More Online Shopping is Good News for Couriers

For some, browsing busy high-street shops, wading through reams and reams of sale items and waiting in long queues for the checkout is not an enjoyable pastime. These people must have grown in number, because online shopping is become increasingly popular, with many customers opting to purchase items online and have them brought to their homes via a delivery service.
If you’re an owner driver in the courier industry this means you’re in luck, so why not make the most of this extra work? This year, take your courier business to new heights by grabbing your piece of the online shopping delivery pie.

Earn Trust with Tracking Options

A Royal Mail source has stated that three in four people believe it’s important to receive regular updates about the progress of their deliveries, so it’s obvious that communication with customers is key. Offering retailers tracking options to give to their customers is a great way to build trust, as consumers will be fully aware of the progress of the process.

Being able to make sure that customers can be reassured about the whereabouts of their parcels is a great asset for your business, as it means the customer is more likely to use the same retailer again. As well as this, the work of the owner driver will consequently be made simpler, because if a customer is fully aware of the location of their goods, delivery companies are far less likely to receive angry emails!

Here are some more Royal Mail statistics that might convince you to provide a tracking system for your future customers.

• 79% of shoppers agree that tracking systems give them more confidence when they’re online shopping. • 77% agree that purchasing items is more convenient when they’re tracked. • 64% stated that they would be more likely to make a purchase if they were aware that they could track the item as it is being delivered. • 58% would like to be informed if there has been a delay. • 41% would like delivery confirmation.

Keep Customers Happy with Delivery Options

A lot of online shoppers have very busy lives, so it’s important that they have access to various delivery options in order for the arrival of their parcels to fit into their schedule. If you’re an owner driver, you’ve probably had to slot a ‘sorry we missed you’ note through the letterbox once or twice in your time, but providing set options could change this.

Due to cost considerations, most shoppers opt for two to three day delivery, but one in five is willing to pay a little extra to be reassured of next-day deliveries. If you give retailers the option of express delivery to make your business stand out among the rest you’ll be able to charge a premium. Have a look at these stats to convince you.

• 66% prefer having their parcels delivered to their homes than any other location. • 20% opt for next-day over Christmas (2017).

One More Thing

Online shopping doesn’t always come easy and many retailers now have to offer free returns to their customers to entice them to buy. The good news is that as an owner driver in the courier industry, you’ll probably be responsible for the job!

It’s clear that online shopping has more than a few perks, both for the buyer and for the parcel delivery industry. Take these tips on board and you can get on the bandwagon and start growing your business today.

Author Plate

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world’s largest neutral trading hub for same day owner driver courier jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Over 5,400 member companies are networked together through the Exchange to fill empty capacity, get new clients and form long-lasting business relationships.

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New Van Market Growth: A Sign of a Flourishing Courier Industry

This January, the market for new light commercial vehicles (LCVs) has increased by 8.6%. Compared to January 2018, this is quite significant, with 22,000 new vans and pick-ups being registered (an uplift of 1,761).
Since last year, all sectors have seen growth, besides the medium vans which had a 3.9% decrease in demand. These figures have come from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), and it is interesting to see some significant variations for particular vehicles.

Demand Fluctuations

Both pickups and light car-derived vans saw large demand increases (13.4% and 31.7%) due to new and improved models being introduced to the industry. The statistics also showed an increase in the demand for large vans (weighing 2.5-3.5 tonnes) as 13,268 vehicles were registered.

The chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Mike Hawes, said that he was unsurprised by the increasing demands due to the poor figures in December 2018. While a slight bounce back was expected, further fluctuations have been predicted for coming months. Hawes stated that since “the UK’s post-Brexit future remains uncertain”, it will be difficult to know what’s to come in terms of vehicle demand.

Stability in Your Courier Network

All fleet managers strive for stability in their courier network, but with demand fluctuations as significant as this in addition to the Brexit problem, it can be very difficult to achieve a stable system. In order to be able to invest and renew their fleets, operators need a steadier market. Hawes argued that this “now depends on government providing the right conditions starting with removing the threat of ‘no-deal’.”

The Current Market Leaders

Companies with the highest market shares included Ford, with a 31.7% share and Volkswagen at 11.7%. The PSA group (Vauxhall, Citroen and Peugeot) had an impressive January sales total of 5,647, which by volume would put them high in the rankings.

