Chelmsford Courier and Parcel Distribution

Sending your parcel for Christmas delivery

2009-11-16T06:10:00.000-08:00

We just took a phonecall from a lovely lady looking to send a present abroad. We explained that at this time of year, it takes longer as EVERYONE is sending parcels, and most parcel carriers see a surge in their normal capacity.
As a customer that means you need to send your parcel abroad right now. You cannot delay, at Christmas it may take twice as long as usual. Whatever service you select, make sure the parcel or package can be tracked. Quite simply you need to know whether the parcel is in the UK or at the port of another country awaiting customs clearance, without tracking you have no idea who to ring to chase your parcel.

Parcel Force delivered a package to Spain last year for us. It was posted on the 2nd of November and it arrived on Christmas eve. It was the tracking that enabled us to locate where the parcel was and what we could do to help.

Which leads me to - Packaging. Make sure your parcel is package well. It's going to get transhipped and thrown about even if it's fragile. Strong brown parcel paper with thick tape works best. It may not look like a Christmas present, but it will look ok when it arrives. If you are not sure how something is going to look after being thrown about, wrap it in extra bubble wrap just to be safe.

And remember - send it now, the last minute means it will arrive in January!

Sarah

Helping Chelmsford deal with the postal strike

2009-10-18T10:55:00.000-07:00

With the Royal Mail set to strike, small businesses across the country will be affected. Here at Arrow Light Haulage we have been thinking up some solutions as to how to continue business as best as possible and where a courier is essential.

Firstly and perhaps most importantly, Parcel Force is not going to strike. That means the cheapest option for sending out parcels and packages under 5kgs is still available.

So if you are a business that sends out one or two parcels a day, and send your invoices by email and pay your customers by Bacs, you will be in a strong position to carry on business as usual.

Until the 14th of October, if you click the link above to book your parcel delivery through Parcel Force and type ‘new’ at the checkout, you will receive a 15% discount.

Secondly, as mentioned above. Use bacs to pay suppliers instead of posting cheques, it’s greener and far more efficient. If you are sending invoices, send them by email too. If like us you have to send additional documentation, scan and email that too. Again it’s greener, faster and far more efficient than the Royal Mail.

For companies that use direct mail for their marketing campaigns, have a look at other methods such as an email mailshots – think of the benefits to your carbon footprint as well as the traffic to your website and the ways to reach customers that may not respond to direct mail. If you need support for this we recommend business consultant Jeff Nutbeem, he can be found via his website – Small Business Consultant

You could be really old fashioned and pick up the phone and call the customers direct and send them a tailored email afterwards. More time consuming perhaps, but may have better results. If the Phone isn’t your thing then talk to an expert, we recommend Shaun Gisbourne at Phone for Business

More importantly, when to use your courier.

Use them when you usually do - for same day deliveries, for urgent items, for fragile items. You may think you need to use one for your every day mail service but the truth is, you can do a lot of it now via email, fax and instant messenger. These are often secure and safe, and if it really is that confidential you will already be using a courier to deliver it.

Sarah

Same day couriers in Essex

PS if you need to send birthday cards either send them with a present, arrange friend to do it if they live nearby, send a video via email – think a bit creatively! The chances are this won’t be the last strike and we can find ways not to let it affect our businesses or personal lives.

Please note, we have used an affiliate service to obtain the codes and links for the Parcel Force discount.

Same day courier or parcel courier?

2009-07-08T13:45:00.000-07:00

There are a few types of couriers / courier services and they are easily confused.

First we have the most common type which are the parcel couriers or carriers. They take parcels and packages up to 25kgs in weight and when they are sorted (usually at a central depot) they are then multi- ped to their destination. Prices range from £ 5 upwards and delivery is done overnight, 48 hours, 2-3 days or another length of time that you specify.

Most people when they call a courier they assume that they are the parcel carriers, they are getting a low cost but high volume service. Breakages are not uncommon.

Check before you call.

Then we have Same day couriers or Express couriers who work with urgent consignments that have to be delivered right NOW! These are more expensive because they are ad hoc and a specialist service in some cases. Arrow Light Haulage specialises in same day courier work with vehicles up to 7.5 tonnes. Breakages, well so far we have had 100% success in 7 years of trading. We are very lucky.

Confusing the two types of courier service may mean your parcel is dispatched same day but costs you 4 times the price! Check which service you require and if you are not sure, then call for advice.

Sarah
0800 917 6084 (calls are free)
Courier Services in the UK

HP 8500 - the green printer trials

2009-06-19T06:29:00.000-07:00

A few weeks back we delivered a ‘green printer’ to France (with the kind assistance of Darren Porter) for marketing and PR company Edelmann.
As a greener delivery company, it’s important to find someone who is going ‘that way’ when we arrange delivery of certain items – so it’s not so damaging on the environment (15% of emissions are from road transport).

HP OfficeJet 8500

We also collected the HP 8500 to trial ourselves at the same time. We take extra care with our back office and try to make is as green and efficient as possible. Waste is the worst kind of ‘not-green’ in this office, and we are often looking at creative ways to recycle things.

The printer, it’s a dream to use so far. We scan all our documents in and store them, we are often a companies unofficial back up of their delivery documents. We have saved approx 4 hours a week on scanning time alone.

We also have a an upcoming Business Scene event on the 2nd of July. I printed 150 red, black and gray invitations and only used a quarter of the ink that I normally do. I have enough ink to print up 100 or so posters for the Business Scene event in Brantham a few weeks later.

We also print a fair few invoices a week and other documentation and so far I am pleased with what the printer is saving me, in both time and money.

I shall keep you posted as to how I get on with it.

Sarah

Furniture delivery Chelmsford

2009-06-07T10:59:00.000-07:00

Do you need a furniture courier? do you have items of furniture that you have bought from a store, free-cycled or ebayed?

Sofa

Chairs

Antiques

Sideboards

Dressers

Beds

Cabinets

Desks and other items of office furniture

Arrow Light Haulage the Essex based same day courier company are happy to quote to move your items. Whether they are high value or sentimental value, we look after them as if they are our own.

All our furniture deliveries are wrapped in felt blankets if they are not packaged already, then strapped to the vehicle - so they don't slip and slide in transit.

Whether it's one item or a houseful, we can offer you help and a two man team if items are really heavy.

Kevin

0844 884 3331

Same day courier

Awkward courier delivery

Same day delivery in Basildon

Delivering to Deadlines in Thurrock

Getting your cargo from port to your warehouse

2009-06-07T10:43:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the collecting part isn’t a problem but the fact that the forwarders are not 24/7 like us means you cannot collect your goods yourself (losing a days pay from work or having to take a days holiday). Time is money and it can be as equally frustrating to sit and watch it being wasted.Sarah & Kevin Arrow, West Thurrock & Dartford Courier and parcel services, Jun 2009Sometimes the collecting part isn’t a problem but the fact that the forwarders are not 24/7 like us means you cannot collect your goods yourself (losing a days pay from work or having to take a days holiday). Time is money and it can be as equally frustrating to sit and watch it being wasted.

We are based in Essex near Tilbury port, a drive from Harwich & Felixstowe and are 10 minutes from the M25, in other words we are real close to your goods. You no longer have to wait - if you want your goods we can collect on your authorisation and deliver.

If you are having delivery and collection grief, give us a call on 0844 884 3331 we are happy to discuss your courier options with you.

Kevin

Same day courier and delivery Essex

Chelmsford same day courier - what size van?

2009-04-19T14:38:00.000-07:00

If you are looking to book a same day or next day courier service, you need to know what size vehicle you need. Your van size depends on the size and the weight of the items of freight or cargo, here are some guidelines -

*Small Van - up to 500kgs

*Transit van - up to 1000kgs

*LWB Transit / Sprinter up to 1500kgs

*Luton - up to 1100kgs, mainly used for bigger bulkier items.

(Both our Luton's have tail lifts)

Booking a vehicle that is too big is a waste of resources, but booking a vehicle that is too small may mean your items do not get delivered!

Call us and we will happily advise you 0844 884 3331, local rate wherever you are in the UK. Or use our call for free button.

Kevin

Chelmsford Essex courier...

2009-03-08T11:07:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered who you are doing business with? what your same day courier company was like? Now you can see what we are like, and what our suppliers say about us.

Same day deliveries in Chemlsford

2009-02-23T01:58:00.000-08:00

When something is urgent and has to get there to a deadline, the best option is to use a same day courier service but what exactly does that entail?

A same day courier uses a dedicated vehicle to collect your goods and then goes straight to the delivery destination. Now here's the tricky part, some people say they do same day but actually co load your cargo with another customers cargo. Nothing wrong with that until you have something smash because its fragile and should not be transported with anything else. Oh yes, and you will still pay premium price...

When booking make sure you specify that goods cannot be co-loaded and if they can and they are non urgent, tell that to your courier too. Of course when you book an express or same day courier, you are booking a premium service and the price reflects that level of service and urgency.

