How to Hire a Courier

Consider time availability and method of transportation when hiring a courier.

A courier can save your company time and money when delivering important papers and packages, or picking them up from other companies. Typically, you can hire a courier to work part-time or hire an independent service that you can call when you need a delivery. Keep a few key tips in mind when you are hiring a courier to ensure the company or individual is the best fit for your organization.

Instructions

1. Determine your courier needs. For example, you may need to hire an individual courier to work a certain number of hours per week, or you may simply need to contract with a service to come as needed. This is dependent on the number of deliveries you have on a daily basis. For instance, a newspaper that sends out ad proofs daily is more likely to need a courier who comes in for at least a few hours per day, while a doctor's office would likely only need a courier service once or twice per week to dispatch records from one office to another.

2. Consider your budget. If you are hiring an individual, then you need to factor in pay as well as benefits costs. If you plan to hire a courier service, then you need to shop around to get the best deal. Compare the cost of a service, for example, to the cost of a part-time staffer to be sure that your decision is a financially sound one.

3. Place an ad for an individual courier, if that's what you need. Give a clear job description in the ad, including your preferred method of transportation. For example, in a large city like New York, where traffic tends to be congested, it helps to have a courier with a bike and the stamina to quickly move between locations. In sprawling city, like Miami, a courier with a car -- or at least a license to drive a company vehicle -- is preferable.

4. Ask the right questions when interviewing either an individual or a service. A courier's job is different; it matters less about whether or not he knows the latest word processing software than it does if he knows three different routes to one location in town. Ask about past courier experience, how he deals with traffic or elemental issues when in transit, whether or not the package is insured (if you are looking at hiring a service) and typical transit times to some of your most commonly-delivered locations.

5. Choose a candidate with experience in your particular industry. A food courier has different experience than a courier for a law firm. Delivery products and time frames are different, which should be considered for the person you eventually hire. For example, a food courier has to get the food to the appropriate party quickly without spilling or mixing up dishes; a law firm's courier has to ensure that important legal documents are not only delivered in a timely manner, but with privacy considerations in mind, as well.

References

• Collect My Parcel: Some Advantages of Hiring Courier Services
• Messenger Courier Association of America: Why Use A Courier