A brief history of the courier service
We take a lot of things for granted these days, not realizing how good of a thing we have. Past generations did not have many of the conveniences we use every day. Transportation is an area that has changed dramatically over the decades, and improvements have affected many areas of life, including the speed at which we receive packages. The evolution of transportation methods has transformed the courier industry, making it faster and more convenient than ever.
Early days of the courier service
Couriers have been around for hundreds of years, with the first being trusted runners, horsemen, and homing pigeons that delivered messages in what was then deemed appropriate. These were the days before mechanized transportation was available, so couriers on foot ran miles to reach their destinations, with very little reward. Even the exclusive messengers of the royal courts during the Middle Ages were underpaid for all their travels.
This industry played a prominent role in many historical events in United States history, including the westward migration of settlers and the Gold Rush era. Small courier companies were established in the late 19th century, using stagecoaches to deliver personal messages to homes where telephone service was not yet available. Some couriers delivered packages, luggage, or even gold. The Pony Express was later established to transport these items more quickly.
Motorized vehicles improve Courier services
The inventions of railroads and automobiles took this industry to the next level. Once the interstates were built, couriers could travel across the country across smooth asphalt with packages in tow. Bicycle and motorcycle couriers began to appear in large cities, transporting documents and other packages from one end of the city to the other. Finally, planes were tasked with delivering packages quickly over the longest distances.
The mail-order retail business and rising postal rates caused couriers to diversify and become more competitive. The lines between transportation methods have blurred, with couriers performing some of the same services as trucking companies and even the US Postal Service. Larger commercial couriers increased the speed of delivery of their packages and the smaller operations offered a broader range of services to meet local needs.
Today, the courier industry is valued at approximately $59 billion, a figure that couriers on foot never imagined. Businesses in almost every industry use these transportation services to deliver documents and packages to each other or to customers. Millions of private consumers use courier services to transport letters, gifts and other items to each other across the country and around the world.