are yourself fresh, alert and ready to go. So, if you’re seriously thinking of taking on courier jobs, your day may look a little like this…

Good Morning Sunshine!

The first thing you need to know is that when you take on courier jobs, in all probability you will also be taking on a lot of early mornings. Whether you’re self-employed or not, most deliveries usually start early in order to meet commitments and fit in with timetables. So, you will need an early alarm call and a good, hearty breakfast to fire you up.

A Man and His Van

When you’re a one man band doing courier jobs, everything relies on your van. It is vital that it is in tip-top condition mechanically and that it also looks the part. This means no inch-thick layer of dust on the back windscreen just waiting for some smarty to come along and write, “I wish my wife was this dirty” in. Not a very professional look! So, along with the daily oil, water and brakes check you will need to give the van a good going over inside and out with the chamois. Get rid of yesterday’s lunch wrappings and ensure all your paperwork is in a convenient and easy-to-hand spot.

Timing is Everything

The best-laid plans of mice and men and all that, but, as much as possible, you should plan your schedule for the day before you set off. The last thing you want is to be doubling back on yourself when, if you had looked to the jobs ahead you could have cut your delivery times in half. By their very nature, courier jobs will have you travelling all over the country and sometimes you can feel like you are chasing your own tail. But with a little forward-thinking you can economise not only your time, but also fuel as well. Many drivers today are part of a freight exchange where they can match courier jobs with locations and ensure they are not returning from a destination with an empty van.

Fuel Up

This means both you and your van. It can be all too tempting to push on to try and get as many courier jobs done as possible; but it is imperative that you eat and rest sensibly whilst on the road, so you will need to take regular breaks when driving long distances. While it’s not always practical (or economical) to stop for a three course lunch on the road, do factor in some down time during the day to refresh and refuel.

There’s No Place like Home

So, after eight or ten hours on the road, it’s time to head home. After one last check on your schedule and the back of your van, the day is over save for the drive home. Don’t forget to pick up a bunch of flowers from the garage for the wife and perhaps something special for dessert, then park up, and pat your van good night. But your day’s not quite over yet; you will probably need to spend a couple of hours going through your invoices, bills and planning the schedule for tomorrow’s courier jobs before calling it a day.

Working doing courier jobs is not everybody’s idea of the ideal job; but if you’re looking for freedom, adventure and the open road, they just may be for you…

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

Category: Business
Keywords: courier jobs