Couriers (Ride alongs)

[jwcolonel92]

I've been researching expediting for quite a while now and today I ran across something I've never read about before. Apparently sometimes part of the "freight" you haul is a person. Do all carriers require occasional "guests"? It just seems ludicrous to me that freight haulers would have to transport people as well. I thought that's what airlines, Amtrak and Greyhound were for? Does Panther haul people too?

 

[ATeam]

When couriers ride in expedite trucks it is for them to observe the handling of the freight and provide the shipper or owner of the cargo assurance that one of their own is attending the freight and eyeballing its handling. A courier's purpose may be also to provide additional security (armed) but that is less common.

No expedite carrier that I know of requires drivers to allow a courier on board, but in cases where the shipper requires a courier, loads will be dispatched to trucks that allow them.

Interesting courier story here

 

[jwcolonel92]

Thanks for the info Phil. It's good to know that carriers don't require all drivers to haul strangers. I did read one of your posts from 2006 regarding couriers and how they have to ride in the passenger seat during the entire trip.

 

[layoutshooter]

We run loads with couriers on a regular basis, several a year. Most of the time it is not a problem and it can be a lot of fun meeting new people. It is not a requirement for the courier to stay in the seat up front, it is the choice of the owner/driver of the truck. We have run several LONG runs with couriers, 3K plus mile runs. It can be a challenge but for the most part it is fun. It is, for the most part, all in YOUR attitude whether you have a good or a bad time with couriers on board.