Thoughts for the Future of LCVs

The director of the National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA), Sue Robinson, is confident that the light commercial vehicle market will continue to thrive throughout 2019.

The NFDA represent commercial vehicle and franchised car retailers, and Robinson confirmed that “many new models [are] due to enter the market this year” to attract more and more buyers. She stated that the new models “coupled with attractive finance offers and better specification vehicles” have made the industry optimistic about the future of LCVs.

While fleet managers are waiting on the Brexit decision and looking to improve the stability of their courier network, new LCV models are beginning to dominate the market. Though statistics are currently unsettled, there is hope that this is a real sign of a flourishing courier industry.

Author Plate Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world’s largest neutral trading hub for same day jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Connecting logistics professionals across the UK and Europe through their online courier network, Courier Exchange provides services for matching loads and with available drivers. Over 5,400 member companies are networked together through the Exchange to fill empty capacity, get new clients and form long-lasting business relationships.

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Top Tips for How to Improve Your Driving Skills

No matter how good a driver you think you are (ok, that you know you are), there’s not a person in the world that couldn’t benefit from some advice on how to be a better one. Even if driving seems like second nature to you, if you’re involved in a career doing courier jobs it’s all too easy to fall into complacency and bad habits when you’re out on the roads so much.
While some of the following tips may seem like common sense, they certainly bear repeating. And repeating. If you’ve just started doing courier jobs you’ll find some gems, and if you’re an old dog, you might dig up a few tasty forgotten bones…

Brake it Easy

Progressive braking is the art of doing exactly what it says on the tin: braking lightly at first, then applying heavier pressure, and then finally a return to light pressure. Easy does it is the mantra, and this not only allows other motorists to see and react to what you’re doing, its also gentler on your vehicle and better on your fuel bill.

Read the Road Ahead

When you’re out on the road all day doing courier jobs, this tip is more important than most. It’s vital that you are aware of what’s going on around you – beyond simply the vehicle in front. Make it a habit to look ahead as far as you can, regularly, so you can see any potential issues before you’re on top of them.

Keep your Distance

Yes, yes, you know about the perils and annoyances of tailgating, but do you actually stick to the old ‘two-second rule’? Don’t just think about it; do as you would have done unto you and maintain a safe (two-second) distance from the car in front.

Accelerated Learning

Don’t be a jerk! If you want to improve your driving and save bundles of fuel, do this: accelerate slowwwlyyy. Smoother acceleration (and braking) has the potential to add around 20% to your fuel efficiency, and if that’s not enough to convince you, your chiropractor might have a few more reasons…

Know the Speed Limits and Stick to Them

Staying within the law is a pretty good incentive not to speed (because good luck getting any courier jobs without a licence), but so is your safety, saving money on fuel and wear and tear on your vehicle. Ignorance is no excuse: know the speed limits wherever you’re driving and stick to them. And a P.S to this tip: use your common sense and adjust your speed accordingly if you encounter bad weather or difficulty with visibility.

Concentration is Key

If you’re in control of a vehicle, you should be concentrating on the task in hand – not talking on the phone (or even taking a sneaky glance at your notifications), eating a burger, fumbling with your Google Maps or anything else that will take away your attention from the road. This becomes even more pertinent when you’re driving in built-up areas with loads of other vehicles and pedestrians just waiting to jump out into your path.

Respect the Machine

Finally, you should never lose sight of the power you wield when you get behind the wheel; but by the same token, neither should you underestimate your own vulnerability. That’s a big old lump of metal and engine components you’re zooming around in, so treat it with respect and care.

Author Plate

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world’s largest neutral trading hub for same day courier jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Numerous transport exchange businesses are networked together on their website, trading jobs and capacity through what is now the fastest growing Freight Exchange in the UK.

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Driver Shortage Solutions: Bringing New Blood to the Industry

The driver shortage is one of the main problems currently faced in the haulage industry, and while there are plenty of reasons why young people are becoming less attracted to jobs in the transport sector, there are just as many advantages and reasons to love the work.
The professionals have said that in order to solve this issue for good, something needs to be done to motivate and attract young people to the kind of roles that are going begging. Read on to discover the five key areas logistics experts believe need to be addressed to eliminate the driver shortage problem once and for all.