A same day courier is also known as an express courier. Remember if you tell us it's urgent, then we will quote express / same day prices.

We are happy to collect and deliver same day urgent goods in the Chelmsford and Maldon areas, to all over the UK. We don't co load and we don't miss a deadline. Priceless really ;-)

regards Kev
07816 528421

2009-01-11T12:34:00.000-08:00

Often we buy things and then when we move house we have a near cardiac arrest about how we are going to move them! A Trampoline is one of those items, a shed/ gazebo is usually the other one

Generally speaking to move a trampoline (if applicable) you would first removed the supports for the safety net, You would not necessarily have to dismantle all of the poles and neither would you have to remove the net ties.

Once removed this can them be strapped together and easily lifted by two people onto your removal van.

The main body of the trampoline may or may not have to be dismantled depending on the size of the removal vehicle. Having said this I would strongly recommend removing the canvas and the protective paddings to prevent damage during transit, thus leaving only the metal frame.Moving in Essex? You need Essex Removals, Jan 2009
If you need any help, or are reluctant to do it yourself, we can always do it for you you. Just give us a call or drop us an email.

Sarah

The Most Expensive Delivery in The World?

2009-01-01T11:44:00.001-08:00

Seriously how much for delivery… $42 million dollars if it was a Nasa space shuttle. Nasa are planning on selling their old ’stock’ delivery / shipping and handling is $42 million dollars.

Why so much? Moving a wide, heavy load is expensive. A fully loaded shuttle can take up to three hours to move one mile. Now in this instance it will not be carrying the fuel so it should be able to move that bit faster. Banksmen and other technical and non technical support is also required. You cannot just through a shuttle on the back of a lorry and hope there will need to be police escorts and co-ordination with the highways agencies etc. It could be split down and sent by road and air but most likely it would be shipped.

If you can afford to buy one, I am sure the delivery charges are not a problem the good news is decommissioning fees are also included!The Most Expensive Delivery in The World?

What would you say if Nasa called and ask YOU to deliver a shuttle? ;-)

Kevin

Delivering big, awkward, bulky items but most certainly NOT space shuttles

The Pope’s courier

2008-12-23T10:58:00.001-08:00

I have just been reading this fascinating article in the Guardian about the Pope’s Courier. On average Thaddeus Kühnel does 150,000 miles to collect and deliver gifts from the Pope. This year he has collected his favourite German Sweetmeats (a carload full!) and a footwarmer.

With the Vatican issuing guidelines regarding environmental issues and encouraging their congregation to be greener, I felt they could have been a bit greener themselves. They could have used the secure (diplomatic) postal systems to deliver his items. Looking at it in more detail, I realise the safest, most secure option for him would have been a dedicated courier which is exactly what he used

When security is of the utmost importance a dedicated courier is the very best option, I hope that Thaddeus Kühnel has his vehicle tracked in case of hijack and remembers to secure his vehicle every time he leaves it. I am sure he uses up to date software to plan his routes - so that they are the most efficient. I know he will be co-loading whenever possible to keep costs down and make the fuel go further…

I also hope that Mr Kühnel has changed his vehicle since this article was published, as he could now become a target. It’s vital to keep things confidential as a courier and unless you have your customers approval, discretion is a must. Especially when your client is a religious world leader.

Infallible Christmas gifts: Pope’s courier reveals secrets | World news | The Guardian

Kühnel drove from the pope’s home state of Bavaria to the Vatican yesterday to personally deliver this year’s boot-load of food, as well as five Christmas trees that were strapped to the roof of his car.

Lebkuchen honey and spice biscuits, stollen German Christmas cake, and chocolate were among the treats, Kühnel told German media. Of the trees, which came from the pope’s home town, Marktl am Inn, Kühnel said: “One is for the Pope’s living room, and two are for private chapels.”

Butchers in Marktl am Inn began selling Ratzinger sausages in his honour when he became pope in 2005.

There was also a present from the pope’s brother, Georg, 84, a retired priest. Kühnel would not reveal what it was, but said “usually they give each other practical things, like wristwatches and electric foot-warmers”.

Kühnel said he had already clocked up around 250,000km 150,000 miles in his car, delivering goods to the pope that he had personally requested, along with presents from his old friends, staff and distant relatives. “I deliver all the things he misses about Bavaria, including fruit nectar, Bavarian sausages from his favourite restaurant, advent wreaths and German sweets. He has a very sweet tooth,” Kühnel said.

“The first thing I brought to Rome, in my car, was a paschal candle, as well as some fruit from Adelholzen and mineral water. He likes the Christmas cookies that women from Bavarian parishes bake at home as well as those made at certain monasteries. He also likes the chocolates made in Aachen.”

The Pope’s courier, Dec 2008

It's not an easy job delivering goods from food stuffs to presents, but having a happy customer is very rewarding.

Merry Christmas

Sarah & Kevin

10,000 hours and you STILL want someone else to deliver?

2008-12-22T01:10:00.001-08:00

This week I have been reading articles about someone called Malcolm Gladwell and the Outliers, and in these articles research by a chap called K Anders Ericsson is quoted.

In the early 90s, the psychologist K Anders Ericsson and two colleagues set up shop at Berlin’s elite Academy of Music. With the help of the academy’s professors, they divided the school’s violinists into three groups. The first group were the stars, the students with the potential to become world-class soloists. The second were those judged to be merely “good”. The third were students who were unlikely ever to play professionally, and intended to be music teachers in the school system. All the violinists were then asked the same question. Over the course of your career, ever since you first picked up the violin, how many hours have you practised?

Everyone, from all three groups, started playing at roughly the same time - around the age of five. In those first few years, everyone practised roughly the same amount - about two or three hours a week. But around the age of eight real differences started to emerge. The students who would end up as the best in their class began to practise more than everyone else: six hours a week by age nine, eight by age 12, 16 a week by age 14, and up and up, until by the age of 20 they were practising well over 30 hours a week. By the age of 20, the elite performers had all totalled 10,000 hours of practice over the course of their lives. The merely good students had totalled, by contrast, 8,000 hours, and the future music teachers just over 4,000 hours.

Now, I am not quite sure where this quote comes into play with Mr Gladwells book (ok, maybe it’s about genius ), but I do know that having worked at least 48 hours a week for the last 6 years delivering cargo, freight and the odd sofa or two we have clocked up at least 10,000 hours. Thats in just our own business, Kev has another 14 years experience in doing this for other companies. So, that makes us an expert apparently…. and we certainly do know all the tips and tricks to get the best out of your delivery.

So, would you rather see the local schools piano teacher or Maksim? Well, I am sure they both have their place in life, and you choose what is appropriate. If Maksim was looking to move his grand piano, would he use Joe Blogs from down the road who had been trading 5 minutes or would he use a professional piano mover? He would use the professional piano mover of course.

We often get phone calls about Freight / Cargo deliveries that have gone wrong, and the most common these people have used someone who are cheap. They have no experience or wisdom to pay for, and then the customer gets upset when it has gone wrong. We get upset too, why didn’t they come to us first? It would have been the far more cost effective courier option10,000 hours and you STILL want someone else to deliver?

Sarah

What does your Chelmsford courier quote include?

2008-12-22T01:00:00.000-08:00

When you book a parcel courier do you read the small print?

Last week we took on a new customer who had read the ’small print’ and found it not to his liking until he came to us. When doing his research he found that he would often be charged a ’surcharge’ for delivering to a private address rather than a business address - between £3-£5 extra. He would also be charged a 5% fuel surcharge, and if he went over weight by even just a kilo, he would be charged an extra £3.00 as well.

He started to add it all up and realised the £8.95+VAT he was being charged for delivery wasn’t that cheap once the ’surcharges’ had been added, if fact it could double the initial price for a parcel!

At Arrow Light Haulage we believe in a transparent pricing system - that the cost is determined by the items weight, and that's it. The only extras we charge for are items such as packing and wrapping materials, again this is optional.

So, if you have a parcel to collect in Basildon, Chelmsford or West Thurrock & Dartford give us a call on 0844 884 3331 we are a flat rate courier, no surcharges unless of course you want us to charge for them

Regards

Kevin

Chelmsford and Maldon couriers

Less bucks = more bang

2008-10-20T12:36:00.001-07:00

Delivering fireworks.....Fireworks are generally not allowed to be delivered by couriers.

Quick quiz: If you are a professional truck driver, a good thing to haul is…

a) jelly doughnuts
b) bunny rabbits
c) designer shoes
d) highly explosive fireworks

You need specialist training to deliver fireworks, and if you are using a courier to do this, check the small print before suggesting they do not need the training… if you wrongly suggest they can deliver the fireworks and they have an accident where do you stand with your corporate manslaughter liabilities?
Be very careful not to get caught up in the small loads small print of 8.2.3 of ADR Link how VOSA and other agencies interpret may be different from how you do. To be quite blunt, a white diamond symbol does not mean you can transport and deliver fireworks as a courier.Fireworks: Delivering without the bang!

