What Are the Top Delivery Companies to Drive For?

If you’re looking to work as a delivery driver, the best courier companies offer reliable work, competitive salaries, and opportunities for advancement. These large US and global companies offer reliable work from many hubs and all regions of the country. 

Courier companies have also seen substantial growth in the last two years during the pandemic. If you’re looking for the best courier companies for drivers, we’ve got you covered here.

Quicklook: Best Delivery Companies To Drive For

• Best For New Drivers: UPS
• Best For Experienced Drivers: FedEx
• Best For Owner-Operators: Purolator
• Best For Independent Contractors: OnTrac
• Best For CDL Drivers with Special Certifications: TFI International

5 Best Courier Companies 

The courier companies on this list not only are some of the largest in North America, but are also some of the best to work with. Here are our top picks:

UPS 

United Parcel Service, commonly known as UPS, is the largest global courier company. With over 58 billion in revenue in 2019, UPS stands out for the volume of business and their reputation of excellence. Of all the top courier companies in USA, UPS consistently tops the list.

Best For: 

• Part-time and full-time drivers
• New drivers

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

Average Salary: 

• $23 to $25 per hour
• $45,000 to $50,000 annually
• Plus benefits

Services: 

• UPS Next Day Air Early
• Next Day Air
• Next Day Air Saver
• 2nd Day Air with morning delivery option
• 3-Day Select
• Ground or Standard Delivery

Qualifications: 

• Ability to lift packages of 2,535 pounds regularly
• Excellent customer contact and driving skills
• The ability to drive a delivery vehicle with a manual transmission
• A valid driver’s license in the state where you reside. 

Special Features: 

• Benefits for even part-time workers
• Internal hiring 
• Work your way up without any degree or certification

Benefits: 

• Regular salary increases 
• $40 per hour or more 
• Dental and medical insurance for all employees
• Generous PTO

Disadvantages: 

• Long hours
• Regular heavy lifting

FedEx

Since its inception, FedEx has been a market leader and boundary-breaker. In addition to exceptional service, they are known to pay their employees well, with generous benefits and time off. FedEx offers its couriers incentives and bonuses in addition to base pay, as well as international flight routes. With a great company culture, here is what you need to know about FedEx:

Best For: Experienced drivers

Location: Memphis, Tennessee

Average Salary: 

• $22 per hour
• About $40,000 per year
• Plus benefits and bonuses

Services: Shipping services across industry sectors, including:

• Ground
• Freight
• Express
• Logistics
• Offices
• Other Services

Qualifications: 

• Professional driving experience in the past three years
• A valid driver’s license
• A driving record without extensive accidents or violations
• Be at least 21 years old
• Pass drug tests by FedEx 
• Pass a physical from the Department of Transportation (DOT)
• Pass a full background check, including no DUIs or felonies

Special Features: 

• Excellent pension retirement plan
• Unlimited personal shipping discounts
• One of Fortune Magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2019

Benefits: 

• Paid time off
• Maternity leave,
• Wedding leave, paternity leave, and annual leave
• Medical and dental insurance coverage
• Life insurance
• Tuition assistance
• Up to $2,500 per year

Disadvantages: 

• Lower pay than UPS 
• Leaves some employees dissatisfied

Purolator

With a nearly 100% success rate for ontime deliveries, Purolator is the leading Canadian logistics company. It is rated by Canadians as their most trusted delivery partner. While Purolator is facing poor reviews from a limited number of customers on the BBB website, overall their performance and revenue speak for themselves as an excellent company to work for. 

Best For: Canada-based drivers, as well as North American owner-operators.

Location: Ontario, Canada

Average Salary: 

• $25 per hour
• About $50,000 annually
• Plus benefits 

Services: 

• Shipping
• Freight
• Courier

Qualifications: 

• High school diploma or GED 
• Purolator also hires owner-operators

Special Features: 

• Annual performance bonus
• Tuition reimbursement

Benefits: 

• 401(k) matching plan 
• Generous PTO
• Majority employer-funded healthcare plans
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision insurance
• Employer-funded health savings account
• Employer-funded income protection plan
• Generous paid time off

Disadvantages:

• Complaints of favoritism or workplace politics 
• Union support needs improvement

OnTrac

Based in the western United States, OnTrac is a family-owned company that specializes in personalized delivery solutions. Their business model targets smaller businesses, and provides courier service to many essential services including schools, colleges, and churches. They offer highly competitive rates and exceptional logistics solutions

Best For: Western-US based drivers and independent contractors

Location: Chandler, Arizona

Average Salary: 

• $20 per hour 
• About $40,000 per year 
• Plus benefits

Services: Fewer fees and lower surcharges for small business shipping solutions.

