Couriers see a spike in business for personal home deliveries
By Maurice Garvey
TRAFFIC may be light on the road these days, but it isn’t plain sailing for the courier industry, as drivers seem to be working harder now than before Covid-19.
Courier businesses The Echo spoke to report a spike of business in areas like healthcare and personal home deliveries, but a complete drop off in other sectors such as construction and manufacturing.
Some products being delivered by couriers.
“It is three times as busy now – I used to work the odd Saturday, now it is every Saturday,” said a van driver of a local courier company dropping a parcel to The Echo on Friday.
Niall Murphy, Operations Manager with Superior Express, says they have experienced a “tenfold” increase in business from some clients, but acknowledges other parts have “hit the floor.”
“We are lucky in that one seems to be counter balancing the other,” said Murphy.
Superior Express have bases in Clondalkin, Munster and Belfast, and cover the entire country.
Strict adherence to HSE guidelines has ensured no cases of covid for staff, but the open roads don’t mean drivers are enjoying an easy ride.
“Work has probably increased for drivers, because more of the work involves private addresses. People ordering from online stores, gardening, BBQ’s, patios, has gone through the roof. But we cover all 32 counties and are still going ahead as normal.”
Meanwhile, Vanspeed Couriers in Knockmitten Business Park, have staggered their staff, to ensure no crossover threats from Covid-19.
“We are on demand for same day delivery, people need stuff, what we have done is bring some drivers in one day, and others the next, to be fair to everyone,” said Martin Brennan, Sales Manager, Vanspeed.
“It is the same with the office. I’m working at home three days a week. We are not looking to have any crossover.
“Normally we would have 16/17 vans but at present we have 7/8 vans. We do haulage and logistics as well with 18 trucks on the road. Drivers that are in are getting through a lot of work. Thankfully we are still going every day.”
Healthcare is a key aspect of Vanspeed’s workload during the pandemic.
Mr Brennan continued: “We do a lot of work with the HSE and are dropping off supplies in Cavan, Wexford, and even Easter eggs to Tallaght Hospital. We are trying to do our business as much as we can, but through the HSE we are very busy.”
By subscribing to The Echo you are supporting your local newspaper Click Here: Echo Online.
TAGS news