There are no fireworks in the uK that can be carried by road for hire and reward without the courier in question having at the very least ADR 'awareness training!

Delivering your Dining Room Furniture

2008-10-13T01:20:00.000-07:00

These are generally too heavy to be delivered by parcel services. Depending on what they are made from, I would check with your courier company first. If it’s possible, the furture should be dismantled and packaged securely before collection, this reduces the cubic weight and makes it more likely your items can be delivered. Remember to package them carefully to prevent damage.

If your local parcel courier company is not able to deliver your items, you have some options.

Pallet Networks - You dining is palletised and collected with other items and sent to the hub (usually in the Midlands) then put on a vehicle that will deliver to a depot and then on to you, the end destination. Your pallet may be ‘ugly freight‘ or oversized and this would be more expensive. There is high risk of damage using these services and it’s very difficult to establish where in the chain it happened.

Overnight / Economy courier - Your dining table is collected and loaded onto the vehicle, with other goods and delivered at some point in the next few days. The routes are as fuel efficient as possible, less chance of damage than a pallet network, but your item could risk some damage if the courier company does not secure their loads or protect your dining table and chairs correctly. We always secure our items and wrap them for added protection.

Same day or express courier - you item is the only item on the vehicle, it is secured and delivered in one piece, the only method likely to result in the least amount of damage.

On deciding which type of courier you require, you also need to think about what suits you for delivery options, will they deliver out of hours? will they deliver at a time convenient to you?

If you have any questions, we are happy to help and advise.

Sarah

Essex Courier and delivery services

Delivering your pool or snooker table

2008-10-13T01:18:00.001-07:00

As a discerning Snooker or Pool player, you have decided to buy yourself a table to practice on. You cannot wait for the shop to send it (sometimes a 30 day wait!), or you have grabbed a bargain on Ebay, and now you would like the item delivered.

Firstly, the Pool or Snooker table will be wrapped in soft felt furniture blankets and then loaded onto the vehicle via tail-lift. It takes two people to do this, sometimes three. We can supply a two man team or you can help (this is the money saving option ).

The Pool/Snooker table will be laid flat on the bottom of the van. It’s important that your courier does not try and co-load items with this, as items put on top may crack the slate bed. For the same reason, it’s best not to use an economy service courier, because they again co-load items, and this can cause some nasty damage.Same Day Courier Delivery for your Snooker Table

At the end destination, we will happily help you unload your table and take away the packaging, if any. We like to recycle the packaging, it helps keep things greener.

Sarah

Same Day Courier

What do you factor in for your same day courier?

2008-09-25T05:41:00.001-07:00

When do you book your courier? Is it dependant on what type of service you need? When your goods are ready to be moved? or do you give it a few days notice?

If you leave it till the goods are ready, you could land up with a hefty waiting time bill, if something goes wrong at the last minute. This is most likely to happen when waiting for printed materials to dry and then be loaded. What can you do to prevent your same day courier costs going through the roof? Often it’s as easy as telling them what items are going to be transported, as the more experienced courier can then factor in prep and drying time, and make the drivers aware of the possibility of waiting when they come to collect.What you need to factor into being ready for your courier

Do you factor in all the probablilties when you have goods to move? Would you like us to do it for you?

Sarah

Same Day Courier Services

What do you factor in for your same day courier?

2008-09-25T05:40:00.001-07:00

When do you book your courier? Is it dependant on what type of service you need? When your goods are ready to be moved? or do you give it a few days notice?

If you leave it till the goods are ready, you could land up with a hefty waiting time bill, if something goes wrong at the last minute. This is most likely to happen when waiting for printed materials to dry and then be loaded. What can you do to prevent your same day courier costs going through the roof? Often it’s as easy as telling them what items are going to be transported, as the more experienced courier can then factor in prep and drying time, and make the drivers aware of the possibility of waiting when they come to collect.What you need to factor into being ready for your courier

Do you factor in all the probablilties when you have goods to move? Would you like us to do it for you?

Sarah

Same Day Courier Services

My Technorati Claim

2008-09-21T13:29:00.000-07:00

Technorati Profile

Chelmsford couriers - how to get the best of them

2008-09-18T09:47:00.001-07:00

Another little gem on the internet, this time from a website that deals with consumer issues. It's a very good read, the link is at the end of the quote. The article goes on to make some suggestions on what can be done to make things easier for the consumer when expecting delivery..

* Companies that offer "delivery within 2-3 days" - Well, which is it? And does that include the weekend?

* Companies that say "your order has been dispatched", but not how it's being delivered (Royal Mail, Courier, 24 hours?)

* Companies that let you order when there's no stock, but don't tell you that it's back in stock and they shipped it - the first you know is when you get the "we tried to deliver but..." card

* Failed deliveries where the little boxes aren't ticked so there's no clues - so you drive to the sorting office to get a bit of junk mail that the kind postie didn't want to fold or leave outside, when you were expecting to be picking up your hi-fi.

* Couriers that aren't flexible. "We can't deliver to your work address. We don't deliver on Saturdays. You can't collect from our depot"

* Couriers websites that let you view online tracking... that's a day out of date

We all have to work, and it's not always possible to take a day off work waiting for the knock on the door. I've lost count of the number of days I've either:

* Waited in for a courier that didn't show

* Faffed about with parcel-tracking websites and "we called but..." cards

* Spoken to a courier's head office to arrange redelivery - and got very frustrated

* Tried to get a number for the courier's depot (not the call centre)

* Driven to a depot on a Saturday to collect something a courier wouldn't send out at a weekend

Help with mail order deliveries and couriers.

As a courier company, we are happy to delivery out of hours and on a Saturday, or even a Sunday. Parcel deliveries we do Monday to Friday, and any delivery estimates do not include Saturday or Sunday when it comes to the parcels.

Parcels we will try and deliver three times, and always leave a card with contact details on.

Same day or Express deliveries, we can tell you within 15 minutes what time your items will arrive, and we call our customers an hour prior to delivery, so if they have to nip up the shops for a pint of milk, they can do so without worry.

When looking for a courier service that understands what customer service means, look for someone local. Bigger is not always better when it comes to delivering your goods.

Sarah

Basildon, Chelmsford & West Thurrock Same Day and Parcel courier

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Collecting and Delivering Television sets

2008-09-18T01:18:00.000-07:00

By Same Day courier? By the parcel network? overnight delivery? Lots of choice, but which one is the best to courier your Television?

The Parcel networks, although the cheapest option, cannot take the weight of TVs. Even the new Plasma / LCD style screens come in over the cubic weight that a parcel carrier can take.

Another option is a overnight pallet service, where your TV would be strapped and shrink wrapped to a pallet and loaded, and transhipped several times before reaching you or your customer. This increases the chance of damage, and you never know for certain at what point that damage happened.

We recommend that television collection and deliveries are an item that can be co-loaded onto a vehicle. This means that the vehicle has other items on it, there is a small risk of damage from the other items, but in the case of a correctly packaged TV set, that is minimal. We have never damaged one this way yet. Depending on the style of TV, depends on whether a two man team is needed. Our vehicles are equipped with sack barrows and tail lifts, so that only a huge boxed TV set would actually need two men, the rest can be delivered by our well trained drivers.

If you have bought a Television set from ebay in Chelmsford or other local to Essex Areas (or even require one to be collected and delivered to a location in Essex) and require us to package it for you, we can do that easily. We use recycled packaging, and we are happy to collect and deliver those large items like TVs and white goods, that are often just collect in person.

So, if it needs lifting and shifting, give us a call even if it's just for free advice 0844 884 331 or 07816 528421.

Sarah

Essex Television delivery

How a cheap courier can affect your business

2008-09-16T11:49:00.001-07:00

Obviously companies want to save money and ‘labour’ is one area where people think they can cut back. Care needs to be take, because it can put you in a position where your company breaks the law.

What I have always said to companies that use cheap and cheerful couriers is, do they treat their drivers ethically? do they pay the minimum wage? Whats the price of being associated with a company that doesn't do what it's supposed to do?

When you want an 'above the board' courier, and your goods safe, you have to use companies that don't take shortcuts, and that may mean asking awkward questions and keep on doing so, until you get the answer that satisfy you. You risk your goods being impounded if you don't. Is that worth it just to save a fiver here and there? And what would you tell your customer?

I have been reading this from The Courier Shop Blog:

Kent courier business Beeline Sameday has had its licence revoked and its boss disqualified after failing to observe drivers’ hours and tachograph rules.

VOSA analysis of tacho charts revealed driving and tachograph offences, missing kilometres, excessive driving and insufficient daily rest. Three drivers had been convicted of 16 drivers’ hours offences and the firm pleaded guilty to 10 counts of permitting these offences at Medway Magistrates’s Court in July. The company was fined £1,800.

Beeline Sameday failed to report driver convictions from 2006 and 2007 to the Traffic Commissioner’s office, and TC Christopher Heaps found that the company had effectively operated without a transport manager for years. He even pointed out it was unclear if the nominated transport manager, John Crook, was still alive.

The TC said that although Harvinda Pasricha was listed as the sole director, “by reference to her body language, I find that she is not, and has not been the director de facto. She does not even know her own salary.”

Kent courier disqualified for hours offences - 15/09/2008 - RoadTransport.com

Kent courier disqualified for hours offences, Sep 2008

It seems now, more than ever courier companies need to look at their systems and procedures when it comes to drivers hours.

Sarah

Chelmsford Same Day and parcel company

5 things that go wrong with other couriers

Ashford, Tonbridge and Sevenoaks Courier & Parcel deliveries

Stanford Le Hope, Tilbury and Grays parcel and courier services

Getting quotes from Couriers

So you want to be a freelance or self employed Courier?

So you want to be a freelance or self employed Courier?

If your same day courier delivers like this...

2008-09-11T13:07:00.000-07:00

Please call us on 0844 884 3331

The video may take a few seconds to appear depending on your computers speed.

Not all couriers deliver in this way, and if your items are getting their damaged then give us a call, we can save you time and money when you don't have to re-deliver to your customers.

Sarah

Delivering to your customers satisfaction?

2008-09-09T04:05:00.000-07:00

Tailoring your service to fit your customers needs is something you would think quite natural for Mothercare. The chances are if you are having a cot, pram etc delivered that the person signing for the goods will be pregant, quite healiy pregnant in some cases.

This is not the situation to abide by the rules, this is a situation for common sense. Here's what one disgruntled Mothercare customer has to say...

They were delivered on time, but in an appalling state. Some of the boxes and goods (things like a bouncer chair and the blankets) were delivered to me wet and in damaged packaging. The man dumped a heavy box in my hand to carry up the stairs. Im 33 weeks pregnant, and this was totally inapproprite. He refused to let me have the cot, and said the whole order had to be returned.

When I called up to complain the customer service manager was very rude with me, she said I was lucky they were delivered so quickly and was short, unsympathetic and totally unhelpful. she refused to put me through to a manager, or let me know when my goods would be redelivered.
I was made to feel like I was lucky there were there at all, and that my complaints were not taken seriously at all. I was spoken to very ruidely.
Mumsnet Discussions - mothercare are awful (Pregnancy)

Whatever problems there are at the depot, the customer shouldn't be getting wet and damaged deliveries, this is unnecessary damage to the Mothercare brand, it doesn't show any care at all. When choosing your courier, you need to brief them, and the courier driver needs to be aware that they may need extra lifting equipment or a two man team to deliver to pregnant women (this also counts for delivering to the elderly, and the physically disabled).

Mothercare are not the only company to neglect the needs of their customers. A birthing pool company have done the same in the past, refused to help a 38 week pregnant woman take the wooden pool upstairs as it "wasn't his job". When the mum-to-be waddled down, he was overcome with remorse and struggled with it and delivered it safely up two flights of stairs, in this instance a two man team should have been used. If the common had thought about it, they would know the likely recipent of a birthing pool is a heavily pregnant woman.

So if you are a company looking to deliver items to women who are heavily pregnant...

Do you brief your drivers?

Do you send out two man teams?

Are you busy trying to save money?

How much money would you save if you injured a pregnant woman through inconsideration?

Can you afford the negative publicity?

Can you sleep at night knowing a few quid off the bottom line, a few more quid in the shareholders pocket is actually causing pain and suffering to the customer base you are targetting?

Sarah

Couriers and delivery, for when your customers welfare actually matters to your business.

5 things that go wrong with other couriers

2008-09-09T02:11:00.001-07:00

I was thinking about the major players in the courier industry today. How they do the little niggling things like ring the doorbell for 1 minute on a Saturday morning delivery. That made me wonder what else they do wrong

They don’t re-deliver. You go out, miss delivery and they leave a card to collect from the depot thats 30 miles away and you cannot get it for another week…

They tell you any time between 9 and 5pm for delivery, and you wait and wait and wait… you call the depot at 5pm and ask about the delivery only to be told, they couldn’t find you.

The courier arrives three hours late for the collection, offers no reason or apology for wasting your time

The courier decides it’s acceptable to throw items in and out of the van

The courier doesn’t use safer, greening driving techniques and pulls away in a cloud of black exhaust fumes..

Top 5 things other parcel couriers do wrong…

Here at Arrow Light Haulage, we take excellent care of your goods that we deliver, we treat them like the’re our own.

We give you fast, accurate collection times. When you use our dedicated / epress same day services you will get an accurate time for delivery. We don’t leave your goods on the doorstep if you are unable to bring it in yourself (although we are not obligated to). For an all round better, faster, greener, effective courier service just give us a call on 0844 884 3331.

London Couriers, delivering to and from London

Do you work in the City?

Delivering your dining table using a Basildon courier

Kerbside to Kerbside delivery - what exactly does it mean?

Delivering your dining table using a Chelmsford courier

2008-09-07T14:12:00.001-07:00

Couriers are often seen to be the most expensive options when it comes to deliveries, a dining table and chairs can be quite awkward and heavy to move. When you start to weigh up the cost of actually doing the job yourself, fuel, van hire, you begin to realise how a courier can actually save you.

These are generally too heavy to be delivered by parcel services. Depending on what they are made from, I would check with your courier company first. If it’s possible, the furture should be dismantled and packaged securely before collection, this reduces the cubic weight and makes it more likely your items can be delivered. Remember to package them carefully to prevent damage.Collecting and Delivering a Dining Table and Chairs by Same Day Courier

Same day or express courier - you item is the only item on the vehicle, it is secured and delivered in one piece, the only method likely to result in the least amount of damage.

When you decide which type of courier you need, you also need to ask some other questions about timings and help unloading. You will also need to advise on parking restrictions etc.

If you need any advice, please don't hesitate to call us on 0844 884 3331 or 07816 528421

Sarah

Chelmsford, Essex couriers collecting and delivering on your time

They call it "Ugly Freight"...

Using a Basildon courier to deliver a bicycle

Packing tips for sending items by parcel networks

Packing hints, tips and tricks

Need a new parcel carrier in Basildon? Citylink and Amtrak no longer working for you?

Basildon based ebay seller? we can do your deliveries!

The Chelmsford School Run Increases Traffic

2008-08-30T04:22:00.001-07:00

Sarah has been blogging about the school run today, and in doing her research she found that the school run puts 20% more traffic on the roads from 8.30am to 9.15 am and 2.30pm to 3.30pm.

The Institute of Advanced Motoring has some tips for tackling the school run.

• Avoid taking the car if you can. Walking, cycling and public transport are all better options, not only for children, but also the environment. Children cycling to school should be proficient and wear a helmet, with bright, all-weather clothing.
• If you have to drive, offer to car share with other parents and take it in turns rather than add to
congestion around schools. When you have an informal arrangement, set an example by
attending a defensive driving course such as that offered by the IAM.
• Allow plenty of time for the journey. Crashes cause delay and are normally caused by drivers
going too fast and driving too close to the car in front. Leave five minutes earlier to reduce
stress.
• Drive well within the speed limit. Maintain a sensible safety gap - remember the “two second
rule”. At 35mph you are twice as likely to kill someone as you are at 30mph. Yet within the
car, this feels hardly any different. The school approach presents many hazards - including
children not concentrating fully as they cross the road.
• Park considerately and safely. Never double park, block driveways or simply rely on the
footbrake to keep the vehicle still as children climb out of the car. Consider parking 100 yards
or so away from the school gate and completing your journey on foot. This gives you an
opportunity to teach children about using the road and reduces congestion at the school gate
itself.
• Never stop on the yellow “zig zags” by the school gate, even briefly. Always ensure you let
the children out on the pavement side (or if there is no pavement, the side away from the
traffic).
• Do not drive on the pavement in an attempt to allow oncoming vehicles to pass. Wait until the
way ahead is clear rather than risk injuring a pedestrian.The East London Ex-Pat’s Guide to Essex, Aug 2008
Whats this got to do with courier services? Sometimes it's cost effective and safer to have our driver sitting in the traffic, than one of your own.

Give us a call on 0844 884 3331 if you think we can help, we can deliver everything except your kids, to school.

Kevin

Chelmsford Courier and parcel services

Chemsford Amtrak account cancelled?

2008-08-27T14:03:00.001-07:00

Are you looking for a parcel delivery company?

We have an excellent ‘account’ free parcel delivery service. What does account free mean? It means you pay as you use our services, so you don’t have a minimum spend and there is no maximum spend.Is your Basildon Amtrak Account cancelled?We are an Essex based express courier and parcel company within easy reach of Chelmsford, and we can collect and deliver your parcels and packages all over the UK.

What does that mean to you, the customer? It means you don’t have any unexpected shocks when the invoice hits the mat, no fuel surcharges, or overweight charges (you know those nasty charges that mean you pay an extra £5 or £10 because you have gone overweight by .5kgs). Account free of all the hassle associated with other parcel and courier companies.

