Courier work and driver opportunities
We work with drivers and owner-drivers who understand that urgent delivery is about more than moving quickly. At both ends of the journey, the driver is Rapid Despatch as far as the customer is concerned.
Current vacancies
We don't have any open roles right now. Leave your details below and we'll be in touch when something matches.
Leave your detailsWhat the work involves
Opportunities come up around Basingstoke, Farnborough, Reading and Southampton, for small vans, large Transit and Sprinter-type vans and other vehicles. What we need changes with demand, area and season.
Same-day courier work normally means collecting a consignment and delivering it directly to the destination. You get the collection and delivery information, check the consignment at collection, follow the operational instruction, keep the controller informed and complete the proof of delivery. Some runs are local; some cross the country. Our same-day operation runs 24 hours a day, so some work falls well outside office hours.
What we expect
Reliability
Professional communication
Careful handling
Accurate proof of delivery
Confidentiality
Safe and legal driving
Owner-driver vehicle expectations
Exact requirements depend on the opportunity and get confirmed by us. Generally an owner-driver needs a roadworthy, clean and suitable commercial vehicle, the right insurance, legal documentation and the equipment the work calls for.
Useful kit includes load restraints, blankets, a sack truck, PPE, navigation and a phone that holds a charge. Larger or specialist vehicles bring their own equipment and qualification requirements.
The vehicle needs to be free of leaks, strong odours and anything else that could contaminate or damage goods. Know your internal dimensions and your payload. Accepting a load that exceeds capacity or can't be secured isn't acceptable at any price.
When you apply, give the exact make, model, body type, internal load dimensions, payload, registration year and any tail lift or specialist features. "Large van" tells an allocator nothing.
Coverage
Where opportunities arise
From our branches in Basingstoke, Reading, Farnborough and Southampton, we cover Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey for local and same-day work, and deliver nationwide and internationally every day.
Branch
Basingstoke
Covering the M3 and A339 area, including Overton, Whitchurch, Bramley, Tadley, Odiham and Kingsclere. Be clear about where you're actually based and what response area is realistic from there.
Branch
Farnborough
Covering the A331, M3 and nearby areas including Fleet, Farnham, Aldershot, Camberley, Yateley and Sandhurst. Quick access is useful. Telling a controller you're somewhere you aren't is not.
Branch
Reading
Covering the A33, M4 and the wider Thames Valley, including Bracknell, Wokingham and Theale. Town-centre red routes, business parks and large campuses all demand attention to loading and access instructions.
Branch
Southampton
Covering the M27 and the south-coast region, including Eastleigh, Romsey, Fareham, Hedge End, Chandler's Ford and Nursling. Port, venue and industrial access often needs booking details and patience.
How a job runs
Availability and allocation
We need accurate availability and an accurate location. If you're already committed, resting or can't make the collection estimate, say so. A straight no is far better than a yes that fails twenty minutes later.
Receiving the instruction
Read the whole thing before you move. Postcodes, contacts, item description, piece count, deadline, special instructions. If anything is unclear, ask the controller then, not from the collection car park.
Collection
Arrive professionally, identify yourself and the booking, confirm the contact and check the goods. If the consignment doesn't match the instruction, stop and ring the controller. Don't renegotiate the job directly with the customer without authorisation.
The journey
Drive it safely and keep tracking or communication active as required. No unauthorised extra work, no passengers. Protect customer confidentiality and vehicle security whenever you stop.
Delivery
Use the entrance and contact you've been given. Confirm the recipient and complete the handover evidence. If the recipient isn't there, contact the controller before leaving the goods or driving away.
Completion and records
Submit the POD promptly and keep any job records the process requires. Report waiting time, route charges or discrepancies with the supporting information attached.
Specialist work and working standards
Some work involves pallets, exhibition goods, confidential documents, high-value items or international road movements. That can require particular vehicles, experience, security, equipment, licences or qualifications.
Don't claim a qualification or capability you can't evidence. We verify the documents before allocating work that depends on them, and the same applies to dangerous goods, temperature-sensitive material and larger commercial vehicles. If specialist work interests you, list your verified qualifications, vehicle equipment, languages, international experience and availability. Being approved for one type of specialist job doesn't automatically qualify you for every regulated movement.
Customers remember the driver long after they've forgotten the booking system. A clean vehicle, a calm introduction, a careful load check and an accurate handover build trust every time. Poor communication, unsafe parking or a dismissive attitude damages the relationship even when the parcel arrives early. Our reviews describe drivers and staff as helpful, efficient and reliable. New drivers are expected to keep that going. That isn't a demand that nothing ever goes wrong. It is a demand that you act responsibly, tell us the facts and finish the jobs you accept.
Apply to work with Rapid Despatch
Courier work FAQs
It varies by branch, vehicle and demand. The vacancy panel at the top of this page shows what's genuinely open, and you can register an expression of interest when that form is active.
Some opportunities are for owner-drivers and need a suitable vehicle; others don't. Each vacancy states the arrangement.
Small vans, large Transit and Sprinter-type vans and larger vehicles, depending on demand. Give us exact specifications when you apply.
The same-day operation runs 24/7, so out-of-hours work comes up. Declare your availability honestly, though it doesn't guarantee a particular volume of work.
It helps, and every opportunity has its own criteria. Reliability, safe driving, communication and accurate handling matter more than a CV.
It depends on the work and the contract, and may include commercial vehicle, hire-and-reward, goods-in-transit and public liability cover. We'll confirm exactly what evidence we need.
Yes, if you have the vehicles, experience and verifiable qualifications. State them accurately, because allocation is subject to verification and operational need.
The form links to a recruitment privacy notice covering the purpose, lawful basis, retention, recipients and your rights. Sensitive documents are handled securely.
Ready to apply?
Look at the current opportunities, get your vehicle and experience details straight, and send the form. If you're booking a courier or making a sales enquiry, use the main contact page instead.