We all know that price is important when considering paying for a product or service, but is it the deciding factor? When you’re looking for a company to take care of a delivery you will typically come across two types of services – overnight parcel service and dedicated courier service. It’s a common misconception that both are one and the same when infact the two services are quite different – and the difference can be quite an eye opener!

An overnight parcel service is a delivery mode that’s designed to move multiple shipments, split down into smaller multi-drop routes, which can be anything from 50-150 drops per vehicle. Collected from central overnight hubs, deliveries are made throughout the day on pre-set local routing schedules. With this delivery method, the customer is charged by the weight and size of the parcel.

The pros:

  • Low cost – ideal for low value, low risk items that are not considered time critical
  • Fast, low cost international shipments

The cons:

  • Does not always guarantee a time of collection or delivery
  • Will only deliver within pre-set schedules
  • Higher risk of damage or loss due to multiple handling through parcel hubs
  • Unable to obtain real time updates on status of delivery
  • Only deliver during business hours
  • Not designed for movement of fragile items
  • Will only deliver to a pre booked delivery point, once the parcel is in transit the delivery address can’t be changed
  • Drivers are generally under pressure to complete allocated deliveries and will not have time to wait at delivery point for recipient arrival

A dedicated courier service like GT Couriers can generally provide a much wider range of services, specialising in urgent same day or next day shipments that are more time critical. This includes heavier and bulkier shipments, usually business to business (b2b), but can also accommodate domestic shipments too. Drivers will have a smaller work load (5-10 drops per day) than overnight services, but will cover the entire UK and Europe.

A dedicated courier offers a more bespoke service which can be booked for a delivery or collection at designated times day or night, not just during business hours. They are also bookable 24/7, meaning they can and will react to emergency collections like forgotten passports, replacement keys or medication. With this delivery method, the customer is charged by the mile from the collection postcode to the delivery postcode.

The pros of a dedicated courier service:

  • Speed – Goods can be collected and delivered within hours of booking same day within the UK
  • Collections times can be specified, as can the delivery time, meaning no waiting in all day
  • Will collect and deliver at any time of day or night, including bank holidays
  • Can deal with emergency deliveries – passports, medication, laptops/phones etc
  • Customers can change the delivery address even when delivery is in progress
  • Very low risk of damage. Fragile items can be loaded and delivered on the same vehicle meaning less chance of breakages
  • No risk of loss – a dedicated vehicle means no parcel hubs are involved in the process
  • Good communication – real time updates throughout delivery
  • Direct contact can be made with the driver if required.
  • Real time vehicle tracking
  • Security – high value consignments can be tracked and vehicles can be securely sealed
  • Real time proof of delivery can be given by phone, text message or email
  • Multiple vehicle options available, from small transit vans to large trucks

The only drawback can be the comparative cost, but can you really put a price on peace of mind?

GT Couriers only specialise in dedicated deliveries, this ensures we are in complete control of our clients’ freight from the moment it’s loaded until the moment it reaches its destination. Dedicated means the load stays on one vehicle throughout the delivery – no regional distribution centres, no satellite hubs and no multi handling means no damage or loss!

Our services are ideally suited for:

  • Time sensitive or time critical deliveries
  • Out of hours deliveries
  • Line stopper deliveries
  • Fragile goods
  • Medical goods or controlled drugs
  • High value goods
  • Hazardous goods
  • Important and sensitive document deliveries
  • Emergency deliveries such as medication, passports, financial, keys, phones, tablets
  • Heavy or bulky freight
  • Awkward sized goods
  • Remote delivery points

Please contact our Ops team on 01159 300868 or email us to discuss you dedicated courier requirements and the benefits they can have for your business.