Courier service in Aberdeen and the North East
Dedicated vans for Aberdeen's energy companies, engineering firms, hospitals and offices. One van collects your consignment and drives directly to the delivery address, from a supply base on the harbour to a workshop in England.
- Energy sector parts runs
- LEZ addresses checked at booking
- Long runs planned around drivers' hours
Energy work sets the pace
Aberdeen's urgent consignments are shaped by the energy industry. Oil and gas production, decommissioning, subsea engineering and a growing offshore wind and renewables sector all depend on equipment that costs a great deal of money every hour it is not working. When a pump, valve, actuator, subsea connector or control module is needed, the question is not whether to send it by courier but how quickly a van can reach it.
Many of those parts start a long way from Aberdeen. A machined component from a supplier in Sheffield, a calibrated instrument from a lab in the Midlands, a set of hydraulic hoses from a distributor in Glasgow: each needs one van driving directly from the supplier to the Aberdeen address, with no stop at a hub on the way. That is what a dedicated courier provides.
For every job, we allocate the nearest suitable vehicle, confirm an estimated collection time when you book, and stay in touch until the consignment is signed for.
Dyce and the airport side
Dyce, north-west of the city centre, is home to Aberdeen Airport, the base for helicopter flights to offshore installations. Kirkhill Industrial Estate and the business parks along Dyce Drive house oilfield service companies, engineering workshops, inspection firms and distributors. The Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route (AWPR) passes close by, which makes Dyce quick to reach from the A90 north and south without crossing the city.
Deliveries for offshore flights go to the landside address the operator or logistics contractor names, never airside.
Altens, Tullos and the south side
To the south, Altens Industrial Estate and East Tullos Industrial Estate sit beside Wellington Road, the A956, between the city and the A90 towards Stonehaven. Both are long-established, home to engineering, fabrication, inspection and supply businesses as well as general industry.
Wellington Road is the pinch point. It is the main route between the south side and the harbour, and it slows heavily at peak times. Close by, Aberdeen South Harbour at Nigg Bay adds deep-water berths for larger vessels.
Westhill and the subsea cluster
Westhill, about 8 miles west of the city on the A944, is home to a well-known cluster of subsea engineering businesses. Consignments here are often high-value electronics, connectors, sensors and remotely operated vehicle spares. They travel in a van with nothing else on board, secured, with a named recipient. For items where condition matters as much as speed, our fragile and high-value courier page explains how we handle them.
Dangerous goods are excluded
Some oilfield consignments are dangerous goods, including many chemicals, gas cylinders and certain battery packs. We do not carry ADR-classed goods. Check the classification with your supplier before you book.
The city centre and the Low Emission Zone
Aberdeen's LEZ has been enforced since 1 June 2024 and covers a compact part of the city centre, including Union Street. Non-compliant vehicles that enter face a penalty, so we check every address against the boundary when you book and allocate a compliant vehicle where needed. Offices, solicitors and the city's professional firms sit both inside and just outside the zone.
Hospitals and universities
Aberdeen Royal Infirmary and the medical school share the Foresterhill site, north-west of the centre. The University of Aberdeen is at Old Aberdeen, and Robert Gordon University is at Garthdee. Clinical consignments must be packaged by the sender before collection; our medical and pharmaceutical courier page sets out what that involves.
Long runs and drivers' hours
Aberdeen is a long way from most of the UK's manufacturers. Van drivers working under GB domestic rules can drive for a maximum of 10 hours in a day, so very long runs need planning. From the North of England, one driver can usually make the trip in a day. From London, it is too far for one driver in one day, and we plan a second driver or an overnight stop. In some cases an overnight courier that delivers early the next morning suits the job better.
Approximate distances from Aberdeen
| From Aberdeen to | Approx. road distance | Main route |
|---|---|---|
| Dyce and the airport | 7 miles | A96 or AWPR |
| Westhill | 8 miles | A944 |
| Peterhead | 32 miles | A90 |
| Dundee | 67 miles | A90 |
| Inverness | 105 miles | A96 |
| Edinburgh | 125 miles | A90, M90 |
| Glasgow | 145 miles | A90, A9, M80 |
| Manchester | 355 miles | A90, M74, M6 |
| Central London | 545 miles | A90, A1 or M6 |
Distances are rounded road miles. For runs down the coast, see our Dundee courier page; heading west, the Inverness and Highlands page; and for the capital, our Edinburgh courier service.
FAQ
Common questions
A valve we need is with a supplier in the North of England. Can you get it to Aberdeen today?
Often, yes. From much of the North of England the run is between 250 and 350 miles, which one driver can cover in a day within the drivers' hours limits, so a morning collection usually delivers in the evening. From the Midlands or the South East it is longer: London is about 545 miles away, which needs a second driver or an overnight plan. We tell you which applies when you book.
Can you deliver to a supply base or quayside at Aberdeen Harbour?
Yes, to the onshore address you give us. Harbour sites and supply bases have their own security and reporting procedures, so we need the base or berth, the reference your logistics contractor or vessel agent has issued and a contact on the day. We deliver landside; anything going offshore from there is shipped or flown by the operator's own logistics arrangements.
Our client's office is on Union Street. Will your van be allowed in?
Yes. The LEZ covers a compact area of the city centre, including Union Street, and has been enforced since 1 June 2024. Vehicles that do not meet the standard face a penalty, so for any address inside the zone we allocate a compliant vehicle. Give us the full address when you book and we check it against the boundary for you.
Can you carry oilfield chemicals, gas cylinders or lithium battery packs?
No. We do not carry hazardous goods classed under ADR, and that rules out many oilfield chemicals, compressed gas cylinders and some battery packs. Pumps, valves, hoses, electronics, tooling and machined parts that are not classed as dangerous goods are fine. If you are unsure, check the safety data sheet or ask your supplier for the UN classification before booking.
Do you cover Peterhead, Fraserburgh and the rest of Aberdeenshire?
Yes. Peterhead is about 32 miles north on the A90, and Fraserburgh, Inverurie, Ellon, Stonehaven, Banchory and the rest of mainland Aberdeenshire are covered in the same way. Orkney and Shetland are not part of our standard service, so ask us if you need a consignment to reach the ferry terminal for onward shipping.
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