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Cons of Being a Courier

Couriers are used by many industries to shuttle merchandise, important documents, equipment and sometimes even people from one place to another, usually within a local area. There are couriers who work for specific companies to meet their internal needs, and there are couriers for hire who work for a number of companies in a per-diem or per-item role. The differences in these two roles are many, since one is considered an employee of a company and the other an outside service available to anyone.

Down Time

Couriers employed by a single company may have periods of high demand mixed with extended periods of downtime. This may seem a dream-come-true to some workers, but the monotony of wasting time with nothing to do can fast become a nuisance. If you are the type who likes to be busy, the times when you are not can be a real negative aspect of the position. Couriers who work for a courier service and cater to a number of clients are less likely to have down-time and more likely to be on the move.

No Guarantees

If you work as an independent courier or for a delivery service, there is no guarantee of steady work. For example, holiday weeks are notoriously slow for the few businesses that need document or package delivery. Couriers working on salary as employees of a single company will still be paid for the week, whether there is a high volume of delivery or none at all. While time off may seem an attractive incentive for some people, it can be a burden if you have no other income.


Dealing with the weather can be a hardship for anyone who works out of doors. Foot and bike couriers are outside all the time, exposed to the elements and without a place to shelter when things get bad. Inclement weather can slow down deliveries. Wet weather makes roads slippery, a danger for bicycle couriers. Exposure to consistently bad weather can lead to illness and missed work. Even if you don't get sick, rain can make for a miserable workday.


Couriers also face pressure to get important materials to their destinations as quickly and efficiently as possible. Clients don't want excuses, they want therir deliveries on time. Unrealistic expectations are not easy to manage but they are part of the courier's job. A courier might be given a dozen packages, all priority and all with different delivery locations. The courier must keep every package in order, delivery them on time no matter the traffic or weather, and manage all the paperwork attached. The combination of constant rushing and detail-oriented organization is never easy to handle.