Job description Courier in the Southwest Region

Find out what work is like for a courier in Canada. This work description is applicable to all Couriers, messengers and door-to-door distributors (NOC 74102).

Couriers and messengers

Description

Couriers and messengers pick up and deliver letters, parcels, packages, messages, and other items within and between establishments. They are employed by courier service companies and other establishments throughout the private and public sectors.

Work week duration

Couriers and messengers usually work between 35 to 40 hours per week.
Between 35 to 40 hours

Job duties

Here are some of the main activities and tasks that Couriers and messengers have to perform, and some of the physical demands they involve:

  • Pick up messages, letters, envelopes, parcels, airline tickets, legal documents, packages, bonds, cheques, securities and other items from customers, and hand-deliver them to addresses within an establishment or in other establishments by walking, cycling or driving within prescribed time periods
  • Collect payment for items delivered
  • Keep record of items received and delivered using delivery information acquisition devices.

Physical demands Help - Physical Demands

  • Handling material manually
  • Making repetitive motions
  • Sitting

Physical demands

Physical demands are the physical activities that the job requires the worker to do. Physical demands are selected according to the likeliness that workers will have to perform them for at least half of the time they spend at work.

Workplaces and employers

Here are the typical workplaces where Couriers and messengers are employed and some of their main characteristics:

  • Courier service companies
  • Establishements throughout the private and public sector

Work environment Help - Physical Work Environment

  • Indoors, environmentally controlled
  • Outside, exposed to weather
  • Dangerous chemical substances
  • In an enclosed vehicle or equipment

Physical proximity from others Help - Physical proximity from others

  • Somewhat close (e.g. share office)

Work environment

The work environment refers to the physical setting in which people work. The characteristics and conditions of the work environment are selected according to the likeliness that workers will be exposed to them at least once a week.

Physical proximity from others

Physical proximity from others refers to the physical distance between individuals in the workplace. The likeliness that the job requires to perform tasks while being physically close to other people is rated on a scale with 3 levels: "Somewhat close", "Close" and "Very close".

Related job titles

Here are some other related job titles that are found in the same occupational category (NOC 74102), and a list of similar occupations:

  • bank messenger
  • courier
  • courier service driver
  • delivery person - courier service
  • mail service courier
  • runner - courier service

Similar occupations Help - Similar occupations

Similar occupations

This section lists other occupations that are part of the same broad occupational category as Couriers and messengers in the National Occupational Classification (NOC). These occupations involve similar core qualifications but involve different responsibilities. To see more similar occupations, use the Job Transition Tool.

Sources Occupational and Skills Information System & National Occupational Classification

Labour Market Information Survey
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