How to offer a 24-hour courier service

As a new courier business owner, offering a 24-hour courier service can be a game-changer. With customers expecting fast and reliable deliveries at all hours, being able to meet those needs will set you apart.

But building a 24-hour operation isn’t something that happens overnight. It requires planning, the right infrastructure, and a solid understanding of the logistics involved.

Here’s how you can get started and build your service effectively.

Why there’s demand for a 24-hour courier service

In the modern world, more and more customers are demanding round-the-clock service.

Whether it’s for time-sensitive deliveries or late-night emergency requests, offering a 24/7 courier service can tap into a growing market. This is especially true for businesses needing urgent deliveries at any time, such as those dealing with high-value courier jobs or critical shipments.

Understanding your customers’ needs is the first step. Many industries, from retail to healthcare, rely on quick delivery.

When you offer a 24-hour courier service, you’re providing a level of convenience that your competitors might not be able to match.

Being able to meet customer expectations at all hours of the day can build loyalty and a steady stream of repeat business.

How to build a fleet to support 24hr delivery

To offer a 24-hour courier service, you’ll need a fleet of vehicles that can be relied upon day and night. This means having a courier fleet with mix of vehicles that can handle a range of deliveries.

If you’re just starting out, it might be tempting to stick with a single vehicle, but as demand grows, you’ll need to expand.

Think about the types of deliveries you’ll handle. Will you need small vans for same day courier jobs, or will you require larger vehicles for bulky or high-value items?

Consider both the number of vehicles and their availability. Running a 24/7 courier service means you’ll need to plan for every shift, ensuring you can offer coverage at any time of day.

How to schedule shifts and optimise vehicle usage

Managing your drivers and vehicles is important for maintaining 24hr delivery.

Create a schedule that ensures there’s always a vehicle available, even during night hours if you want to offer overnight courier deliveries. Use software or a dispatch system that helps you keep track of driver availability and vehicle location. You’ll also need to think about rest periods for drivers to comply with UK regulations.

With careful planning, you can optimise your fleet’s usage. For example, when demand is low, you can stagger shifts, ensuring that you don’t have too many drivers at once.

This will help reduce downtime for vehicles while keeping the service running smoothly.

Use Courier Exchange to expand your availability

As a new courier business owner, you may not have a massive fleet at your disposal.

This is where Courier Exchange (CX) can play a big role. By becoming part of the CX network, you can access a pool of other couriers who are available to take on loads when you’re unable to.

Using CX to ensure your service is always available

One of the major advantages of joining Courier Exchange is the ability to find courier subcontractors.

If you’re in one part of the UK and need to serve a customer in another, you can use the platform to find another courier nearby. This ensures that you never miss out on a same-day job, and can provide 24/7 deliveries even if you’re unavailable or out of the area.

With CX, you can also find couriers and even haulage vehicles with specialist equipment for certain deliveries, like frozen and chilled transport, or even specialist courier services for delicate or high-value loads.

This level of flexibility is vital when you’re aiming to provide 24-hour services.

Keep customers informed with live tracking and updates

When running a 24-hour courier service, clear communication with customers is essential.

With deliveries happening at all hours, customers need to feel confident about the status of their shipments.

Offering real-time vehicle tracking allows customers to monitor their deliveries, which can help reduce anxiety, especially with urgent or high-value items. Regular updates on the status of the job, including estimated arrival times, will also go a long way in keeping customers satisfied.

With the right systems in place, you can send these updates automatically, saving time and reducing the risk of human error.

Grow your same day courier service into a 24-hour operation

If you’re already running a same day courier service, expanding to a 24-hour courier service can be a logical next step.

Many of the processes you have in place for same-day delivery—such as vehicle management and customer communication—will be similar for 24-hour operations.

Start by offering late-night services and gradually build up to 24-hour availability. You don’t have to make the change all at once. Test the waters during evenings and weekends before committing to round-the-clock service.

As your business grows, you’ll need to invest in more vehicles and drivers, but the groundwork will already be laid.

Frequently asked questions