Life at Miles: A Day in the Life of a delivery courier

The doorbell rings – it’s the package you’ve been waiting for all day. You know because the courier has just checked in to make sure you’re at home. You head to the door, pick up the parcel, sign the papers. Perhaps you’ll smile briefly and wish the courier a good day before he’s off to his next customer. We tend to take these services for granted. Of course, you need people to deliver your packages, we’re not quite there yet with AI and self-driving cars. But how often do we stop to think of the hands that deliver the items? Of the face we might start recognising after a few orders? It’s actually a very interesting journey, and like every interesting voyage, the one with Miles Express Couriers starts with a huddle and a coffee.

Every morning, our punctual Miles Express couriers gather at the warehouse. There, they’re assigned routes by the logistics manager that enable them to make efficient use of their time and to guarantee timely deliveries. Many of us have experienced traffic on our roads on a first-hand basis – it can be tough. That’s why it’s essential to plan routes thoroughly, so while you sit comfortably at home, our couriers can navigate the streets as effectively as possible. Vehicles go through vigorous inspection before they hit the road. Couriers may use the same vehicle each day or they may have to choose one from the fleet. Regardless of the choice, the checks are done both to ensure the safety of everyone on the road, but also to enable packages to be delivered on time. Paperwork is the last box to tick before the vehicles are sent out. Papers are cross-checked with the packages that are loaded in the vehicles, to avoid any surprises while on the road. Couriers are also asked to deliver documents, these too are cross-checked ahead of departure. When all that’s done, the couriers get in their vans or climb on their motorbikes. Safety belt, helmet, the engines rumble to life and they’re on their way.

Miles Express delivery couriers are trained to know delivery routes and sure enough, the roads become second nature to all of them. The relationship couriers form with customers also help to reinforce delivery routes as they become more and more familiar. However, it is not uncommon to find couriers safely making use of Google Maps directions to get to their destinations in the shortest time possible. During the day, couriers stay in touch with headquarters, updating them on the day’s schedule. This allows the company to mitigate any issues, so the end customer is never affected, whatever the circumstance. When the delivery is about to be made, the courier contacts the receiver to make sure they are located at the delivery address. This is usually the part that the customer is most anticipating, but while the interaction between courier and customer does indeed start now, now you know how the journey to get there would have started hours before. Once at the correct address, the courier extracts the right package or document and goes to the door. The doorbell rings – and you’re at the door, all smiles.

On certain days, couriers are also asked to pick up packages and documents from other locations to be delivered on the day or the next. At Miles Express, our couriers – try to go the extra mile – if you’ll excuse the pun. If the day allows, they will also try to fit in deliveries scheduled for the following day. But it’s getting late, and the day is almost over for our couriers as they make their way back to the warehouse to deposit any remaining packages and to update the paperwork. The team fill each other in about the day over a last cup of coffee before they bid each other goodbye and head back home.

We’re always on the lookout for exceptional people who would fit in well with our team of delivery couriers. If you think this is something you’d enjoy being part of, we want to hear from you!  Get in touch with us on hr@milesexp.com.