The transportation industry is as old as the hills, and there is no sign that business is dissipating. The nature of society demands the movement of goods, information and cargo from place to place and, while the means of doing this has certainly transformed, there is still money to be made in the courier industry.

However, whether you intend to work as a courier or set up a small business in this field, you do need to sharpen certain skills that can determine the extent of your success. These simple skills do not require an enormous amount of expertise, but they can be the difference between feeling like you are floundering and having the edge over the considerable competition.

Financial acumen

One major aspect of initiating any business or work plan is finance. Having the acumen to start a delivery service or work in the sector involves a little more than simply being able to balance the books. You should develop skills in elementary risk management, knowing how to allocate assets, understanding of the differences between healthy and unhealthy debt, and how to make financial plans for expansion. While many people hire experts, it pays dividends to hone your own appreciation of finance.

Time and route management

Some skills are more integral to operating a delivery service than to other businesses. The combined capacity to manage time and routes is such a skill. Whether you work with bicycles, trucks, or move specialist goods like medical equipment, you need to assure your clients that their packages will arrive on time, every time. This means you need to be able to balance a variety of routes and multitask when dealing with a range of cargo.

Technological savvy

The modern nature of the transportation industry reveals the deep integration of technology into every aspect of business. If you start a delivery service, your understanding of technology may well determine the degree of your efficiency. The advent of online courier exchanges, GPS tracking, route management software and mobile logistics technology has changed the way people work in the industry – including the way clients are found, marketing is done and routes are tracked.

People skills

These changes do not obviate the basic need to deal with people. A delivery service may revolve around the mechanical movement of wheels, packages and trucks, but in the end it is people who will pay you and people you will have to face to win contracts or work. Hence it is vital to be able to communicate well, develop rapport, listen openly and be aware of the needs of the clients in your marketplace. This lies at the heart of interpersonal marketing, branding and repeat business.