Do you know what vehicle to book from your courier?

When  booking your courier service it is essential to know what size vehicle you need for the job.

• Motorcycle couriers – carry a top box that can take a maximum weight of 8kilos and measures 30 x 20 x 20 cms so is ideal for documents and small packages, and high value but small items
• Small van couriers can take items between 450-500kgs and their load space is 1.2 x 1.2 x 1 metres
• Transit vans can take items up to 1000kgs and their load space is 3.0 x 1.7 x 1.6 metres
• Sprinters / XLB Transits can take up to 900kgs in weight and their load is 4.2 x 1.7 x 1.6 metres

If you don’t know what vehicle, you need to be able to tell the courier the weight and dimensions of the item needing to be delivered.

As you can see from the above dimensions an item that weighs 10kgs but is 40 x 40 x 40 cms has to go by a small van, it’s too big for a motorcyle courier.

The same applies for much larger items if an item is over the dimensions or weight for a transit van or a sprinter, then the next size up is a 7.5 tonne lorry.

Each vehicle has a different cost to you the customer, as each one has different needs. People think a motorcycle courier will be cheaper than a small van courier, but modern motorcycles are highly tuned machines and the drivers highly skilled at driving through traffic – they work at their absolute best when delivering to a deadline, and that is what you pay a premium for.

If a delivery isn’t as rushed, then a small van courier would save you some money (but not a lot).

When booking your courier services you need to know either the vehicle size / capacity that you need or the dimensions of the item being sent.

If you don’t know either, you will get the wrong service with the wrong vehicle if your courier doesn’t ask.

Don’t get overcharged, the devil is in the details, so know them!

Sarah