7 Questions, Reasons, and Answers in Choosing a Courier Service

By Amylee Silva
February 6, 2023
man dress in neon green holding delivery box depicting courier services

The courier service industry is one of the fastest growing industries and has become a necessary part of eCommerce business operations and small businesses that can’t afford to be without them.

You need couriers for shipping, courier delivery, freight management, and more!

What is a courier delivery?

Courier delivery is a service that moves packages from one destination to another. A courier service can be for a business or an individual and is usually done by bicycle, motorcycle, car, truck or van, and sometimes even rail.

These couriers are often found in and around cities as they make deliveries between businesses at high-speed delivery times – sometimes even within the hour!

How do courier services work?

Couriers are the messengers of the modern world. They deliver packages, letters, and other deliveries from one location to another as quickly as possible.

What’s sure though is there are many factors involved in this complex world of logistics – such as location and contract specifics-that go into how your package will make its journey through the postal system until arriving at your customer’s doorstep!

Couriers are professional, effective – often competitive,  and able to reduce the number of unnecessary journeys undertaken by coordinating a shipment.

What courier services are there in Canada?

There are a number of courier service providers, some better than others for different reasons. These courier services include but are not limited to:

Canpar

Loomis Express

GLS

Purolator

Canada Post

FedEx

UPS

USPS

DHL

How do I organize a courier pick-up?

This courier service is basically a courier delivery but with one major difference – the courier will come to you to get your package. These courier companies often provide both courier delivery and courier pickup, making them a very popular choice for busy small businesses.

To ensure your package is delivered properly, it’s important to make sure the courier has everything they need when coming by for pickup. Make sure you’ve followed their directions and prepared ahead of time so that there are no problems on delivery day!

Which couriers collect from home?

Some courier services will even collect packages from your home office, like FedEx, CanPar, and DHL Express.  Simply call to book your collection over the phone, pack your parcel and wait for your collection.

If you’re using an online shipment solution website – skip the phone call altogether. Simply log in to your account to access your dashboard, search for the best rates, choose your courier company and schedule your pick-up online.    

It’s that easy!

What services do couriers provide?

Standard Delivery

If you’re not in any hurry, the best way to get your package delivered is through standard delivery services. This type of delivery typically takes 2-3 days for your shipment to arrive at its final destination.

Same Day (Day Courier)

Same-day delivery services are the perfect option for people or businesses who have an urgent parcel or document to send. In this case, your package will often be picked up and sent on the same working business day!

This type of service will have some restrictions so it’s best to contact your courier company before making any promises to your customer. 

Overnight Shipping

Overnight deliveries are great for businesses that need their products delivered outside of routine hours, such as building companies or other organizations with large, heavy products.

Courier services operate from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm, with the last delivery cutoff times between 8 or even 9:00 PM. If you opt for overnight shipping, these time restrictions are waived.  

Rush Deliveries

If you think the same-day delivery is quick, then you may want to give rush deliveries a try. Often with a 4-hour delivery guarantee, you’ll never have to worry about missing an important delivery ever again.

Popular with courier companies that specialize in delivering emergency supplies, and court and legal documents, this type of service is a definite choice for people who need their deliveries done professionally and fast.

Parcel Delivery

If you’re shipping a few lighter packages at a time, parcel services may be an economical way to ship your products.

A parcel is defined as a package weighing less than 100 pounds that can be moved either by one person or without assistance and are quite popular with many people nowadays.

These deliveries usually take no time to reach their destination and often include food and other household items as well.

Top 7 Benefits of Courier Delivery Service

They’re easy to use and take the stress out of shipping

Couriers are not only easy to use but can help you manage your shipments and help you save money in the long run. 

With an effective and reliable courier service, there’s no need to visit the postal service to send and receive packages. Simply have a courier deliver and pick up parcels for you. You’ll free up time and money to help you focus on what’s really important – growing and supporting your business.

Most courier companies also have online shipping management tools. These tools enable you to schedule deliveries, arrange pickups, as well as track, support, and provide updates on the status of shipments.

Fast Delivery

Courier services are a huge help when you need to get your packages delivered quickly and efficiently. You can let them know where the package needs to go, how early it needs to be there, or if time is of the essence!

Courier delivery services offer same-day, rush, and on-demand delivery services, which can mean huge benefits to you and your business in times of urgency.

Affordable and effective shipping

Courier services offer a variety of benefits beyond convenience, competitive pricing, and reliability.

Delivering a package same-day through large freight and LTL logistics companies can be expensive due to the fact that they base the cost on weight and dimensions and most often can not guarantee a delivery date.

When shipping with a courier service, the cost is typically based on the distance traveled, so the shorter the distance, the more efficient and affordable the service is. 

Professional and reliable

When you need to get a document or package from point A to B, the best option is often with a courier service. 

Courier services also offer a personal touch to the shipping process. With dedicated drivers, customer support, shipment tracking options, and clear communication, you can trust that your package will be delivered on time. 

Safe and secure

Speed is not everything; the quality of service matters. Some drivers take a personal interest in their customers and will secure your package so that your items arrive in one piece and on time.

You’ll be provided with a tracking number so you can locate your delivery and know when it has arrived at its final destination.  

This is also a great reason to use a courier service, especially when you have sensitive documents, expensive pieces that you may want to be insured, items that may need extra care, or to ship and deliver your products at a certain temperature. The reasons to track your order truly are endless.   

Book shipment in seconds

We all have busy schedules. Sometimes the best thing to do is book a delivery and let someone else ship and deliver your packages for you! A courier company can take but a few minutes of time with just one phone call or the click of a button on their website.

Stay connected with shipments

Track your order in real-time with your shipping company’s app or their online management tool. You can have instant updates throughout the delivery process so that you can always know what to expect and when to expect it!

The courier service will also contact you before delivery to provide you with an estimated time frame for arrival, offering you clarity and peace of mind.

What are the disadvantages of courier services?

The main disadvantages are cost and size as most courier companies have strict limits on how large a package can be, meaning that if your parcel exceeds size limits, the courier service will not be able to transport it.

Also, when there isn’t a sense of urgency or the cost of shipping is not covered by your customer – courier services can be more expensive than ground mail service, especially if you don’t have the best rates in place.

Looking for a quote or want to save more on your shipping costs? Get started for FREE with ShipSimple, and you can save between 25-70% of your first shipment.

Related Posts

Read More

Join the Discussion

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *