Man Attempts to Use Courier To Smuggle Drugs

The courier industry is a fairly safe business to be in. Most of our deliveries are business to business. But there are also some dangers couriers encounter on a daily basis, such as delivery of drugs, which is exactly what occurred in New Delphi.

Tarun Jain, businessman in Rohini, attempted three times to use a courier to smuggle a very large amount of liquor from city to city last week report Yahoo News. "On July 16, we received a tip-off that a huge quantity of illicit liquor was being smuggled with the help of couriers and courier companies operating in Paharganj area. We were asked to keep a lookout," said police commissioner DC Shrivastava. Jain's business was not doing well, so he decided to smuggle liquor. Couriers can deliver small pick ups of alcohol if they are licensed in certain areas. However, a large quantity of alcohol is not the legal for couriers to make.

Another incident of drug traffic by a courier occurred in 2008, when Luc Bolea, a courier in Montreal, Canada, agreed to participate in the illegal activity. Bolea delivered $375,000 to Vancouver, picked up the drugs and returned to Montreal. "Mr. Bolea was entrusted to take $375,000 across the country," said prosecutor Martha Devlin. She also stated, "Then he was entrusted to examine the 50 kilograms of cocaine and confirm for his co-conspirators that the cocaine was all there."

Undercover cops were able to spoil the drug deal. Unlike other attempts, Bolea was well aware of what he was involved in. He was arrested and will receive at least 3 years in jail. Delivery Services can not take their profession and use for illegal causes. The industry has enough people trying to use courier for the wrong purpose as is. Courier companies must take strong precautions and handle their safety protocol seriously.

Courier services like A-1 Express advise their staff to always question anything that is suspicious. If the business has large freight and has a high dollar value, that is an indicator to ask more questions about the freight. A-1 Express is the recognized leading provider of same-day transportation and distribution services across the country. We assure we have qualified driver personnel who will deny pick up of any suspicious packages as well. As a courier, we must always be mindful and aware of drug activity because 100% safety is our goal.

References: 7.18.12, yahoo news, HT Correspondent/Hindustan Times-Man held for smuggling liquor; 7.19.12, Keith Fraser,Vancouver/Province Drug courier deserves eight years

How Common are Bike Messengers Today?

With names like “Aero,” and “City Sprint” bike messengers have been delivering small parcels, business and legal documents since the bicycle was invented. Western Union even had a livery of “telegraph boys” who delivered messages in San Francisco. Bike messengers are local couriers for population dense areas, where travel by car is difficult or traffic makes quick deliveries impossible. Parking costs in large metro areas, can also cause problems for quick delivers here and there about town.

While it is increasingly easy to email clients important documents, which are crisp and clear, it is not always possible to file completed legal papers with the various courts via email. Many businesses and law practices depend on the quick delivery time and expertise of bike messengers.

With a traditional truck or car based courier service parking and parking fees cut into delivery time and profits, a bike messenger bikes right up to the client's building or courthouse, zipping in and out of traffic and around traffic tie ups with ease. Bike messengers, for a long time, have had the lock on the same day courier market. With more and more business spreading out over metro areas and taking up residence in suburban locations, there has been a decline in the need for bike messengers. Increasing acceptance of electronic communication by the courts and other public entities, the number of bike messengers has shrunk, but in the communities they serve, they are still known for their quick if not quirky same day delivery services.

Small shops, like groceries, pharmacies, and other small businesses are turning to bike messengers to get their products to their customers quickly. In large cities it is not uncommon to see a three wheeled bike with a small cart being pulled behind it. Same day delivery service via bike messenger or bike courier services are a green alternative and bike messenger or bike delivery services are not bound by the delays caused by downtown construction projects and traffic jams.

While many people remember seeing bike messengers depicted in cinema as dare devils and stunt riders, with flashy traffic moves, most bike messengers are safe riders, equipped with up to the date bikes, a lock and their now famous and urban fashion statement, messenger bag. In some cities advanced bike safety training is required to be a bike messenger, as is a helmet. In other areas, the bike messengers work as independent contractors, providing their own bikes and safety gear.

Bike messengers are an important part of how businesses move information from place to place. While electronic communication has drastically changed how businesses communicate with each other and their customers, what hasn't change is if a business needs documents moved across town and quick, a bike messenger is one of the many cross town courier services available to get the job done.

Oil Prices Decreasing, Means Saving With Couriers

If anyone would have said oil prices would be dropping this summer, instead of rising, that would have been challenging to believe. However, the tables have drastically turned and things are looking a lot brighter for the everyday gas consumer.

