Whether you’re planning to become a short or long-haul courier, there are lots of benefits to taking a job in the deliveries sector. Freedom to travel, set your own schedule, and even determine the types of freight you’re willing to deliver make being a courier an attractive proposition. The job does come with its difficulties, though, and there are a few skills that you’ll need to prosper.
Time management
Aside from obvious skills like driving and navigation, timekeeping is the number one concern for any courier. The job is flexible, and you will be able to travel, but you’ll also need to work to a tight and sometimes difficult schedule. Couriers can’t simply stop off for long breaks or to visit the towns they pass through. You’ll probably have to deliver multiple items in a single day, and if you’re a local courier, that number will creep even higher. Some companies (Amazon, for example) don’t allow couriers much time per delivery, so you’ll have to manage your schedule carefully. This can be stressful, so successful couriers require a calm demeanor that isn’t easily ruffled.
Problem-solving
No matter your best efforts, problems will develop. These can come in the form of road traffic incidents or even simple road works. In the case of the latter, you’ll find yourself behind schedule, with time to make up, and with a customer waiting on their delivery. You might have to quickly plot out a new route, get in touch with the customer, or even reschedule the delivery. Problems can develop quickly when you spend all day on the road, and being level-headed enough to solve them will make your career as a courier all the more successful and happy. It will keep your customers smiling too.
Flexibility
Courier jobs are more flexible than they’ve ever been. Where once couriers were bound to large companies, courier jobs are now easy to source independently. You can find jobs for couriers using specialized search engines and work in a freelance capacity. That allows you to fit the career around any other commitments, choose how far you’re willing to drive per job, and even the type of products that you want to transport. Of course, the freelance approach demands flexibility. You’ll have to adapt to your client’s needs, plan ahead and make changes when necessary.
Concentration
Most people are adept drivers over short distances, but full-time couriers can spend hours at a time on the road, traveling over long distances and sometimes even at night. A long, straight highway unfolding into the dark is enough to make even the most seasoned driver lose their concentration, but a courier can’t afford to do that. You must be capable of paying attention to the road for long periods of time, even at the end of the day when you’re tired. You might be the most capable driver in the world, but you’ll always need to watch out for other road users.
