koerier

Koerier is a term used to describe a person or company that delivers packages, documents and other items from sender to recipient. In Dutch and several other languages, koerier (or courier in English) denotes a professional who performs last-mile delivery as part of a courier service, express delivery company, or postal operator. The role centers on speed, reliability and trackability, often handling urgent or time-sensitive consignments.

Typical duties include collecting items from the sender, verifying the shipment, choosing an appropriate route, delivering to the recipient, and obtaining proof of delivery such as a signature, mobile confirmation or photograph. Couriers may update the tracking system to keep all parties informed. Some jobs involve hand-delivering medical specimens, legal documents or other sensitive goods. Couriers may be employed by a company or work as independent contractors, including platforms that offer on-demand deliveries.

Vehicles and methods vary by service level and geography, ranging from bicycles for urban last-mile delivery to cars, vans or trucks for larger shipments. Emerging methods include drones and other autonomous delivery options in pilot projects. Essential tools include handheld scanners or smartphones, GPS navigation, route optimization software and customer notification systems.

Market context and regulation: koeriers operate alongside postal services, express couriers and e-commerce logistics providers. The sector is characterized by fluctuating demand, strict service-level commitments, and regulatory requirements such as transportation safety, insurance, data privacy and, in some jurisdictions, licensing and professional qualifications.

Origin and terminology: the term courier is cognate with the French courrier and the Dutch koerier; both derive from historical messenger roles that combined transport with message delivery. See also courier service, last-mile delivery and proof of delivery.