How our same-day courier service works

The six stages of a job

Every job follows the same path, whether it is one envelope crossing Birmingham or a Luton load going from Kent to Glasgow. If you already know what you need moved and just want a van at the door, our courier collection service page covers booking a collection from a home, business or trade counter. For who we are and what we do and do not carry, see about us.

1. Quote

   You give us the postcodes, the goods and the timing. We work out the right vehicle and give you a fixed price.

2. Confirm

   You accept the quote and we confirm the booking, the vehicle and an estimated collection time.

3. Collection

   The driver arrives, checks the goods against the booking, loads and secures them, and gets a signature or name at collection.

4. On the road

   The van drives directly to the delivery address. You get updates while it is moving and a call if anything changes.

5. Delivery and POD

   The recipient signs for the goods. We send you the proof of delivery as soon as the job closes.

6. Invoice

   You receive an invoice that matches the agreed price, plus any extras you agreed during the job.

What we need from you to quote

To quote, we need the collection and delivery addresses, what the goods are with the size and weight of the largest item, and when they will be ready and must arrive. Contact names and access details help too, because a same-day quote is only as good as the information behind it. Before you call, have these to hand:

• Full collection and delivery addresses with postcodes.
• A name and mobile number for someone at each end.
• What the goods are, how many pieces, and the size and weight of the largest item.
• When the goods will be ready and when they must arrive.
• Access details: loading bay, stairs, lifts, parking, and whether there is a forklift.
• Anything unusual, such as fragile contents, high value or a need to keep goods chilled.

With that, we choose the vehicle and agree a fixed price, based on distance, vehicle, timing and extras, before anything moves. On very long routes we will also tell you whether drivers' hours rules mean a second driver or an overnight plan. There is a fuller checklist in what information a courier needs for a quote.

Confirming the booking

Once you accept, we allocate the nearest suitable vehicle and confirm the vehicle type, the fixed price and an estimated collection time. That estimate depends on where vans are when you book, so it is a realistic time rather than a standard promise.

This is also the time to add instructions: a purchase order number, a gate code, or a named person who must sign.

What happens at collection

The driver usually calls when close, particularly for busy sites or streets with no obvious parking. On arrival they confirm which job they are collecting and check the goods against your description.

That check matters. If the booking says four boxes and there are six, or a "1.5 metre" item is really 2.5 metres long, the driver calls the booking desk before loading. Better to sort it out on your premises than beside a motorway.

The driver then loads and secures the goods, using straps, load bars and blankets where needed, and records the collection. Having goods packed, labelled and near the door makes this quicker; our guide to how same-day collections work has practical tips for getting a site ready.

Live updates in transit

Because the van goes directly to the delivery address, there is no hub scan to wait for. We tell you when the goods are collected and keep you updated on the road, so the person at the other end knows roughly when to expect the van.

A closure on the M62 or heavy traffic into central London can change timings. When that happens, we tell you straight away with a revised arrival estimate.

Delivery and proof of delivery

At the delivery address the driver unloads, hands over the goods and asks the recipient to sign. The proof of delivery records the recipient's name, the time and a signature, with a photograph where it helps, for example to show a pallet placed inside a loading bay or a parcel left with a named receptionist.

We send you the POD as soon as the job closes. Ask the recipient to note any visible damage on the POD at the time, because that note is the starting point if a claim is ever needed. Goods in transit insurance is included on every job; cover limits and exclusions are set out in our terms and conditions, and you can tell us the value at booking to confirm cover or arrange extra.

The invoice

Approved business account customers receive an invoice listing each job with its reference, ready to match to a purchase order. Whether or not you have an account, the figure matches the quote. The only additions are extras you agreed during the job, such as extra waiting time or an added drop, and we tell you about those before they are added.

When things don't go to plan

Most jobs run exactly as booked. When one doesn't, the driver contacts our booking desk, we call you with the options, and nothing that changes the cost happens until you agree it. The three problems we see most often are a missing recipient, refused access and goods larger than described.

Nobody is there to receive the delivery

The driver tries the contact number you gave us, and the booking desk calls you. You then decide what happens: the driver waits while someone gets there, the goods go to an alternative contact you name, or they come back to you. Waiting and return mileage may be charged, and we tell you the cost before you decide. Goods are not left unattended unless you have told us to.

Access is refused or the site is closed

Building sites, hospitals and secure buildings sometimes turn a van away because the delivery was not expected or not booked in. The driver calls us straight away, we call you, and between us we find the right contact or agree another delivery point. Giving us a site contact and any booking-in reference at the start avoids most of these, which matters on construction deliveries in particular.

The goods are bigger or heavier than described

If the goods won't fit or would overload the van, the driver will not force the job. We call you with the options: send a larger vehicle, split the load across two trips, or carry part now and the rest later. Any change in price is agreed with you before the larger vehicle is sent. Our van size guide helps you get the measurements right first time.

Last updated 24 October 2026