1. Make the Career Path Appealing

It’s been revealed that one of the reasons young people aren’t invested in applying for roles in the haulage industry is because there is no clear career framework. Having a structured career path in place would not only help to increase general interest, but also create a sense of security in the role. Including graduate training, apprenticeships and “warehouse to wheels” schemes could also help reduce the driver shortage, as there would be room to attract a broader range of applicants.

2. Introduce Financial Rewards

One sure-fire way to attract applicants is to make the job financially rewarding! The younger demographic, in particular, would definitely be attracted to a more competitive salary from the start, but some companies are looking to take a more specific approach by simply rewarding the most successful candidates with bonuses or well-paid apprenticeship schemes.

3. Improve the Image of the Haulage Industry

Past surveys about the main reasons for the driver shortage have revealed that haulage is a “much needed but sometimes forgotten about sector”. In order to attract the young crowd, it’s vital that this image is improved and the sector presents itself as a modern and innovative industry. This should also help the sector to become better-known among the general public, hopefully encouraging increased appreciation for the workers, too.

4. Engage with Students

Engaging with schools, colleges and universities is a great way to work towards increasing young people’s knowledge of the transport sector, and inspire them to become part of an innovative industry. The education sector is a great place to start when advertising job vacancies and employment opportunities.

5. Get Rid of Barriers

There are also some more general things that could be changed about the haulage industry to increase the number of applicants for specific jobs. Perhaps a better working environment, flexibility with working hours, or investment in better vehicles would attract more workers. Other options include offering to pay for training or including general incentives within training programmes.

The driver shortage is a growing concern for many hauliers, but after reading this hopefully you’ll be feeling more prepared with ways to resolve the issue. Make the job relatable and appealing for young people and you’ll be sure to have an influx of applications before you know it.

Author Plate

Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Connecting professionals across the UK and Europe through their website, Haulage Exchange provides a valuable service for the haulage industry, matching delivery work with available vehicles. It is now the fastest growing Freight Exchange in the UK.

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Some of the Strangest Courier Loads of All Time

If you’re in the logistics industry, you know courier loads can cover a large range of items, from medical equipment to marshmallows. However, no matter how diverse your cargo may be, you’re probably not expecting it to surprise you or puzzle you in any way. But that’s not always the case.
Read on for some of the strangest courier loads of all time. You never know, maybe one of these items will show up in one of your future deliveries.

The Original Deliveroo

Long before Just Eat and Deliveroo were part of our everyday life, one UK woman tried to ship her son (who, mind you, lived over 450 miles away from her) a delicious home-cooked meal – in this case, a piping hot shepherd’s pie! That’s a very long way for a takeaway to go…

The Snack

While we’re on the topic of travelling treats, one woman once mailed her friend a banana. Now, fruit and veg are common kinds of courier loads so this may not seem all that unusual. However, the banana was not in a box or parcel of any kind – it travelled completely by itself. The sender had written the address of the fruit’s skin, placed a stamp on it, slapped on a ‘Handle with Care’ warning label (bananas do bruise easily, after all) and posted it.

The Building

An American man named W H Coltharp once mailed an entire building through the US Postal Service. Of course, he didn’t send the whole thing at once; he sent it brick by brick (by brick by brick…). His reasoning? He was building a bank in Utah but thought the best bricks available were in Salt Lake City. To avoid paying a significantly higher cost to have them moved by wagon freight, he instead chose to send them in 50-pound packages through the post.

The Social Experiment

The people behind Improbable Research, a satirical academic journal, attempted to turn courier loads into a social experiment. They mailed a selection of downright weird items to see just what would be delivered. Attempts included a street sign, a balloon, a molar and a very creepy toy, which was a monkey housed in a box and addressed to ‘Little Johnnie’. The catch? Every time the box was shaken, the inanimate object would scream, ‘Help! Let me out of here!’ Aren’t you glad you weren’t the delivery driver?

The Fan Mail

Fans send their favourite celebrities the strangest things. The Jonas Brothers once received a dead baby shark, while Taylor Swift was gifted a lovely portrait of herself painted on a turtle shell.

So there you have it: some of the weirdest items couriers have ever had to deliver. From bananas to buildings, people working in the logistics industry have always had to move unusual things. Perhaps it will make you more curious about the contents of your cargo after reading this article.

Author Plate

Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world’s largest neutral trading hub for same day courier work in the express freight exchange industry. Numerous transport exchange businesses are networked together on their website, trading jobs and capacity through what is now the fastest growing Freight Exchange in the UK.

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