A Brief History Of The Courier Service Industry
The need to send packages with goods is as old as time. The courier service industry is long and shows how the evolution of technology has changed the delivery times. We can consider ourselves lucky that we live in a time when the same-day and next-day delivery exist. From runners to airplanes and drones, the courier service industry has come a long way to make customers happy. Because we always have something important to send or to order. And we want to receive it in the shortest period possible. Over time, the only goal of the courier service industry was to make the deliveries safer, faster, and more voluminous.
The Courier service industry helped build the Great Pyramids
The first recorded, organized goods delivery existed in 2400 BC in Egypt. They conveyed messages on carved stones, and runners brought them to the final destination. Apart from the carved stones, heavy materials were brought to Egypt to make the Great Pyramids. Long-distance has never been an issue when the goal is clear.
Animals are an important part of the courier service industry
Throughout history, and in some places even today, animals were used to help deliver goods and news. Let us see what animals have helped develop the courier service industry.
- Camels – In Australia, but also in many Asian and Gulf countries, camels were used to deliver goods and mail. Camels were a perfect choice as they can go long distances while carrying a heavy load. With the development of the railway system and roads, camels were no longer needed as couriers.
- Dogs – Dogs were used for courier services mostly in Australia, Alaska, and Canada. Between 1890 and 1963, dog sleds were a popular method for delivering goods. For example, one sled of 10 dogs could carry up to 700lbs of weight.
- Horses – Just like camels and dogs, horses were a popular choice in the courier service industry. In 1274, the Hanseatic League, for example, had a regular courier service where they used horses to make deliveries between towns and castles. And, by the end of the 16th century, horse courier service dominated Asia and Europe. Even today, horses are used as couriers in distant parts of Tibet and China.
The Pony Express
The Pony Express operated from April 1960 to October 1961. Although it operated for only 18 months, it was a vital piece that connected the Atlantic and Pacific Coast. The time for deliveries was shortened to only 10 days – thank you skilled horse riders. The reason why it lasted shortly is because of the appearance of the telegram which was even more convenient to use. Nevertheless, the Pony Express will always be remembered as an important part of the courier service industry.
Bicycles are another important part of the courier service industry
Bicycle messengers used bicycles to deliver mail, courier packets, and parcels. A great thing about bicycles is that they do not pollute the air, parking is easy to find, and you will rarely pay a fine while riding a bicycle. So, delivering by bicycles is economical. They are still in use in developing countries, but also in crowded cities. It is easier to have someone deliver mail by bike than by car, especially during rush hour.
UPS has changed the history of the courier industry
Had Jim Cassey not borrowed $100 from his friend in 1907 to start a courier company, the courier service industry would not be as we now know it. The company first focused on the West Coast, and then by the year 1913, they focused on deliveries for retailers. This required the use of more cars, so the company merged with Charlie Soderstrom and joined their vehicles. The company was then named United Parcel Services, as we now know it, and it covered the entire Pacific coast.
After the expansion to the East coast, the introduction of the conveyor belt technology, daily pickups, the time has come for UPS to fly. In 1953, they started the air courier services that operated between the East and the West Coast. After becoming an airliner with their aircraft, they introduced electronic tracking for their parcels. In 1996, they enabled customers to track their parcels online.
TNT was the first to offer door-to-door next day delivery
Founded in 1946, by Ken Thomas in Australia, the TNT courier services company left a big mark in the history of the courier service. For example, when they opened in the UK, they became the first-ever door-to-door next-day delivery service. They also started to offer the same-day delivery service option. Then, in 1997, they offered the Electronical proof of delivery, but also set a trend when they started to collect the parcel 30 minutes after the request. Finally, in 2002, they launched a program that enabled customers to monitor their parcels via the web, and by SMS and email.
DHL is the first international courier service provider
Founded in 1969, the company had over 500,000 thousand shipments daily by the year 1974. Hongkong, Japan, Australia, UK, New Zealand, Fiji, Thailand, Malaysia, are just some of the countries where DHL offered services. The business was thriving, and they opened express courier services in Europe. They were also the first to introduce SMS Services Information, where you could get information about the parcel via SMS. Other companies later adopted this approach as well.
The courier industry today
Thanks to the efforts and groundbreaking options these companies introduced to the world, the courier industry today has so much to offer. You can ship almost anything you want, from documents, medicine, building material, time-sensitive materials, etc., and know that it will reach the person you sent it to within days, or even hours. Sending out parcels, packages, and messages has never been easier in human history. A reliable NJ delivery service is available to both businesses and individuals at a reasonable price. It’s particularly vital for companies since same-day delivery could be essential for your business.