Give us a call on 0844 884 3331 (local, no matter where you are) or 07816 528421 (mobile and out of office, yes we really are 24-7).

Sarah

2008-08-25T02:08:00.000-07:00

If you are in Chelmsford, you might decide to collect your own fridge freezer from one of the nearby retail parks, or from the shops local warehouse. With many people having a 7 seater car, they think that it's ok to just lay the freezer down in the back of vehicle and take it home...

...this is the worst thing you can do when collecting or delivering a fridge. It must always remain upright, and when disconnected from the mains, it should be disconnected for at least 3 hours before you plug it in again.

By laying a fridge on it's side you are allowing air bubbles to get into the compression system, and possible leakage from the pipes. This isn't quite terminal for the fridge but it's often very expensive to repair.

American style fridges are also very popular. These take a two man team and our tail lift vehicle to deliver as safely as possible. Be very careful when lifting these, you can easily give yourself a back injury, and the money you save by collecting yourself is gone when you have to take a week off sick from work.

So whether you are buying a new fridge freezer from a local Chelmsford retail park, or getting the item from Freecycle (the modern recycling groups), be careful how you transport your fridge freezer and if you don't or can't do it yourself, give us a call we will be glad to help and advise. Our numbers are 0844 884 3331 0r 078216 528421

Regards

Kevin

White goods delivery to and from Chelmsford, Essex

Living in Chelmsford but working in London?

2008-08-24T06:21:00.000-07:00

And have a requirement for a home office? we may be able to help restore some work/life balance. In the ever evolving workplace, it's quite common to have a workstation facility based at your home address. If this is the situation you find yourself in having ordered your office furniture, but have no time to collect or assemble said items, then we can help.

At Arrow Light Haulage we have furniture installers that can collect, deliver and assemble your flatpacked items with the minimum amount of disruption to you and your families routine.

As a professional courier company, we are capable of meeting all your delivery requirements with short notice. We can deliver out of office hours if that suits you better.

So, whatever your home office courier and delivery requirements are, just give us a call on 08444 884 3331 or 07816 528421 wqe are happy to help and advise without obligation.

Regards

Kevin
Chelmford parcel and courier delivery

Lost your confidential memory stick?

2008-08-22T02:57:00.000-07:00

Thinking about this blog post, I made earlier today:

PA consulting is the private sector company that has lost this round of confidential information. The transfer of further data to PA Consulting on the project has been suspended pending the investigation. This on the surface appears quite harsh, after DHL lost 25 million child benefit addresses, and as far as we are aware still delivering government documents.The Essex courier and parcel delivery company, Aug 2008Are there any tools or gadgets that could actually help the government?

I found an interesting looking secure data pen on a blog by Don Cooke, who specialises in remote team working.

This led me to think, why is the data being transported via a memory stick anyway? Why isn't it being encrypted and uploaded to the research companies? Don't tell me it's more secure this way...

Sarah

Safer, secure Chelmsford parcel deliveries

London courier services and dropping in the city

2008-08-20T02:19:00.001-07:00

I was thinking about this blog, that I posted a few days ago

London can be a very time consuming exercise for a courier company! At certain times of the day it can take you 2 hours to go 10 miles! This means most courier companies like to collect or drop their goods as early as possible.Sarah & Kevin Arrow, West Thurrock & Dartford Courier and parcel services, Aug 2008Driving in London can be very distracting for me, thankfully Kev and the other drivers deliver into London, as I would be holding up the traffic, hanging out of the window looking at the sights.

When you drive in places that have interesting sights do they distract you?

Sarah

Knowing it all, good business ethics?

2008-08-19T13:26:00.001-07:00

I found this interesting blog today:

There has been a lot of hype and noise surrounding Steve Jobs' appearance at the WWDC conference and not just because of the new iPhone launch either. His gaunt appearance started a furore amongst the tech analysts and journalists as to how his health was, it was material they claimed.Sally Church, Oncology Market Trends, Jul 2008The whole article is a good read, and having met Sally on several occasions, I know where she is coming from.

Couriers need a lot of information and if the truth be told, if a companies transport was going well, would we be in there collecting and delivering?

If we knew the health of one of our main customers, would it affect the service we gave them? Would we still be available?

I know we would be.

In business, others don't think that way and does knowing all the minute details make a difference? To them it does.

So, what exactly does being ethical in business mean?

Sarah

packing your dinner service or crockey for safer delivery

2008-08-19T07:28:00.000-07:00

Packing crockery for safer courier delivery can be done fairly easily, the problem lies in the weight. Like most parcel companies we are bound by HSE rules that say we can only lift 25kgs at a time.
So, you may need to pack your plates etc into two packages, depending on the size of your dinner service.

When you have a lot of items, bubble wrap can prove expensive, so think about using corrugated paper instead. Place shredded / scrunched up paper around the edges and around cups to stop them chipping.

Then weigh the box, if it comes in under 25kgs, then tape it up securely and give us a call on or 0844 884 3331 or call Kevin on 07816 528421 and we will come and collect it. We deliver to mainland Uk destinations starting from £9.99+VAT and we collect in Chelmsford, Witham, and Maldon as well as other Essex areas.

Be sure to check you parcel company's terms of business, often glass and second hand goods are not insured.

Happy packing!

Sarah
Chelmsford Courier and parcel delivery

Chelmsford, Witham and Maldon parcel and courier services

2008-08-18T13:55:00.001-07:00

Do you need a courier in Chemsford, Witham or Maldon? To collect and deliver items that are urgent or confidential?Do you need specialist courier services?Pharmaceutical Courier? Luggage Courier? Car Parts courier?

"More details of these services can be found on their website -Specialist Courier Services
Sarah & Kevin Arrow, Basildon Courier and Parcel Distribution, Aug 2008"
Delivering the goods is just part of our excellent courier services, we also have friendly, professional drivers who understand the meaning of time critical, and know they are upholding your companies good reputation.

For professional deliveries in Chelmsford, Witham or Maldon make us your first phone call - 0844 884 3331 or 07816 528421

Regards

Sarah
Courier and parcels services that reach their destination, on time

Delivering a chandelier, safe and sound

2008-08-18T06:19:00.000-07:00

Firstly, I wouldn't send a chandelier by post unless I really had to, with a high value, fragile item I would always opt for a dedicated courier vehicle. Check with your courier before booking as to whether the item is covered by their insurance, often glass isn't covered, and as that is the main part of a chandelier, it pays to shop around.

Couriers carry higher insurances and have nothing else on the vehicle except for your item, making it less likely to get damaged.

Sometimes, you need to send it via the post or Chelmsford parcel and courier company such as Arrow Light Haulage. So to get it to it's destination in one piece, find a box big enough for the chandelier and the packaging. You will need to remember if the item is over 25kgs it will need to be lifted by 2 people - HSE rules.

Wrap all the loose parts with bubble wrap and tape securely. Place gently onto a polystyrene base and then fill with polystyrene chips or popcorn. (Popcorn is particularly good, it gets oin all the nooks and crannies and won't damage the item being packed). Place another polystyrene base gently on the top of the Chandelier, taking care not to damage the item. Before you secure the box, check that the item isn't ratting around in the box, if it is add more chips and perhaps pad out with scrunched up balls of newspaper.

When the Chandelier is secure, tape the box closed and write on the box in marker pen, the address. Why not a label? because a label may get torn, or damaged and your item may get 'lost' in the system.

If you don't want to pack it yourself, we can do this as part of our premium services. Just give us a call on 07816 528421 and we will discuss how we can help you.

Kevin
Chelmsford parcel and courier services

Parcels and packages delivery from Chelmsford, Witham and Maldon

2008-08-18T03:11:00.000-07:00

We are happy to collect parcel and packages from Chelmsford, Witham and Maldon to deliver throughout the UK.

We deliver in 1-2 days, mainly overnight to a lot of UK destinations.

As our customer you like the fact we have no fuel surcharges, no overweight charges and no out of the blue charges.

You love the fact that you don't need an account and can pay as you go, again eliminating a lot of the hidden extras you can be charged with an acccount.

You love the fact that this year we have had 100% successful deliveries, the same as last year and the year before, and the year before...

Our prices start at just £9.99 for up to 15kgs, and you love the fact that we will happily package items on your behalf for a little extra.

We even deliver items up to 2m, thats 20 cms bigger than a lot of other parcel carriers!

Just give us a call, we are happy to advise if your parcels need packing and wrapping. If your item needs strapping we are happy to quote for same day and next day delivery.

Regards

Kevin

Chelmsford Couriers, Parcel and package delivery

Ebay seller in Chelmsford? We can help with your deliveries

2008-08-16T12:58:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia How?
By adding our details to your listing!

Why?
Because it helps sell bulky and awkward items easier, oh and we give you a referral bonus or discount as well.

If you have an antique, awkward, fragile or bulky item to sell on ebay, then just add the following piece of code to your listing, by cutting and pasting.

