What Does a Same Day Courier Really Do?

Your questions, answered — the Today Team way.

“Same day courier” or “same day delivery” are phrases that have become more common over the years. But what does it actually mean in practice? What can you collect and deliver on the same day? What kind of service should you expect, and what doesn’t fall under that promise?

At Today Team, we’ve been providing time-critical delivery services since 2005. In that time, we’ve handled every kind of urgent consignment imaginable, from last-minute engineering components to forgotten passports.

So, instead of a traditional FAQ, here’s a straight-talking guide based on the questions we see and hear most often — and what you should really expect from a professional same day courier.

How fast can a same day courier collect?

When every minute counts, efficiency is everything. We aim to respond to enquiries within 10-15 minutes, and then to collect your goods within 40–60 minutes of booking confirmation, wherever you are in the UK.

Once collected, your consignment travels directly to its destination. There’s no network routing, no depot handovers, and no waiting around, just point-to-point delivery in a dedicated vehicle.

If you need an item collected urgently from your office, factory, or even your home, we can get a driver moving within the hour.

Learn more about our dedicated same day courier services.

Do you cover the whole of the UK?

Yes — we provide nationwide same day courier coverage. Our network of trusted drivers and vehicles reaches every major town and city across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and occasionally even into Europe.

Whether you’re sending something across the North West, or to London, Glasgow or Cardiff, we’ll arrange the fastest, most efficient route for your delivery.

Learn more about our nationwide same day delivery locations.

Do I need an account to book a same day courier?

Not at all. Many businesses open accounts with us for convenience, payment terms and simplified billing, but we’re equally happy to take card payments for one-off jobs.

If you make regular bookings, having an account simply makes it quicker to confirm future deliveries, which is ideal when you’re up against a tight deadline. If you’re looking for a regular partner to set up an account for regular same day deliveries, get in touch and one of our friendly team will be happy to discuss your requirements.

What kind of items can a same day courier deliver?

Pretty much anything that’s legal, safe and suitable for road transport. We don’t transport pets or live cargo!

Our fleet ranges from small vans and transit-sized vehicles right through to Luton tail-lift vans and HGV curtain-siders, meaning we can handle everything from urgent documents and medical samples to palletised freight.

We also handle private deliveries — such as keys, passports, letters, luggage or important personal documents — where security and peace of mind are just as critical.

The only things we don’t carry are marketplace or collection-only items like eBay or Facebook purchases (e.g. sofas, bikes or mattresses). Our focus is on professional, reliable logistics and emergency deliveries, not online purchases.

If you’re not sure which vehicle you need, our team will match your shipment to the right option based on its size, weight and urgency.

Learn more about our dedicated fleet of same day delivery vehicles.

Can you handle fragile or high value items?

Absolutely! In fact, that’s one of the main reasons customers choose a dedicated same day delivery service over parcel networks.

Because every delivery travels in a dedicated vehicle, your items are never mixed with other consignments. That means no depot sorting, no stacking, and no additional handling that could cause damage.

Our drivers are fully trained, vetted and insured, and all deliveries are covered by goods-in-transit insurance for extra peace of mind.

So whether it’s fragile artwork, confidential paperwork or valuable components, your delivery will be handled with the same care as if you were driving it there yourself.

Do you deliver at weekends or out of hours?

Yes, we do it regularly, and for our account customers, we’re open 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

Many of our clients schedule collections or deliveries for evenings, early mornings or weekends because of their operational requirements.

Our office hours are Monday to Friday, 08:30–17:00, so if you book your job during those times, we can plan transport for whenever you need it — including weekends and overnight.

Whether you’re arranging an early-morning site delivery, a late-night factory collection, or an emergency weekend run, we’ll make sure it’s covered.

What’s the difference between same day delivery and express delivery?

These two terms may be used interchangeably, along with “urgent”, but there’s a crucial difference.

Same day delivery means your consignment is collected and delivered on the same day, using a dedicated vehicle for your job only. It travels straight from A to B, with no stops, no sorting, no sharing.

Express delivery, on the other hand, usually refers to network services that are quicker than standard post. For example, “next-day by 10am”. They still involve depots, hub transfers and multiple deliveries per vehicle.

If time, security and direct communication matter, a same day service is the fastest, safest option.

What makes a dedicated same day courier different from a regular courier?

A regular courier (or parcel network) is ideal for non-urgent shipments, but a dedicated same day courier offers total control:

• One driver and one vehicle assigned to your delivery
• Direct, nonstop transport from collection to drop-off
• Real-time tracking and proof of delivery
• Immediate confirmation when your item arrives
• Higher insurance cover (not that it’s ever needed)

If your shipment is time-sensitive, high-value, or business-critical, a dedicated courier is the only option that guarantees delivery exactly when promised.

How do I know I can trust you with my delivery?

We’ve been operating in time-critical logistics since 2005, serving hundreds of businesses and private clients across the UK.

Our success comes down to three things:

• Experience – two decades in the industry.
• Communication – you get real-time updates and proof of delivery.
• Reliability – our drivers and vehicles are hand-picked for professionalism and care.

Every job, whether it’s a one-off document run or a national contract, receives the same level of attention and urgency.

If you want to hear it from our customers, you can always read our Google reviews – we take great pride in the feedback we receive, because it means we’ve lived up to our promises.

The bottom line – what makes Today Team?

A same day courier service isn’t just about speed — it’s about trust, security and peace of mind.

When you choose Today Team, you get a dedicated logistics partner with 20 years of experience in urgent, time-critical transport, backed by a friendly team who genuinely care about every job.

So whether you’re sending a vital business shipment or an important personal item, you can relax knowing it’s in the safest hands possible.