Working as an express courier: things to know

In 2021, more than two billion people worldwide shopped on the Web. The profession of express courier will be increasingly in demand, then, precisely because of the importance of online commerce in our lives.

The term “express courier” refers to a fast transportation service, domestically or internationally.

To enter the profession, it is not necessary to have special qualifications, but it is important to possess personal qualities such as the ability to organize and manage stress, flexibility and punctuality.

Working as a courier: everything you need to know

To work as an express courier there are no ad hoc courses, and no degree or initial investment is required: it is enough to have a driver’s license (usually a B license, but it depends on the type of work you will be doing).

Among the pros of the profession are the dynamism, the variety of work, and the ability to organize independently-what matters is that all packages are delivered to their respective recipients by the end of the day. On the flip side, it is good to consider that driving all day exposes you to dangers and traffic stress , and some physical strength is required to load and unload packages.

The courier’s work starts very early (sometimes he has to start work at 6 a.m., to deliver all the packages on time). The first stop is the company’s warehouse, for loading goods and planning the day using the“multi-drop/multipick” method: the courier divides parcels by geographic area and, with one trip, concludes deliveries and pickups within its boundaries.

When the van is empty, it returns to the warehouse for a new load and a new trip to a different geographic area. All this is repeated until the end of the working day (between 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.).

How many hours does a courier work, then? Typically 12, for a monthly salary of €1,330 to €1,720 (but, with experience, it is possible to go up to €2,000 per month).

How to work as a courier

To become an express courier, one must have a B driver’s license, which is necessary to drive the car or van with which pickups and deliveries will be made. If the business involves driving a heavy vehicle, a D license is also required.

On the other hand, a competitive advantage in the selection phase is given by a forklift license, which enables the handling of packages within the warehouse. In contrast, a high school diploma is not among the prerequisites.

Skills that an express courier must possess include:

• organization: a courier must know how to plan the day in detail in order to complete deliveries;
• Stress management: driving in traffic, with tight deadlines, can be stressful;
• communication skills;
• Propensity for contact with the public;
• patience;
• flexibility, to plan the day independently, handle unforeseen events, and meet the demands of the company (which may ask the courier to work long distances, and sometimes abroad);
• physical strength;
• orientation skills;
• safety behind the wheel.

If you possess these characteristics, you can apply to one of the many express companies in the area. Alternatively, one can open a VAT number and work as a padroncini.

The owner-operator owns his own vehicle and makes deliveries on behalf of third parties, but he must meet specific requirements, such as:

• C license;
• Driver Qualification Card (mandatory certification for haulers of goods and people to drive vehicles over a certain weight);
• own means;
• Trucking registration;
• license for purchases;
• financial capacity of more than 50,000 € (demonstrable with a cadastral survey or with invoices showing the purchase of means for at least 50,000 €);
• Authorization to transport goods for hire or reward;
• respectability;
• professional qualification, following a training course.

If you would like to learn more about the currently most in-demand occupations, the necessary training paths, and the skills you need to possess, check out our PHYDpedia!