<a href="mailto:sarah@arrowlighthaulage.co.uk?subject=Chelmsford Courier from Ebay listings!">Email for a free no obligation delivery quote by clicking here</a>

It will add a line of text just like this:

Email for a free no obligation delivery quote by clicking here

People are more likely to buy an item if delivery isn't going to be a problem, and it isn't a problem when you use Arrow Light Haulage, we'll help you sell more of your large, bulky or awkward items on ebay!

Regards

Sarah
Chelmsford, Basildon and West Thurrock couriers

Delivering IT Equipment to /from Chelmsford?

2008-08-16T12:56:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia Once upon a time, Byte and Bit Server manufacturers needed to have one of their servers delivered to a customer. They had decided wisely that a courier should deliver the server units, as with the credit crunch and economic downturn, they would save money by no longer having their own delivery vans and drivers. They were saving a small fortune until they employed Breakit & Bashit couriers, the cheapest company in town.

They rubbed their hands with glee, they were certainly going to save money here! They called B&B in, and they had the wrong size vehicle booked, the booking clerk didn't take the correct details, not to worry, they will send a new correctly sized vehicle. They did 4 hours later, but that was ok, they would still just get it to their important new customer on time.

The server had to be laid down, and the van didn't have carpet on the floor, so it had to be pushed onto the van carefully or the outer casing of the unit would get damaged through the packaging. B&B also had some furniture on the van and shoddily wrapped pallet of ball bearings.
The driver didn't seem to bothered about this, so Byte and Bit and didn't worry after all, they were in the hands of the professionals.

The driver took the paperwork and set off on his journey. On the M25 he did a lot of violent braking and fast accelerating, and the pallet of ball bearings burst through the poor packaging and spilled all over the interior of the van.

After the customer had waited 2 hours past their business closing time, the delivery was finally made, and the server delivered just to the kerbside. The client of Byte and Bit wasn't very happy, and didn't have a good impression of Byte and Bit.

They installed their server, but it didn't work, several ball bearings had got into the casing. Engineers had to be sent at Byte and Bits expense, and then a replacement unit was delivered.

This is a fairy tale right? Sadly no, only the names have been changed to protect the not so innocent!

By using Arrow Light Haulage to deliver their server units Byte and But wouldn't have been late, they wouldn't have created the wrong impression and they wouldn't have had to redeliver a perfect item to their customer to replace the damaged server.

You get what you pay for when it comes to delivering your goods, and if you want to create the right impression then you need to use the right courier from the start.

Just give a call to discuss your delivery needs on 07816 528421, we will even wrap and pack for you as part of our premium services.

Make sure your deliveries end with 'happily ever after' by using the Chelmsford, Essex based courier company that delivers safely, nationwide :-)

Kevin Arrow

2008-08-16T12:49:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia With space at a premium, and the loft overflowing, more and more people are putting items into long term storage.

If you have established what type of access you need at your storage place, you will need to pack the things that you are most likely to need, last. This means they are at the front of the unit when you need them

Put a dust sheet on the floor before you unload your items onto it.

Put your most filled and heaviest boxes in first.

Store sofas and mattresses on their ends.

Stack safely back to front, and don't put fragile items on the bottom and heavy boxes on top off them!

Make sure sharp blades of garden tools are covered, and make sure garden equipment is cleaned before storing.

We are happy to collect and deliver into both commercial and domestic storage units.

Just call us on 07816 528421 or 0844 884 3331 for a quote.

Kevin
Chelmsford courier, parcel and delivery services

Student moves to/from Chelmsford

2008-08-16T05:29:00.000-07:00

Image by nemone via Flickr
Are you a student looking to move closer to Uni, in the term time?

Well, you have some options and the most popular seems to be hire a van, and do it yourself.

Alternatively you can hire a courier company, like Arrow Light Haulage to do it for you. A courier is usually paid on the distance moved and not the amount of stuff that needs moving.
They have different insurance from a removal company, so it can be a cheaper option to use a courier for your light removal, than to use a removal company.
Using a courier may not suit your circumstances, so it's best to check first and see what you get for your quote.

Arrow light Haulage are happy to collect at several destinations, so it may suit you to split the cost between two or three people, that way everyone saves money!

So, if you are looking to go back to halls of residence or rooms closer to Uni, have a look at the alternative student movers too. You may well pick up a bargain.

Regards

Sarah

Getting the most from your Chelmsford Courier - packing tips

2008-08-15T12:03:00.000-07:00

So you have just sold some great items on Ebay or manufactured something fragile and precious, you now need to get it to your customer as quickly and efficiently as possible.

The item has to be packed securely, as not all parcel companies are as careful as Chelmsford, Essex based courier company, Arrow Light Haulage.

Think carefully, a parcel could get thrown around as its loaded, it can bump about on conveyor belts and it can even get heavy items placed on top of it.

With that in mind, bubble wrap fragile parts, and consider putting shredded papered or paper scrunched up in balls around your item. Secure any lids with tape. Secure any loose parts with tape. Brown tape, parcel tape, or even tape branded with fragile. Just make sure it's secure.

Lift the box and gently shake it, if it sounds loose then you need to add more paper around the item. When you are happy that its safe and secure, seal up all the edges with tape.

When addressing your package, write directly onto the box in large clear letters, if you place a label there is the possibility it may get ripped off and your package gets 'lost' in the system.

Don't forget to put your return address on the back.

Then weigh your item, remember a courier is bound by HSE regulations that say they must not lift over 25kgs, so even if you can lift it, you still need to check its weight!

Then give us a call on 07816 528421 we deliver throughout the UK from Essex, Kent and East London from just £9.99 plus VAT for items up to 20kgs.

Regards
Sarah
Email for a Chelmsford Parcel or Express delivery quote by clicking here
Chelmsford courier and parcel delivery services | Basildon Courier and parcels blog | Chelmsford Courier and parcels delivery | Driving for a living blog | West Thurrock and Dartford Courier and parcels collection I
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Packing, wrapping and despatching your bicycle by post.

2008-08-15T11:57:00.000-07:00

Got a bike to send by post? Bought one as a gift and now need to ship it to another destination in the UK? Bought one at a Chelmsford retail park or on Ebay? Read on, and we will help make your delivery, smoother and help ensure you item arrives in one piece.

If the bike is already assembled, remove pedals and handle bars. Wrap the paintwork with bubble wrap. Wrap the pedals and handle bars with bubble wrap and attach them with tape to the frame.

If you have a box to hand, great place the bike in the box and secure it, its ready for transportation.

If you don't have a box, then wrap in recycled brown paper, and tape securely with duct tape.

You can mark the paper with Fragile, so the parcel carriers are aware its fragile.

Any questions? then don't hesitate to give us a call on 07816 528421 or send us an email
or send us an email, we are happy to help where we can

Of course, if you don't want to pack it and wrap it, we can do it as part of our premium courier services.

Regards

Kevin

2008-08-15T11:27:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia If you deliver your own goods and decide not to outsource your Chelmsford, Witham, Maldon courier work to us at Arrow Light Haulage, then read on for greener driving to help you save some money.

Driving greener has the much welcomed benefit of saving you money. If you have to drive, following our tips and tricks will allow you to maximise the usage of your vehicle and your fuel.

:-)On your marks....

* Avoid overfilling the tank when refuelling. Spilled fuel evaporates and releases harmful emissions into the atmosphere and just plain wastes money.
* Make sure that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure. Under inflation by 7psi will waste half a gallon of fuel in every tank. Inflating to the vehicle manufacturer's guidelines -which are based on cold tyres, so use the petrol station nearest your start point to avoid your tyres warming up and being inflated to the incorrect psi.
* Service your car at least every year. Get the engine tuned, the wheels aligned and catalytic converter checked, and the air con regassed if you insist on using it.
* Reduce weight, and fuel consumption, by removing unnecessary items from your vehicle that do not need to be there for a particular journey. This can include buggies, golf clubs, tools, footwear and all those things you keep 'just in case'
* Check your windows, screenwash and lights – ensuring that your windows are clean and your lights are working will make your journey safer. nothing more environmentally unfriendly than an accident.

:-)Get set....

* Take off roof racks and trailers if they’re not use.
* 61% percent of journeys are under two miles and arguably a waste of fuel and money. short journeys – walk or cycle them instead.
* Engines will be colder on short journeys, and this can double fuel consumption. Do you really need to complete that short journey?
* Planning - as many jobs as possible in one trip saves you money. Aim to get as much as you can out of the journey. Three jobs in one trip is better for the environment than three individual trips!
* Sitting in queues costs money and wastes fuel. Avoid congestion by checking the local news or trafficmaster for delays before you set off. If you hear of delays and jams, route around them.
* Only travel in the rush hour if you absolutely have to, this is more for your sanity as well as fuel conservation.
* Do you know where you are going????. Motorists waste 350,000 tonnes of fuel per year getting lost! You can plan your route on the AA website, it's free too. Alternatively, buy a Sat Nav system, worth their weight in gold and safer than a map.
* Idle your engine during its initial start for no more than 30 seconds. An idling engine produces 80 percent more pollution than when the vehicle is moving. Modern car engines warm up faster when they are in motion.

