A Closer Look at a Career as a Courier and Messenger
According to 2015 data based on industry average compiled by Statistics Canada, the delivery service providers industry receive an average annual revenue of $146,000 with profitability rate of 93.5 per cent. This comprises of establishments mainly engaged with providing courier delivery services via air, land, or a combination of both, encompassing activities such as parcel deliveries and post office courier operations.
Even with text messaging or emails overtaking snail mail as people’s preferred mode of communication, the need to deliver documents in person still remain especially if it deals with contracts or official documents. In addition, the age of digital revolution paved the way for e-commerce, with most companies now offering product delivery services via online shopping. With Canada having a good chance to land a deal with Amazon to be its second headquarters (first in Canada), the demand for couriers and messengers is likely to grow even more. You can read on for more information if a career as a courier or messenger is something you have in mind.
Couriers and Messengers – What You Need to Know
Couriers and messengers are responsible for delivering packages or documents from one location to another, and they always must ensure they are delivering to the intended recipient. Some delivery service providers require a signature from the person who receives the item, especially if it deals with a pertinent matter such as a signed business contract.
As the nature of their job requires them to make sure deliveries are made accurately and on time, couriers or messengers have to have expert knowledge of road rules and regulations, highways, and traffic patterns. It also goes without saying that they should not only have a driver’s license but a clean driving record as well. While most can now rely on GPS technology to pinpoint particular locations, it is still a boost for messengers and couriers to have extensive knowledge of routes and time estimations so they can still manage to accomplish their tasks even when their GPS fail them.
In heavily populated areas where parking is limited, some companies rely on bicycle couriers instead. To be able to be an effective bicycle courier, one has to be in good physical health and have knowledge in bike maintenance.
Salary
According to PayScale.com, couriers and messengers can earn an average of $25,094 to $57,993 a year with potential for overtime. In some cases, the compensation is based on the employee’s work efficiency.
Skills
A big plus to be successful as a courier or messenger is to have exceptional time management and organizational skills. As they are out on the road most of their working hours, couriers and messengers must also be in ideal physical health to be able to withstand challenges that come with the job such as dangerous road conditions or extreme heat or cold.
While there is no degree required for couriers and messengers, it pays to have customer service knowledge so they can deal with customers well and handle issues or conflicts whenever it arises.
Pros and Cons
A career as a messenger or courier can prove to be the ideal profession for those who are not too keen on being stuck at the office cubicle for 7 or 8 working hours. While they are expected to make their deliveries properly and on time, they have the freedom of using their own judgment and analytical skills without a supervisor watching their every move.
The disadvantage of this profession is naturally the physical challenges especially when weather conditions prove to be unpredictable or unstable. In some cases, they also have to deal with customers who might have complaints of how their packages arrive.
SOURCES:
https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Courier_%2F_Messenger/Hourly_Rate
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