The Guide to Courier Driver Jobs
Self employed courier or delivery drivers are often considered independent contractors and as such, have both the freedoms and limitations that come with being an independent contractor. If you are considering becoming a self employed courier or delivery driver, you should have some knowledge about the different kinds of courier services and what being an independent contractor entails.
There are many different kinds of courier services, but the most common couriers are same day delivery couriers, next day delivery services, and general couriers that provide services within a few days.
Same Day Couriers – The most common form of same day couriers are those located in large cities or that cover a particular geographic area and guarantee delivery of a package or document within a matter of hours. Very often, couriers are riding motorcycles or bicycles in larger cities such as New York, Los Angeles or London. Couriers who are providing this kind of service need to have extremely good riding skills and knowledge of the geographical area they are servicing. In some cases, couriers drive delivery trucks or cars for courier services, and in some relatively rare instances, couriers are sent via commercial air to deliver packages.
Next Day Delivery – Many courier companies offer next day delivery for packages. In many instances, next day delivery is guaranteed by a certain time of day (i.e., 10 a.m., 3 p.m., etc). Large companies that offer next day delivery often have their own fleet of vehicles and transportation to ship packages across the country and even internationally to make sure that packages arrive with enough time to deploy drivers who will then hand-deliver the package to the customer’s desired destination. In some cases, remote areas are not eligible for next day delivery guarantees due to accessibility issues.
General Courier Delivery – Most courier services offer delivery of packages within a certain number of days. In some cases the particular date of delivery may be within a range of days, but very often delivery companies can provide an estimated date of delivery based upon past delivery schedules to the destination city or area. Most often, this is the least expensive type of courier delivery service.
If you decide to be an owner driver and an independent contractor, you will have certain responsibilities beyond simply being a driver..
Financially, as an owner driver and independent contractor, you are responsible for paying your own state and federal taxes. Very often, you can file and pay for your taxes quarterly, but this is something you should consult an accountant about, since they can provide the most accurate information about filing taxes in a timely manner that will prevent any possible payment penalties from the IRS. Also, using the services of an accountant can make it easier for you to keep track of your entire income and filing your tax returns at the end of the year.
In addition to being responsible for your own taxes, you will also be required to carry your own insurance on your vehicle, including a rider for using your vehicle for business purposes. Most courier companies will require a copy of your insurance and proof of current registration for your vehicle.