Are you looking for courier services to handle the shipping needs of your business? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there are 74,120 couriers in the United States. The sheer number of couriers means that there is a lot of competition for your business.
But how can you find a courier that provides the services you want at an affordable price? What other things should you be looking for in your courier? Read on to learn 7 questions to ask before you hire a business courier.
1. How Long Have You Been Handling Courier Services?
It’s important to ensure the courier you are considering has experience in the industry. This is because you will want to know if they are familiar with the business and how to best deliver the services they promise. A courier service that has a reputation for customer service and on-time deliveries can go a long way.
After all, you are hiring a business courier because you have time-sensitive documents or items that need to make it to their destination as you request.
2. What Sort of Training Program Have Your Drivers Received?
Before hiring a business courier, you should learn about any and all training programs they put their drivers through. But why does this matter?
Simply put, having a well-trained driver can help you be more confident that your items will be delivered safe and sound. Besides being a safe driver, you should learn more about their other qualifications.
For example, if you are in the medical field, your documents may include information that is personal and protected. This means you will need someone who is familiar with HIPAA compliance.
3. What Is Your Responsiveness to Customer Needs?
Whether you are shipping goods or buying a product from a retailer, you should only deal with a company that is responsive to your needs.
You can speak with a prospective courier about their customer service program. This will help you get a sense of how they handle special requests and inquiries about delivery status.
In the shipping industry, there are also important considerations like inclement weather and traffic considerations. How does this courier handle communicating a change of plans?
If you are having trouble receiving direct answers to these questions, this could be a red flag. After all, if a business won’t address these inquiries directly right now, how can you expect them to help you when they are handling your courier services?
It’s better to learn these things ahead of time than to learn the hard way in a delivery gone wrong.
4. What Technology Do You Use?
Years ago, hiring a local courier meant finding someone with a good reputation and a reliable mode of transportation.
But that’s changed in today’s digital age. You should speak with your courier about the sort of technology they use in their day-to-day operations.
Some of these technologies you should ask about include whether or not they offer a live tracking system. Another convenient feature to consider is if they allow you to place your orders on the internet.
These forms of technology can help streamline your requests and improve your overall shipping experience.
5. What Delivery Options Do You Offer?
Your business courier should offer a wide range of delivery options and stand by their services.
This is important because you want to be confident that you can count on the courier to complete your delivery under the time constraints for that order.
Does the courier offer same-day delivery for all items? If not, what items are excluded from that list? Consider the sort of items or documents you will be shipping often and the average delivery time.
If a courier does not offer you the options you need, you should look elsewhere.
6. How Does Your Pricing Compare to the Competition?
When you are looking for the best courier, it’s also important to consider whether or not their pricing is competitive.
Speak with a prospective business courier to learn their pricing structure. Then compare it to the competition so that you can determine if it is a reasonable price.
When comparing prices, consider the type of service being offered, along with other unique features of the service that may help justify the cost.
It’s also a good idea to speak with the courier about whether they offer any pricing discounts based on shipping volume. There may be some opportunities to save significant money if you use their services up to a certain level.
If a courier does not offer any volume discounts and they have a high price, they may not be the courier you are looking for.
7. What Makes You Stand out from Your Competitors?
To earn your business, a courier should stand out from the competition in a unique way.
This can be because of the way they handle receiving deliveries, their pricing structure, or the technology they use. But more importantly, it may be the way they treat customers and their focus on providing premier service.
You should speak with a courier about what makes them different. This can help you be more confident that you are choosing the right courier for your company.
Wrapping Up: Questions to Ask Your Business Courier
A courier can help deliver documents or packages in a timely manner at an affordable price.
But to find the best courier for your business, you should speak with them about their service and get a feel for how they operate. By learning in advance what is offered by a courier, you will be able to make an informed decision.
At National Courier and Logistics, we offer a wide range of unique courier services. These include warehousing, freight forwarding, luggage delivery, and other shipments.
Our well-trained staff will identify the best solution to your situation. We do this by weighing all your options and evaluating them against your needs. This allows you to capitalize on our services and complete a fast, successful delivery.
Contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your company’s courier needs.
