Individuals and businesses alike will always have the need to transport materials: documents, money, resources and other tangible items. Courier companies work by fulfilling this need in a timely and professional manner. This ability to quickly transport goods is the common thread uniting all courier companies.

Most courier companies operate by first receiving a call from an individual or business that needs materials sent to another location. The courier company will then evaluate the specific needs of the caller, including time and transportation needs. If the courier service is able to meet these needs, a pick-up will be scheduled. The courier company will then send a messenger to pick up the package and deliver it to an agreed upon location in an agreed upon time frame. Most courier services will offer proof of delivery. A customer always has the right to request proof of delivery, so do not hesitate to ask for it if it is not readily offered to you.

There tend to be differences between courier companies in large metropolitan areas and courier companies in less urban areas. One of the main differences is that city courier services tend to make greater use of "alternative" transportation methods, including bikes or motorcycles. This allows for the messenger to weave in and out of city traffic, ultimately cutting down on delivery time. Less urban couriers will rely more heavily on cars, vans and trucks. Make sure your courier company offers diversity in the vehicles they use to transport goods, so your needs will always be easily met.

Today, advanced courier services use technological advances to streamline the delivery process. Computer dispatched couriers and GPS systems will play a role in ensuring that your goods are delivered accurately and quickly. Using GPS will help any messenger during his or her deliveries, and computer dispatching will help ensure maximum efficiency by determining which messenger is best able to make a pick up or delivery within any time-frame.

When selecting a courier service, make sure you choose one with a good reputation in your local area. Familiarity with the streets and traffic trends in your local area will be invaluable to your business – lowering delivery times and costs over time. Building a relationship with a local courier company may lead to special pricing and guaranteed delivery times, which are both great tools for any local business.