CNN Money reported late last week that oil prices dropped to $78.58. This is the first time the price of oil has been below $80 per barrel since October of last year. "The steady decline in oil prices isn't unusual for this time of year. June is a weak month for oil prices," said Dan Dicker, known oil trader and author. "Now, you're adding that to negative growth, and that's having an impact".

The negative growth Dicker speaks of us the slow down in global economies, such as America, Japanese and European manufacturing. The US is now increasing crude oil production, which have helped prices fall also. Jobless claims have not improved, therefore, had an impact in the the dropping prices of oil.

As a result of the significant drop in oil prices, gas prices are decreasing as well. The AAA has reported the current pump price average is $3.47 per gallon. This has been a sigh of relief for consumers, who have endured four months of gas prices of $3.50 and above. Kloza, the AAA data firm, forecasts prices will continue to fall well into the $70's per barrel in the upcoming weeks.

With lower gas prices, consumers probably can expect lower pricing with couriers. A Courier service like A1Express always has the customer is mind to provide the most competitive pricing available. This same-day delivery messenger has the best combination of service and price Nationwide. With spending less at the pump, businesses and individuals can put their money where it matters most. A1Express can help your company make successful deliveries, meet document deadlines, and save money, all at the same time.

References: June 6, 2012, CNN Money, Emily Jane Fox, Oil Prices Continue Their Slide

Courier Companies Can Help Avoid Disasters

There's no situation so bad that you can't make it worse by freaking out. That's a basic fact that everyone in business has probably had to learn one way or another.

Sending your mind racing may momentarily relieve pressure by providing a distraction, but sage decisions are rarely made by those in a full-fledged panic. Whatever scenario you find yourself in, it's in your interest to stay calm and focus on what needs to be done to resolve the problem.

Imagine you have a seemingly impossible task to do - for example, an important client needs a replacement for a faulty product and if isn't delivered overnight to their office across the country, you'll be responsible for your company losing its biggest account. You can waste valuable time working yourself into a frenzy and moving further away from resolving the problem. That is always an option.

Or you can stay calm, quickly call up a nationwide courier service and get the critical parcel moving as soon as possible with next flight out service. That's a better option by far and it also speaks to the fact that preparation is the key to avoiding panic.

Working with quality couriers can help a company avert sudden disasters, as in the above example, but it can also help prevent crises from developing in the first place. When you ship papers or packages with private couriers, you never have to fear the dreaded call in which a customer or partner claims that "it must have gotten lost in the mail."

Remove the uncertainty from your shipping process, guarantee that every scheduled delivery is made on time and prepare for unexpected emergencies by becoming acquainted with the professional couriers operating in your area.

References: 1-800Courier.com news

Could Amazon.com Become A Courier?

It sounds strange at first, but it could very well be true.  Amazon is after the momentum that Apple has and are analyzing what they can do to issue more blows to their greatest competitor.  Amazon's next possible move is to become a courier.

Amazon is the world's largest retailer; doing business online with products we have come to love crave for.  The kindle fire sold an estimated $5 million units last year and is doing well the first quarter of 2012.  The company sell e-books by the millions and has control of this  specialty market.  The online business industry grew over 15% and Amazon is one reason why.  The online giant shows dominance in the retail world.

A recent Forbes reported how Amazon already performs Fed-ex like services to its' customers.  They provide third-party logistic services to businesses that utilize Amazon for selling their products.  They also spent over $4 billion last year building 17 fulfillment centers.  This enabled Amazon to offer their retail business clients warehousing and shipping services for product stored.  According to the Mercent Corporation, online sales specialty company, Amazon commissions about 10 percent on any item sold by a third party as 100 percent profit and also charges fees to those same retailers that utilize their warehousing.

Amazon is providing services just like shipping giant Fed Ex, which is a global courier.  Colin Gillis, a BGC Partners LP analyst, stated in an interview, "They're building out fulfillment because they realize that fast and predictable delivery of product is a huge driver of their business".  Essentially, Amazon can meet all their customers' needs.  The only service left is the actual physical transportation and product delivery.  It would make sense to gradually begin to deliver their products to the end user themselves.  The Forbes report mentions Amazon is testing pick up stations where customers can have packages delivered.  

Either way, Amazon's success is only complete when that product arrives at the customer's front door.  Even if Amazon does not involve itself in delivering product themselves, the consumer wants it fast and desires no delays in their shipment.  This type of fulfillment within the supply chain is ideal for using couriers like A-1 Express The company is a nationwide courier and can provide same-day delivery, which is very beneficial when it comes not only the order fulfillment, but shipment returns and replacements.    

References:  3.24.12, San Francisco Chronicle, Danielle Kucera, Associated Press-Amazon.com wrings profit from fulfillment. 3.26.12, Forbes, Michael Canellos-Will Amazon Become The Next FedEx?