Virtual Dispatch

Welcome back to the Virtual Dispatch. Most every article on this site is about a delivery. It is a courier benefit when deliveries go well. Furthermore, a successful delivery is the setup for the next.

With this in mind, every courier strives to complete deliveries. In fact, it’s common to think of a day’s delivery work, in terms of completions. The more a courier has, the better the chances for increased earnings. The best plan is on to the next.

A courier can make hundreds of deliveries without one hiccup. This is a benefit to the courier. It also means when the hiccup happens, it will be a doozy! Which is to say it can stop the whole delivery, in the blink of an eye. One such event is a cargo calamity.

Cargo calamities Happen

When cargo is damaged beyond use, it’s a hiccup in the delivery. Not only is this bad for the drop-off, but also the courier is now on the spot. For the crew courier this can be a simple fix. A return to the merchant is part of the job, for an employee.

The solo courier has no home base to cover the loss of cargo. With this in mind there are a few steps the courier can take in the event of a cargo calamity. This process will help in the event that cargo is damaged beyond use. This is also for damage that happens while the courier has possession of the cargo.

For example the courier had a pizza. It was en route to the drop-off location, and kept traveling when the brakes were deployed. After meeting the floor, it is no longer a good pizza. One possible way to deal with this scenario is:

Cargo recovery

Firstly contact the merchant and request a remake of the pizza. Even if it isn’t possible, the merchant is now in the loop, for when the courier contacts app support and the customer.

Next, contact app support. There will be a process for reporting damaged cargo. Furthermore, this takes the heat off the ticking clock the courier is racing. The courier will have an opportunity to follow through with the delivery. Or, the courier may be pulled from the delivery.

When app support is in the loop, the customer can also be informed. Furthermore, the courier will have a better idea of the process moving forward. In some cases the solution is as simple as a quick return to the merchant. However, the process is underway and the merchant was in the loop from the start. (Courier initiative)

Cargo calamities happen, a good courier knows how to recover when they do. Stay safe out there.