:-) Go....

* Drive smoothly – pulling away fast can use 60 percent more fuel.
* Slow down. Drive at the speed limit. Driving at 70mph can use up to 30 percent more petrol than driving at 50mph.
* Think ahead to avoid sharp braking - it just throws away energy and money.
* Avoid using the air conditioning, open the air vents instead! Air con uses 15 percent more fuel than the air vents. All on board electronics are also using extra fuel, the rear screen heater for example adds 5 percent to the fuel consumption. Switch them off if you don't need them.
* Change gear between 1,500 and 2,500 rpm – this can save up to 30 percent of fuel. Listen to your engine.
* It's better to switch your engine off when in stationary traffic. You use more fuel with the engine idling for 60 seconds than if you switched off and restarted 60 seconds later.
* Did you know..... traffic lights are programmed to change according to the speed limit. If you are stopped at one red light but then drive on at the correct speed you will usually find that by the time you reach the next few sets of lights, they will be turning green for you. Try it and see.
* Careful motorway driving will improve safety and traffic flow. The concertina effect caused by one motorist breaking sharply often results in traffic slowing to a near stop due to the delayed reaction of drivers behind. If we drive pro-actively, and try to observe the car three or four ahead. Then we can give ourselves some distance from the car in front. We can anticipate and judge the necessary speed. When you see a car up ahead start to brake, simply remove your foot off the accelerator. By the time you get close to the car in front the chances are that they will have accelerated and moved further on.

Sarah
The greener Essex Courier company

Parcel courier packing tips, part one

2008-08-15T11:05:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia Need to send items using our Chelmsford / Witham /Maldon based parcel network? parcel carrier? or post?

When you book your courier or parcel delivery services, you need to bear a few things in mind, to ensure safe delivery of you items.

* Choose the size of the packaging according to its content. Overloaded boxes may burst; under-filled boxes are likely to collapse.

* Whenever possible use high quality materials for your shipments. Things to consider with your wrapping supplies are strength, cushioning, and of course durability.

* If you can choose boxes made with corrugated cardboard, and good quality outer lining. Use heavy-duty double-layered board for your most valuable items.

* Make good use of cushioning materials, these can stop your items from moving.

* Put fragile goods in the centre of a package; ensuring they don't touch the sides. If your item is well cushioned on all sides it has more chance of arriving in one piece.

* Liquids must be stored in leak-free containers, packed with a lightweight, strong, internal material- Styrofoam is a good choice, and sealed with a plastic bag. Remember that bad packaging may cause damage to surrounding items.

If an item is both fragile and valuable, then consider using a dedicated or express courier.

We are happy to advise where possible, just give us a call on 07816 528421 or Email for a parcel quote by clicking here

Regards

Kevin

Email for a Parcel or Express delivery quote by clicking here
Basildon courier and parcel delivery services | Basildon Courier and parcels blog | Chelmsford Courier and parcels delivery | Driving for a living blog | West Thurrock and Dartford Courier and parcels collection I
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Blog Catalog link

2008-08-14T10:32:00.001-07:00

http://www.blogcatalog.com/directory/business

Chelmsford christmas gift distribution

2008-08-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

It's fast approaching the time of year where companies think about gifts to send their customers and suppliers.

At Arrow Light Haulage, we are happy to undertake the delivery of such hampers. Our smart, uniformed drivers take care to ensure they arrive safely and unbroken. There is nothing more likely to give the wrong impression than a bottle of wine or Port, smashed and soaking into all the other goodies. It really puts a dampener on a nice gesture.

If hampers are out of your companies range this year, we are happy to deliver fine wines and other wines and spirits through our parcel network.

Again these are delivered by smart, uniformed drivers and a signature obtained on delivery, so you can be sure the right person has got their gift.

This service is also ideal for Chelmsford Ebayers and Chelmsford shoppers who have to send Christmas presents throughout the UK, and it's only £9.99 plus VAT for up to 20kgs (volumetric weight).

So, if it's important enough to send, it's important enough to do it right the first time, so use Arrow Light Haulage for all your delivery and distribution needs.

Email for a parcel / distribution quote by clicking here

Regards

Kevin
Chelmsford courier and parcel distribution
Courier business start up

Moving a Piano from Chelmsford?

2008-08-14T09:54:00.001-07:00

Moving a piano is something for a specialist piano removal company.

If they are to expensive for you, and you feel that you can work around getting it re-tuned etc, then a courier may be a possible solution.

What type of piano are you trying to move? Moving upright piano's is more common than being asked to move a grand piano.

One person on their own should not try this, and it's not uncommon to use 4 or 5 people to lift and maneuver it.

Starting with four 'helpers' place two at each end of the piano. You do not need any other assistance - don't let anyone other than your movers touch the piano (ie mums, dads, children or granny).

Cover the piano with a protective plastic sheet and make sure the lid is down and locked.

Most of the weight of an upright piano is located toward its back. It does tip over very easily. When moving it away from a wall, be absolutely certain no one is standing behind it.

Lift the piano on a heavy-duty dolly. Carefully. This will preserve tuning. It will also help keep movers from damaging the piano or your home. Remember to lift and roll the piano endways NOT sideways. Be careful of not exerting to much pressure on the front legs.

Keep hold of the handle behind the piano all the time it is moving. Watch out when rolling the dolly over thresholds/doorways and steps.

Move slowly so the piano won't tip over by being pushed too fast. It's easier to move over obstacles if moved slowly.

It helps if the vehicle you are loading it onto has a tail-lift, and then see that the piano is blanket wrapped and strapped to the van.

When moving a grand you must make sure to lift slightly to take some vertical pressure off the legs. If you don't the legs could get damaged or even break under the extreme pressure through lifting onto a dolly.

Most grand piano's have casters, but very few would roll on carpet, this makes it important to lift some of the weight off the legs when moving. Upright piano's also have castor's and again, it's very difficult to move them across carpet.

Email for a parcel / moving something awkward quote by clicking here

Regards

Kevin
Chelmsford courier and parcel distribution
Courier business start up

Moving engines and car parts around Chelmsford?

2008-08-14T09:52:00.001-07:00

Thought about delivery? Here's how to do it...

Whilst there are no specific requirements when moving an engine, it helps to prepare the engine first. In theory you could remove it from a vehicle and 'throw' it in the back of a van and it would get to it's destination in one piece.

It's advisable to remove all liquids, prior to engine removal.
That includes all coolants and oils.
When it's removed, using soft rags plug the holes left by the hoses and pipes - this prevents residues leaking in the van and staining / damaging the van floor.

Where possible place the engine onto a plastic pallet, this is so that it if there is any spillage it can be easily removed and the pallet used again. A wooden pallet in this instance isn't re-usuable.

It may be worth wrapping the engine in recycled plastic sheeting for it's journey.

Secure the engine to the pallet using metal or plastic straps.

Be very careful if you are looking to co-load an engine with food, cardboard, any porous materials as it can contaminate and damage other items in transit.

Sarah
The greener Essex Courier company

Self employed courier book success!

2008-08-14T09:43:00.000-07:00

This Month we have had some amazing success! Our ebooks are winging there way around the internet!

We have been able to upload the sample Complete Courier Guide ebook instead of just the contents pages!

Hope this makes it easier for our potential customers to make a decision, and if it doesn't and you want to speak to me, then please feel free to call my on 0844 884 3331.

Regards

Kevin
PS, I almost forgot - For more information, and a downloadable sample of Linda's superb book 'Calling all Couriers- Win Keep and Grow Customers, please visit Sales Success at the Courier Shop.co.uk

Chelmsford parcel and same day couriers
Sales success for couriers

Bed deliveries from Chelmsford

2008-08-14T09:03:00.000-07:00

We often collect large items of furniture from the warehouses in the Chelmsford retail parks, often beds. Because we are flexible on our delivery times, we can collect and then deliver when you are home from work.

So, back to delivering the bed....
Unless a bed is flatpacked and only a single or double, a two man team is required.
There are many types of mattress, and the memory foam kind is popular but it needs to people to lift on, and lift off the vehicle as it's so heavy.

The beds we collect are often wrapped in plastic sheeting, which we are happy to recycle if you give it back to the driver.

As part of our premium services we can even install the bed for you, please order this service at the time of booking, it is very popular.

So, if you have bought a new bed or even a bed from Ebay, we can help deliver it for you when it's convenient, we can recycle the wrapping and we can fit it together if it comes flatpacked or needs installing.

Give me a call on 07816 528421 if you have any questions.

Regards

Sarah
Email for a Parcel or Express delivery quote by clicking here
Basildon courier and parcel delivery services | Basildon Courier and parcels blog | Chelmsford Courier and parcels delivery | Driving for a living blog | West Thurrock and Dartford Courier and parcels collection I
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Ugly pallets in Chelmsford?

