Couriers Shift from Packages to Freight

(Air Cargo World)

A survey by the Messenger Courier Association of America (MCAA) said its members are changing from delivering letters and packages to becoming “key players in the global supply chain, a dramatic shift from their previous role”.

The MCAA members have migrated towards handling larger freight with 71% of respondents offering expedited freight delivery. Some 42% of members reported an increase in larger freight deliveries.

“This survey verifies what we’ve been hearing from our members – participating in the growing need for global deliveries has kept them viable and successful,” said Chris MacKrell, president of MCAA. “The majority of our members (53%) say their businesses are doing better than a year ago.

“An important component of that success is the industry’s shifting role as a key player in the global supply chain. That contrasts with the old-fashioned view of our industry as one consisting of mom and pop companies delivering letters.”

The shift is supported by increasingly sophisticated technology noted Mackrell: “Seventy-five percent of respondents told us that their communications’ systems were integrated into their business systems and 93% accept orders via the internet. An increasing number (24%) are able to capture data directly from customers’ websites.”

Key industry sectors served by MCAA members are medical, banking, pharmaceutical, high-tech, 3PLs and government. The survey indicated that most of his members have over 20 years’ industry experience.