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Courier Transport – Same-Day Direct Run Without Reloading

A courier transport is the fastest form of road transport: the vehicle runs directly from the pickup to the delivery address, without a hub and without transhipment, mostly by van up to 3.5 t. Same-day within Germany and overnight to other EU countries – compared to groupage this saves one to three days depending on the lane.

Container port with loading cranes from a bird's-eye view

A courier transport is the fastest form of road transport: your vehicle runs directly from the pickup address to the delivery address – without a hub, without transhipment, without waiting times in the groupage network. This makes same-day deliveries within Germany and overnight deliveries to other European countries feasible, and your shipment stays in the same vehicle from the first to the last metre.

Speed Logistics organises courier direct runs from Berlin and the entire country – with personal dispatch around the clock and a fixed-price quote within a few hours. Typical use cases: urgent spare parts during a machine stoppage, contract documents and prototypes, exhibition samples or sensitive electronics that cannot withstand reloading.

When is a courier transport worthwhile?

Whenever transit time and control are more important than the price per kilometre. Compared to groupage you save one to three days depending on the lane – compared to parcel services you gain a fixed contact, a continuous vehicle and a binding delivery time.

  • Same-day and overnight: pickup at short notice after the order, delivery the same day or overnight.
  • No reloading: lower risk of damage and loss, important for sensitive and high-value goods.
  • Discretion: direct handover from consignor to consignee, on request with a receipt and photo documentation.

How your direct run works

You send us the pickup and delivery address, dimensions, weight and the desired date. Within a few hours you receive a non-binding fixed-price quote. After your approval, we dispatch the suitable vehicle, the driver reports for pickup, and on request you receive status reports through to signed delivery (proof of delivery/POD).

Vehicles and express options

For courier shipments we mainly deploy vans up to 3.5 t – for larger volumes we scale up to the curtain-sided truck. For extremely time-critical cases we offer two additional escalation stages:

  • On-board courier (OBC): a courier accompanies your shipment personally on a scheduled flight – for documents and small parts that must arrive worldwide within hours.
  • AOG express: prioritised handling for aircraft-on-ground cases in aviation, where every hour of downtime counts.
  • Direct runs to non-EU countries: courier runs to Türkiye or North Africa we handle including customs clearance from EXW to DDP.

What does a courier transport cost?

The price depends on distance, volume and urgency. Depending on the lane and lead time, the non-binding guide price is around €199–1,499. Night runs, weekend deliveries and special requirements we calculate individually – in any case you receive a fixed price before the journey starts, with no hidden surcharges.

Typical sectors and shipments

Courier direct runs are booked with us above all by industry and manufacturing: automotive suppliers with urgent components for the line, machine builders with spare parts against a stoppage, electronics and IT companies with sensitive hardware as well as agencies and law firms with time-bound documents. Sign-making companies and print shops also use the direct run when print products must reach an event precisely on time.

For every shipment the following applies: the goods are checked for visible damage at takeover, secured in the vehicle according to VDI principles and handed over to the consignee against a receipt. On request the driver additionally documents takeover and handover by photo – a sensible record for both sides, especially with high-value or sensitive goods.

Frequently asked questions: Courier Transport

How quickly can a courier vehicle pick up from me?

In metropolitan areas, pickup is often possible within a few hours of the order, since our dispatch team is reachable around the clock. Give us the pickup address and time window – we confirm the earliest possible pickup date together with the fixed-price quote. Outside metropolitan areas too, we dispatch the next available vehicle and immediately give you a reliable arrival time.

What distinguishes a courier transport from groupage?

With a courier transport, one vehicle runs exclusively and directly from A to B, without transhipment via a hub. This shortens the transit time by one to three days depending on the lane and lowers the risk of damage, because the shipment is not reloaded. Groupage is cheaper, but slower and involves several transhipment points.

What does a courier transport by van cost?

Costs depend on distance, volume and urgency. Depending on the lane and lead time, the non-binding guide price is around €199–1,499. Before the journey starts, you receive a binding fixed-price quote from Speed Logistics – usually within a few hours of your enquiry.

What is an on-board courier (OBC)?

An on-board courier is a courier who accompanies your shipment personally as hand luggage or checked baggage on a scheduled flight. This option is suitable for documents, data carriers or small spare parts that must be handed over intercontinentally within a few hours – it does not get faster in civil transport.

Do courier transports also run at night and at the weekend?

Yes. The Speed Logistics dispatch team is personally reachable 24/7, and direct runs also start at night, at weekends and on public holidays. Especially with production stoppages or AOG cases this is often decisive. Time surcharges are shown transparently in the fixed price before the journey begins. For plannable night deliveries – such as to workshops or construction sites – we agree fixed drop-off locations with photo documentation on request.

Are courier direct runs also possible to non-EU countries?

Yes. Speed Logistics also runs courier shipments to non-EU countries such as Türkiye or North Africa – as a door-to-door transport including customs clearance from EXW to DDP. Export declaration and border formalities we take over, so that your shipment passes through without administrative delay. On these lanes, experienced drivers run with complete papers, so that the direct run retains its time advantage across the border too.

What should I bear in mind with an urgent courier shipment?

Submit the complete pickup and delivery address, dimensions, weight and target date and pack the goods appropriately for transport. The earlier the enquiry comes in, the faster pickup can take place in metropolitan areas – often within a few hours. With high-value or sensitive goods, the driver additionally documents takeover and handover by photo on request.

Why does a courier transport have the advantage over a parcel service?

Compared to parcel services you gain a fixed contact, a continuous vehicle without hub transhipment and a binding delivery time. The goods stay in the same vehicle from the first to the last metre, are checked for damage at takeover and handed over to the consignee against a receipt – important especially with sensitive and deadline-critical shipments.

Request courier transport

Contact our dispatch team – fixed-price quote within hours, available 24/7.