A phenomenal amount of freight is transported around Australia every day. The volume varies from the masses of coal carried by train out of the Hunter Valley, to the truckloads of groceries delivered to our supermarkets, the random individual who looks up how do I ship large items for their once off freight, and all the way down to the tiny ring purchased through an online shopping company and delivered to the door of the customer. And as a significant amount of cargo is moved on our road network, it’s not without reason that the saying goes, without trucks Australia stops.
When Manual Checking Does Not Suffice
The freight industry is vast and requires intricate systems to make sure the goods end up at the correct destination. Quality control is required at the packaging end, ensuring for example that boxes are labelled correctly so that the label truly reflects the contents. Then it has to be loaded onto the correct vehicle and finally dropped off at the right destination. Working out how to ship big items could be an additional challenge. While a small warehouse might be able to work with lists and manual checking, this is not possible for large warehouses that dispatch thousands of items every day. These rely on computerised systems for their day to day operations, and of course they can’t do without their delivery drivers.
Moving Freight has its Challenges
Working as a courier isn’t always easy. In fact, most couriers also experience days when everything just seems to be going against them. There is a whole range of circumstances outside the control of the driver that can have a negative impact on the delivery operations. There could be a road accident, forcing the driver to take a different route or simply have to wait. One day it might seem as if every single traffic light turns red just as the driver approaches. Then there is the last-minute additional consignment that is added to the driver’s list that renders the carefully planned route practically useless. And finally, there are the angry receivers, blaming the courier for taking so long, forgetting that they were the ones who wanted a cheap courier for their large items. But who are these drivers and what is their role?
Different Types of Couriers
A delivery service driver is a specialized type of courier. They are also known as package delivery drivers, delivery and courier service drivers, delivery truck drivers or simply delivery drivers. A delivery service driver picks up, drives, and delivers packages within a small region or urban area. Most of the time, they transport stock from a distribution centre to businesses and residences.
Then there are light truck drivers, who are often called pick-up and deliver (or P&D) drivers. These are the most common type of delivery driver. They drive small trucks or vans from distribution centres to delivery locations. Drivers make deliveries based on a set timetable. Some drivers visit the distribution centre once (usually first thing in the morning), and make many stops throughout the day. Others are required to make multiple trips between the distribution centre and delivery locations.
Driver/sales workers are delivery drivers who also endeavour to make additional sales. They recommend new products to businesses they already have dealings with and attempt to win over new customers.
Couriers Essential in the Delivery Chain
Our society depends on couriers every day to move goods around the country and they play an important role in warehouse operations and online shopping.
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