Choice of Service Speed: Generally 3 speeds are offered; ASAP, Rush and Regular. Faster service costs more. Avoid using faster service than needed, but choose fast enough for safe margins at pick up and delivery points.

Off Hours: Many messenger services offer 24 hour, 7 day service. Night and weekend service will range from 1 and 1/2 to 2 times rates applicable to normal business hours. Minimizing off-hours delivery will save money. Be familiar with crossover times when rates change with your messenger service. (Sequoia rates change at 5:45 PM 1 and 1/2 and at 8:45 PM to 8AM Holiday or double rate.)

Urgent Deliveries: If you know in advance when an item will be available for pick up, you can save time by calling in advance, but be sure to advise the order taker regarding the item's available time. It is prudent to be conservative about "time available" predictions so as to avoid wait-time charges.

Pickups From Other Than Your Location (Remote P/U): This is a situation in which delays and wait time charges occur frequently, and can (usually) be avoided. Here's how. Be sure you know what time the items will actually be available. Provide the order taker with the name and (if possible) the phone number of the originator. Also, it often helps to provide an alternative way of reaching you (pager or cell phone) in the event of problems at the pickup. Also, advise the order taker as to what is to be picked up.

Designated Recipient is Not Available: It is common to find a designated recipient is not available or reachable. When ordering your delivery, indicate whether it is (or is not) okay to leave the item or if a signature is required. Without an okay to leave, the normal practice is for the driver to continue his route, holding the item. The most common problem is when it is assumed that the designated recipient will be available, but has left.

Bulky Heavy and Fragile Items: When ordering your delivery, advise the order-taker that the item(s) are bulky (say several packages) or heavy or fragile, so an appropriate sized vehicle is dispatched. Also we advise, fragile items be protectively packaged.

Late in the Day Deliveries: Be aware of closing times if delivering to a business or ask the messenger service to call the delivery regarding closing time, this avoiding a double charge for re-delivery.

Call Sequoia Messenger Service.
Servicing Southern California and Beyond.

(323) 465-0709 or (818) 906-2009