Everything You Need To Know About A Same Day Courier Service
Whether it is a contract that must be signed today, a replacement part for a stalled production line or a customer order that simply cannot wait, a same day courier gets it there without the overnight wait. In this guide, we explain what a same day courier is, how the service works from booking to delivery, what you can send, how pricing is worked out and how your business can benefit.
At a glance
- Your goods are collected and delivered on the same day, usually within hours of booking.
- One dedicated driver takes your consignment directly from A to B, with no depots or sorting hubs.
- Price depends mainly on vehicle size, distance, urgency and any waiting time or extra drops.
- Epaxs operates 24/7, 365 days a year, with collection typically within 30 to 60 minutes.
What Is a Same Day Courier?
A same day courier collects your item and delivers it on the same day you book. Unlike a standard parcel network, your consignment is not dropped at a depot, sorted overnight and loaded onto another vehicle. Instead, one driver collects it and takes it straight to its destination, so delivery is measured in hours rather than days.
Because the vehicle is dedicated to your job, a same day courier can handle anything from a single envelope to a full pallet, and the route is planned around your deadline rather than a fixed network schedule. A document collected in Glasgow can typically be in Edinburgh within a couple of hours, and longer routes, such as Glasgow to London, can still be completed the same day when booked in the morning.
It is worth knowing that the “same day delivery” option offered by many online retailers is not quite the same thing. Retail same day delivery usually depends on ordering before a cut-off time and is fulfilled through a multi-drop network. A dedicated same day courier such as Epaxs operates around the clock, so you can book whenever you need to and the clock starts the moment your item is collected.
Same day or next day? If your delivery is important but not urgent, next day may be the more cost effective choice. Read our guide to the difference between same day and next day delivery to find out which suits you.
How Does a Same Day Courier Service Work?
Booking a same day courier with Epaxs is simple, and no account is required. Here is what happens from the moment you get in touch:
- Tell us what you need. Call 07525 826191 or request a quote online with your collection and delivery addresses, the size and weight of your goods and your deadline. For urgent jobs, calling is the fastest option.
- Get a free quote. We give you a free, no obligation price and an estimated delivery time before you commit.
- We match the right vehicle. From a motorbike for documents to an 18 tonne truck for heavy loads, we dispatch the vehicle that suits your consignment.
- Fast collection. A driver is dispatched straight away, with collection typically within 30 to 60 minutes.
- A direct, tracked journey. Your goods travel straight to their destination with live GPS tracking and SMS or email updates along the way.
- Proof of delivery. The recipient signs on arrival, and you receive electronic proof of delivery by email.
For a closer look at the process, read our article on how a same day courier service works in the UK.
What Can You Send With a Same Day Courier?
Almost anything that is legal to transport and fits in the vehicle. Some of the most common same day jobs we handle include:
Legal and Financial Documents
Contracts, court papers, deeds and tenders that must be signed, served or filed today.
Medical and Healthcare Items
Specimens, equipment and supplies for clinics, laboratories and pharmacies.
Machinery and Spare Parts
Urgent components that get a production line, site or vehicle back up and running.
Retail and Ecommerce Orders
Last minute customer orders, replacements and stock transfers between stores.
Events and Exhibitions
Display stands, samples and materials that have to arrive before the doors open.
Pallets and Bulk Goods
Larger consignments moved on a dedicated van, box van or truck.
Some items, such as hazardous materials, need extra paperwork and specialist handling. Epaxs can arrange dangerous goods transport, so speak to us before you book. Our guide to what items a courier can legally transport in the UK explains the rules in more detail.
Choosing the Right Vehicle
Same day couriers use a range of vehicles, so you only pay for the space you need. As a rough guide:
| Vehicle | Best for |
|---|---|
| Motorbike | Documents, small parcels and the quickest city centre runs |
| Car | Small parcels and boxes that need protection from the weather |
| Small van | Several boxes, samples and small items of equipment |
| Transit or large van | Larger and heavier loads, including palletised goods |
| Box van or curtain sided van with tail-lift | Bulky items and pallets that need a tail-lift to load and unload |
| 7.5 tonne and 18 tonne trucks | Full loads and heavy freight |
Not sure what size you need? Tell us what you are sending and we will recommend the most cost effective option, or view our full range of same day courier vehicles.
How Can Your Business Benefit From Same Day Couriers?
A dependable same day courier is more than a delivery option. It helps you win customers, keep them and protect your reputation when something has to arrive on time.
Staying Competitive
If a customer can buy the same item from you or a competitor, a faster delivery option is often what tips the decision in your favour. People need last minute goods, replacements for broken items and urgent deliveries all the time, so offering same day delivery at checkout gives you a clear edge.
It can also open up a new market. Some shoppers still visit a physical store only because they need an item today. If you can deliver it the same day without them having to travel and find a parking space, you can win those sales too.
Higher Conversion Rates
Most online shoppers have added items to their basket, seen a long delivery estimate and abandoned the purchase. Others will simply search for a competitor offering faster delivery. Not everyone is willing to wait days for a parcel, so giving customers more delivery options, including same day, increases the chance that they complete their order with you.
Stronger Customer Relationships
Winning a new customer costs far more than keeping an existing one. Perks such as same day delivery build loyalty, so when time is critical, your customers know exactly who to turn to and are far more likely to choose you over the competition.
Secure, Door to Door Delivery
Every lost or damaged parcel costs you money in replacements and goodwill. Because a same day courier collects your goods and delivers them directly to the recipient, they are not passed between depots and sorting centres, which greatly reduces the risk of loss or damage. At Epaxs, all goods are insured, every delivery is tracked and you receive a signature on delivery, so you always have proof that the job is done.
How Much Does a Same Day Courier Cost?
There is no one size fits all price, because every same day job is planned around your consignment and your deadline. The main factors that affect the cost are:
- Vehicle size: a motorbike or car costs less than a large van or truck.
- Distance: the mileage between the collection and delivery points.
- Size and weight: heavier or bulkier goods may need a larger vehicle or extra handling.
- Urgency and timing: immediate collections, out of hours jobs and pre-booked timed deliveries can all affect the price.
- Waiting time and extra stops: wait and return jobs, or multiple collection and delivery points, add time to the journey.
- Special requirements: such as a tail-lift, secure handling or dangerous goods.
The quickest way to find out what your delivery will cost is to ask. Epaxs provides instant quotes by phone and free, no obligation quotes online, with no account required and a simple payment and invoice system.
Price matters, but reliability matters more. Our guide on how to choose a reliable courier company in Scotland covers what to check before you book.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a cut-off time for booking a same day courier?
Not with Epaxs. Our couriers operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, so you can book a same day collection whenever you need one. For long distance routes, booking earlier in the day gives the driver more time to reach the destination the same day.
How quickly can my goods be collected?
In most cases, a driver can collect your goods within 30 to 60 minutes of booking.
Do you deliver outside Glasgow?
Yes. From our Glasgow base, we collect and deliver across Scotland and into the north of England, and as a national courier we can deliver between any UK postcodes. We also offer European and international services.
Can I track my delivery?
Yes. Every vehicle in our fleet is GPS tracked, and you receive SMS or email updates during the journey, followed by electronic proof of delivery.
Are my goods insured?
Yes. All goods are insured, and all of our drivers and vehicles carry the correct insurance.
Do I need an account to book?
No. You can book a one-off delivery without an account, and we keep payment and invoicing simple.
Need Something Delivered Today?
Epaxs Couriers are available 24/7, 365 days a year, with collection typically within 30 to 60 minutes. Call now for an instant quote or request a quote online.