• Collect on delivery
• Express Shipping
• Shipment delivery before noon weekdays in the Western US region
• Ground shipping

Qualifications: All drivers must have a valid driver’s license. In addition, linehaul service providers must meet all DOT requirements, including possession of a Class A license and Double Endorsements.

Special Features: 

•  All drivers are 1099 contractors or owner-operators.

Benefits: 

• Total flexibility to choose your hours and routes
• Shorter hours than some of the other options here
• Paid time off, including maternity or paternity leave

Disadvantages: 

• As an independent contractor, you will be responsible for self-employment taxes.
• Lower salary than others listed here.

TFI International

TFI International is one of Canada’s largest couriers, with a fleet of over 12,000 trucks. They acquired the Dallas-based company Dynamex in 2010, increasing their reach and volume.

Best For: 

• Canadian-based drivers
• CDL A certified drivers

Location: Montreal, Canada

Average Salary: $22 per hour or about $44,000 per year

Services: 

• Packages and small shipments
• Less-than-a-truckload large shipments
• Full truckload shipments
• Logistics

Qualifications: 

• CDL A driver’s license with Hazmat, Twin Trailer, and Tanker endorsements
• Be at least 21 years of age
• Pass a DOT physical

Special Features: 

• Large fleet with excellent driving opportunities 
• Good company culture and communication

Benefits: 

• 401K pension plan 
• Health insurance and dental insurance  
• Paid sick leave 

Disadvantages: 

• Some employees complain of lack of opportunities for advancement or fluctuating paychecks.

What Is a Courier Company?

A courier company collects and delivers packages and documents in the shortest time possible. The concept of courier companies has been around in the US since the early 1900s, when what became UPS was called the American Messenger Company. 

While the concept of a courier company has been around for more than 100 years, the modern courier company offers benefits like at home pickup, same-day delivery, tracking, contact-less pickup and more.

How Does a Courier Company Work?

Courier companies function to move goods across the country and around the world. FedEx revolutionized the idea of same-day or next-day deliveries and streamlined carrier operations with a hub-and-spoke model of managing deliveries. 

Courier companies take everything from a single package from an individual to bulk shipping contracts with major companies. There are also carrier companies that specialize in large or unusual shipments. 

4 Factors to Consider With Courier Company Jobs

When you’re looking for a job with a courier company, you’ll want to consider the base salary and bonuses, as well as the companies’ services. Look at company pricing, as well as whether they offer proof of delivery, speed, and insurance.  

Pricing

Certain rates will fluctuate and vary depending on the company and economic climate. This can affect driver compensation, as well as total delivery volume. Consider companies with low or competitive pricing that offer stable rates to drivers.

Proof of Delivery

Proof of delivery protects the driver. If a package is stolen after delivery, the proof of delivery will protect you. Proof of delivery also builds customer confidence and provides trust in the company.

Speed

Be sure to check the company’s estimates on a delivery versus actual delivery times. It can be frustrating for drivers if a company is consistently inefficient or running behind. It also undermines customer trust and loyalty. Be sure to check employee reviews to spot inconsistencies or problems other drivers faced regarding delivery estimates and delivery speed.  

Insurance

Look for a company that offers excellent insurance to better protect you. Insurance can be for more than just damage to the package. It can cover lost or stolen items, as well as driver liability. Protect yourself by choosing to work for a company that invests in excellent insurance. 

Courier Companies Vs Delivery Companies

Courier companies differ from regular delivery companies in that they deliver the order directly from pickup to delivery without other stops on the way. Think of your UberEats ordering being delivered directly to you from the restaurant as an example of the courier model. Delivery companies, in contrast, might make other stops along the way. The service is less personalized. 

Both delivery and courier services offer benefits to companies and drivers. You might choose to work for one or the other based on your working environment preference. Many large companies, like UPS and FedEx have both courier and delivery services they offer. 

Get Career Stability and Growth at the Top Courier Companies 

All of the top courier companies offer excellent base salaries with opportunities for growth. Look for base salary and benefits, as well as company pricing, insurance, proof of delivery, and delivery speeds to choose the best courier company for your business. 

If you’re ready to get started with a global logistics company that specializes in delivering direct-to-consumer eCommerce orders for brands of all sizes. Get started with ShipBob today!

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