When you’re out on the road doing courier jobs day in and day out, the law of averages tells us that somewhere, at some time, you’re going to run in to a spot of bother. This can take the form of anything from the merely annoying to a highly critical situation, but if you plan ahead you can make sure you have the equipment to reduce the impact on your work and life.
Don’t Leave Home Without…
Some of our suggestions may seem like common sense, but it’s amazing just how easy it is to forget. So make a list, check it twice and stay safe and happy while you’re doing those courier jobs.
Jumper leads: An oldie but a goodie, jumper leads are an absolutely invaluable piece of equipment every courier driver should keep in their vehicle. Even if it’s not you that has the pleasure of a flat battery, you may be able to play Good Samaritan to a stranded motorist.
Emergency flares: Nobody likes to think about breaking down in the middle of nowhere or at a busy intersection in the dead of night, but it happens. And when it does, you’ll be eternally grateful if you have a set of emergency flares in your kit. You can place them around your vehicle so you are highly visible to approaching traffic while you’re waiting for assistance.
First aid kit: It’s so important to have a well-stocked first aid kit when you’re out on the road. You never know when you’ll need a bandage, painkillers, antibiotic cream, sanitizer, swabs or other basic medications, so invest in a ready-made kit or create one yourself – and make sure it’s always stocked up again once you use something.
Spare bottles of water: Whether you use them as an emergency thirst quencher, a makeshift roadside wash or a coolant on an overheating motor, having a few large bottles of water on hand at all times is never a waste of space.
Torch: While most smartphones have an inbuilt light, there’s no substitute for a powerful, heavy-duty flashlight. Make sure you also have a stock of fresh batteries in case you need to use it for a prolonged period.
Spare tyre: Who doesn’t have a spare tyre, one may ask? The answer is (unfortunately) plenty of people. Whether it’s out for repair or simply been removed to make extra space, many drivers out on courier jobs have experienced that sinking feeling as they pull over to change a flat and discover…nothing. Make absolutely sure you have a working-order spare tyre, particularly if you work for a larger company and you drive different fleet vehicles.
Tool kit: While you don’t have to be a full-blown mechanic to make a success of a career doing courier jobs, you should at least have a tool kit so you can have a go! All jokes aside, you should definitely invest in a basic tool set that includes screwdrivers, pocket knife, duct tape, anti-freeze, brake fluid, pliers, tyre pressure gauge and anything else you think that could be useful.
Of course, everyone is different and every driver will have a different list of ‘must-haves’ for when they’re out on the road. But if you use these items above as a starting point, you’ll have pretty much every eventuality covered that you might encounter while doing courier jobs.
Norman Dulwich is a correspondent for Courier Exchange, the world's largest neutral trading hub for same day courier jobs in the express freight exchange industry. Numerous transport exchange businesses are networked together on their website, trading jobs and capacity through what is now the fastest growing Freight Exchange in the UK.
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