17 specialist courier services that you can offer

As a courier, it’s important to stand out from the competition. By offering specialist courier services, you prove you can handle a variety of different types of cargo, and makes you the ideal choice for clients with specific requirements.

In this guide, we’ll explain the 17 specialist courier services and licenses you can add to your Courier Exchange profile and offer to your customers.

The most popular specialist courier services

1. 2 Man: This service means you have two people available for deliveries. It’s ideal for handling items like furniture or large appliances that require extra manpower for safe transport and installation.

2. 24 Hour: This means you can handle urgent deliveries or those needed outside standard business hours, such as emergency parts or last-minute gifts.

3. ADR: This stands for ‘Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road’. As an ADR courier, you can transport hazardous materials, including chemicals or flammable substances, safely and legally.

4. DGSA Qualified: As a ‘Dangerous Goods Safety Advisor’, you can oversee the transport of hazardous goods, ensuring all safety and legal guidelines are followed. It’s very similar to an ADR licence.

5. FORS Bronze, Silver, Gold: The Fleet Operator Recognition Scheme recognises different levels of excellence in fleet operations. Bronze focuses on legal compliance, Silver on maintaining safety equipment, and Gold on effectively managing noise pollution and emissions. This is a sign of high operational standards.

6. Frozen: Specialising in frozen transport is another popular courier service, and ensures that items like ice cream or biological samples are kept at the correct temperatures throughout transit.

7. GOH – Garments On Hanger: This service is tailored for the fashion industry, transporting clothing items that need to arrive wrinkle-free and ready to wear or sell, such as dresses or suits.

8. High Security: High-security transport is used for high-value or theft-prone items like jewellery, electronics, or confidential documents, involving enhanced security protocols to prevent loss.

9. Installation & Swap-out: This service includes the installation and, if necessary, the swapping out of old items. It’s often used for appliances like refrigerators or office equipment.

10. Level A / B Aviation, Cargo Operative (previously Level D): These aviation security certifications indicate that you can safely and securely deliver road cargo to and from airports and air freight facilities. This is important for goods needing to be flown, like pharmaceuticals or electronics, or in some cases, urgent parts that are needed to fix a grounded aircraft waiting to fly.

11. Refrigerated / Chilled: Similar to frozen services but at chill temperatures, this service is necessary for dairy products, fresh flowers, or pharmaceuticals that must stay cool but not frozen.

12. Removals: Handling complete removal services means managing the transport of household or office contents from one location to another, involving everything from furniture to personal belongings.

13. Waste Carrier: As a licensed waste carrier, you can legally transport waste materials, including construction debris or old electronics, ensuring they are disposed of or recycled according to environmental regulations.

14. WEEE: Specialising in the disposal of Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment means you can handle items like old computers, televisions, and refrigerators, ensuring they are recycled or disposed of in an environmentally safe manner.

15. Authorised Economic Operator (AEO): This status shows that your role in the international supply chain is secure and that your customs controls and procedures are efficient and compliant. This is important for companies that regularly import or export goods.

16. CMR: The CMR insurance certification means that you’re qualified to carry goods internationally under the CMR consignment note, offering legal protection and security for items being transported across borders, such as furniture, electronics, or commercial goods.

More services, more work

Adding these specialist courier services means you can take on different types of jobs, including ones that pay better.

This makes your profile more attractive on CX, helping you get more work. Over 13,000 courier jobs are posted on CX every day.

Offering specialist delivery services lets you make the most of these opportunities, filling your van and boosting your earnings on Courier Exchange.

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The article was published on . It was updated on 23 October 2024 to make it more relevant and comprehensive.


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