FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What is meant by scheduled or "dedicated" service?
Scheduled or "dedicated" service means that the route runs the same stops at the same time each and every day. This service is ideal for banks that have major losses if their shipments are received to processors or the Federal Reserve late. Most other courier companies take individual one-time shipments or any other freight that changes from day to day. This may cause their routes to run at wildly variable times. More than 95 percent of Express Courier, Inc. routes are dedicated routes.
It is always a good idea to have a contract. A contract ensures that the courier company understands exactly what is expected of them. It also serves as a measuring stick for you, the customer to make sure you are receiving the service you are paying for. However, It is very important to make sure you read and understand every line of the contract you are given. Some companies will try to make it almost impossible to get out of your contract even if they are offering terrible service. Keep the mindset that the contract is for your protection, not just the courier. If your contract has the agreed upon times for pick up and delivery listed and the courier company is not meeting those requirements, the courier company is in breach of contract and you should feel free to search for a better solution.
3. What is Operating Authority?
We offer this as a generic, "layman's" definition. For an exact definition and description of different authority types visit or call the Corporation Commission for whatever state your courier company is based in. (click here for the list).
When a transportation company is granted authority, it means they have met that states requirements for legal and safe transportation.. Not only does a company have to receive Intra-state authority to operate in their home state, they also have to apply for, pay for, and receive Inter-state authority for each and every state they are hauling into for-hire. This is a very time-consuming and costly process and some companies will decide to try operate without it. The process is time consuming and costly because of the immense insurance requirements, safety compliance issues, and communication between state governments and the federal government.
There are also strict standards, tests, and training classes that must be attended as well. All this is to ensure that the transportation company is operating in a manner that best serves the business and safety needs of the public. All transportation companies should be able to produce their operating authority when asked. This documentation is also required to be in each vehicle operating under their authority. If you have even the slightest concern about any courier, contact the state they are based in. Once authority is received it is very easy to prove so if you experiencing any delays in receiving verification from your provider, that is probably not a good sign. Authority has to be renewed every year so it is usually best to double check the companies integrity by calling the state corporation commission directly and asking them. They are usually very nice and easy to work with. Phone verification usually only takes a few minutes and is just as important as verifying references.
4. Why does my current provider keep changing names?
Businesses change their name for a variety of reasons. Some good and some bad. For instance, if a company starts with a very specific service and eventually starts offering a broader range of items, a name change would definitely be in order so the public would know they have expanded services. However, repeated name changes could also signal trouble. Repeated violations of operating authority rules that resulted in authority being revoked or suspended, or money trouble that needed additional investors to fix would cause a company to register under a different name and owner (many times a family member) in order to try to have a clean slate. Companies like General Electric and Coca-Cola have operated under the same name for many decades. By contrast, companies like Enron operated under not only different names but many alleged umbrella or sister companies as well.
5. How does Express Courier, Inc find so many professional, dedicated , and service oriented drivers?
Express Courier, Inc drivers are actually dedicated entrepreneurs and business owners just like we are. They are called Independent Contractors. When companies hire employees to drive their routes, they are subject to the same potential problems that many companies face. How do you get an hourly employee to have the same dedication as the owners and management? This is further compounded by the fact that many are being paid very low wages. The idea of getting paid by the hour lends itself to an employee taking their time to do something so they make more money. Our answer is to help fuel the entrepreneurial spirit by hiring people like ourselves that have a dream of being their own boss and a desire to do something better than anyone else can. It's called PRIDE. An independent contractor is a business owner who has a vested interest in performing to exemplary standards. That business owner knows, like all business owners know, that there is only one way to measure success. Is the customer happy? The best home-builders in the area know this too. The developer of your sub-division doesn't have roofers that work for him. He hires an independent contractor to put the roof on the house. He picks the independent contractor he knows has pride in his work and will do the job one way, perfect. Almost all aspects of building a home are done with independent contractors whether it's a 100,000 dollar home or a 500,000 dollar home.
Contacts to verify operating authority in each state. To verify authority, make sure to verify the state that the business is incorporated in. That is the state they register with for both Intra-state and Inter-state authority. (example: Express Courier Inc is a Kansas Based Corporation with operating authority in Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Colorado, Nebraska, Missouri, and Arkansas) The authority for each of those states is applied for, granted, and verified by the State of Kansas since that is where our company is based.