2008-08-14T08:57:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaSeeking open minded delivery specialists?

Look no further than Arrow Light Haulage, we love ugly freight /pallets.

Ugly freight (sometimes called non-compatible or obscure loads) means your freight is not suitable to be delivered in a standard pallet or parcel network.

It could be because it’s too late, too precious, too urgent, too fragile, or even two man. ;-) .

It could need some assembly or installation on delivery. We are happy to do that.

As our customer you may like us to break a pallet for you, and re-wrap into smaller individual consignments then dispatch through our parcel network (we have had 100% success rate in our first year, this year). We are happy to do that for our customers.

You may like us to store it and then deliver it at a later date. You've guessed it, we are happy to do that too.

If it’s a problem for pallet networks and other couriers, it’s no hassle for us.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and your ugly freight is beautiful to us.

Kevin

Chelmsford, Basildon, Dartford parcel couriers

Finding a Courier in Chelmsford

2008-08-13T06:38:00.000-07:00

Image via Wikipedia

I recently conducted two pieces of market research independently of each other, about how people source their couriers. The idea being from the results, I would determine where to focus the advertising budget for the business this year.

The first piece I surveyed a cross section of the business community about how they sourced a courier. In the second piece I asked new customers how they found our services.

The results I think are quite interesting.

92% of people in the first survey said they would use the Yellow Pages to source a courier should they need one. They would ask around for recommendations second, after they had used the Yellow Pages.

In the second survey 75% of our customers found us through a search engine on the Internet. The rest came from a mixture of leaflets and recommendations. Not one mention of a telephone directory, on line or offline.

This confirms my belief that advertising should be a mix of mediums and not focus on just one specific area.

What was also interesting was the business community clearly stated they did not buy on price alone, every customer who used us in the second survey stated we had the best value for money service. The whole package that we offered was better than just getting a price, the care in delivery was exceptional.

Quoting one customer.... 'You delivered a glass display cabinet over 300 miles without breakages. Upon collection your driver dismantled it, wrapped it and then at my delivery address, carefully unwrapped it and re-assembled it. It looks perfect. No-one else would do the job as the cabinet was made of glass and not easily transportable without breakage. I really liked the way you worked on transporting the cabinet rather than telling me how hard, how difficult and it couldn't be done. I will definitely use you again. I don't know why more retailers don't use you, you certainly are a well kept secret.'

Boy, that was good to hear!

Regards

Sarah

Chelmsford Courier and parcel deliveries

Outsourced transport for Chelmsford and Witham

2008-08-12T05:20:00.000-07:00

Are you a Chelmsford or Witham business looking to save money?

Are you a Chelmsford or Witham based company looking to outsource your transport to make big time and money savings?

Then look no further than your local Chelmsford courier company, Arrow Light Haulage.

Did you know the average delivery driver earns between 15-18k per year? Plus holidays and pensions, add in the cost of your van, whether you buy or lease, you are looking in the regions of another 5k a year when you add in servicing, insurances etc.

Do you really think you need all the drivers you have? As a company you can make significant savings but cutting back on your own transport and outsourcing the remainder.

Example, you have two delivery drivers that cost your company £40k a year. By having one and outsourcing the other you could save 7k by using Arrow Light Haulage to deliver on your behalf.

Find you are using a lot of agency staff?

Quite often its cheaper to use a courier as you don’t have to train the driver, induct them, or show them how to use your paperwork/trucks/equipment. An Agency driver can cost you as much as £220 (inc VAT) a day, then they don’t get as much done as a regular courier would.

Just because you have a vehicle sitting their doing nothing, it doesn’t mean you are saving money by getting in a temp.

If you are a business based in Essex, Kent, Herts or London who wants to make significant savings on their costs, then give us a call now on 07816 528421

Regards

Kevin

Delivering Motorbikes, Scooters and Quadbikes by courier

2008-08-11T12:04:00.001-07:00

Image via Wikipedia"When you buy a Motorbike, Scooter or Quad bike online, delivery is one aspect that isn't often covered. A courier can help arrange safe collection and delivery if your online retailer doesnt provide this, or you have nabbed a bargain on ebay. "Sarah & Kevin Arrow, West Thurrock & Dartford Courier and parcel services, Aug 2008You can click the link to read the whole article.

How often do people think about the delivery, after they have bought something on an online auction?

Not surprisingly, most people find the delivery aspect of their purchase, the most awkward.

If you are considering buying something, large, bulky and/or awkward, give us a call and we can advise how you can get your item home, and supply you with a no obligation quote as well, but only if you want one.

Regards

Sarah

Chelmsford Courier and Delivery Services

I want to become a freelance courier, how?

2008-08-11T11:52:00.000-07:00

Click on the image below to read about our successful ebook for starting up a courier business.

At the www.thecouriershop.co.uk website, you can download a free sample to read, and see what other ebooks may be useful.

Regards

Kevin

PS we also have a sister book for existing couriers who wish to grow their business. Just visti the Courier Shop for more details.

My courier delivery has special requirements

2008-08-11T11:48:00.000-07:00

Just let us know what they are, and we will help.

We have aviation clearance allowing us into restricted airspace, ADR trained drivers, drivers that speak several languages and two man teams.

Just give us a call and we will aim to meet all your requirements.

Give us a call on 0844 884 3331, local rate no matter where you are.

Deliveries are not a problem for professional couriers.

Regards

Kevin

Chelmsford courier and parcel delivery services

What is the maximun size parcel you can deliver?

2008-08-11T11:43:00.000-07:00

The maximum length is 2.1 metres for a parcel, if its longer/bigger then it would need to go by our express courier services.

Weight restrictions apply to the parcels, it can be no heavier than 30kgs as thats what H&S regulations deem the heaviest a person can safely carry on their own.

We collect and deliver based on cubic weights, this is a fair system that gives us the volume of a package.

If you don't know how to work this out, just give us a call on 0844 884 3331.

We are happy to advise you and offer a no obligation quote.

Regards

Kevin

What size van do I need when I book a courier?

2008-08-11T11:38:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaIt depends on the size and the weight of the items, here are some guidelines -

*Small Van - up to 500kgs or one standard pallet.

*Transit van - up to 1000kgs or up 3 standard pallets.

*ELWB Transit / Sprinter up to 1500kgs or upto 4 standard pallets

*Luton - up to 1100kgs, mainly used for bigger bulkier items.

(Both our Luton's have tail lifts)

Call us and we will happily advise you 0844 884 3331, local rate wherever you are in the UK.

Regards

Kevin

Chelmsford Courier and parcel delivery services

2008-08-11T11:17:00.000-07:00

Arrow Light Haulage is a professional Chelmsford, Essex courier and delivery company. We collect and deliver time critical goods and deliver them anywhere in the UK.

We collect from local towns such as Chelmsford, Witham, Maldon, South Woodham Ferrers as well as towns in London, Kent and Hertfordshire.

We are part the UKs biggest transport network, so even though we are based in Essex we have the resources to collect from anywhere within 60 minutes or 30 minutes (premium service).

Our drivers are polite and well trained, they know your reputation is in their hands.

We do the job right the first time, so the need for re-deliveries at your own expense comes with using a cowboy not a professional courier.

You get what you pay for - next time you get a cheap quote for a courier you need to ask why its so cheap...

Do they pay their drivers at the least minimum wage?

Are they insured?

Do they have the correct equipment to complete your delivery?

Are their drivers helpful, clean and polite?

What happens if something doesn't go according to plan?

Quite often you won't find out until something has gone wrong and then its too late.

Email for a bulk parcel collection quote by clicking here

What our customers say about us...

" I thought I would go cheaper after all it was only delivering clothes to a deadline, how hard could that be? I went with another courier and in a month I was billed £30,000 in fines from missed deadlines and port fines. I learned my lesson, professional couriers make the difference and are worth every penny and are not that much more expensive..."
Paul - Lightning Despatch

"It got there in one piece with Arrow Light Haulage, for the first time in months we don't have customers complaining about late deliveries or breakages,

Brenda, LCS

We also collect and deliver for private customers. Items such as rare guitars bought from Ebay, the new owner didn't want to entrust it to a parcel company, he didn't want to take the chance it would be broken in the warehouse or in-transit.

We have even offered the government the use of our services, they certainly wouldn't lose valuable data when they used our services.

Our parcel and delivery services for packages up to 15kgs is £9.99 plus Vat for our blog readers, thats 5kg more than Interlink or DHL give you! (throughout the UK, certain parts of Scotland are exempted but can be covered by our Express Delivery Services)

If its just Essex to Essex, we can do your parcels overnight for £7.99 plus Vat up to 15kgs, again more than the other local parcel companies offer. With NO Fuel surcharges, no hidden extras!

Email for a parcel quote by clicking here

Ebay deliveries, yes, we can do those too... we can collect in Chelmsford or the surrounding area, and deliver to all destinations throughout the UK.

We look forward to hearing from you :-)

Regards

Kevin

Email for a parcel quote by clicking here

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