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- Requires excellent road sense, and the ability to work to tight schedules and plan routes
- With experience, option to become a depot controller or start your own courier business
- Option to train to drive large goods vehicles (LGVs)
As a Courier, your day-to-day work may include collecting the schedule of pick-up points and delivery addresses from your depot, planning routes and sorting packages into order, finding the quickest route to delivery addresses, signing for packages that you pick up and getting signatures when delivering them, and keeping paperwork and delivery records up-to-date. You'll usually drive a van or ride a motorcycle, but in larger cities you could work as a bicycle courier.
DAY-TO-DAY DUTIES
- Collecting the schedule of pick-up points and delivery addresses from your depot
- Planning routes and sorting packages into order
- Finding the quickest route to delivery addresses
- Signing for packages that you pick up and getting signatures when delivering them
- Keeping paperwork and delivery records up-to-date
DAY-TO-DAY ENVIRONMENT
You'll usually drive a van or ride a motorcycle, but in larger cities you could work as a bicycle courier.
Many couriers are self-employed and paid per delivery. Your working week may include evenings, weekends or shifts. Part-time work is often available. As a motorcycle or bicycle courier, you'll mainly work in city centres and surrounding areas. This is a physically active role, so you'll need to have a reasonable level of fitness. If you work as a van courier, you may have to spend time away from home, as some companies deliver goods across the country.
You'll need
This role would be ideal for someone who enjoys driving and has excellent road sense, and the ability to work to tight schedules and plan routes.
There are no set requirements, but you'll usually need English and maths skills, driving experience and a good knowledge of your local area. Experience in storage or warehousing can be useful.
You'll need to have a full UK or EU driving licence, held for at least 12 months and valid for the type of vehicle you'll be driving. You must also have a good driving record. Your employer may supply you with a delivery van, but if you're self-employed you'll need your own vehicle. If you want to work as a motorcycle Courier then you must have your own.
You could also get into this job through an intermediate apprenticeship for express delivery operatives.
CAREER PROSPECTS
With experience, you could become a depot controller or start your own courier business. You could also train to drive large goods vehicles (LGVs).