Courier Additional Charges — Explained Clearly, No Hidden Costs

Out-of-Hours Supplement

The out-of-hours supplement applies to all collections booked between 6:00pm and 7:00am — including evenings, overnight, weekends and bank holidays. The supplement reflects the increased operational cost of maintaining drivers and dispatch staff outside standard business hours.

If your delivery is flexible, scheduling collection between 7:00am and 6:00pm avoids the supplement entirely. If you need an out-of-hours collection, the supplement is shown clearly in your quote before you confirm — there are no surprises.

Waiting Time Charge

A waiting time charge applies when the driver arrives at the collection or delivery address and is required to wait beyond the standard 15-minute free waiting allowance. This can occur at both collection (if goods aren't ready) and delivery (if no one is available to receive). Time is charged in 15-minute increments thereafter.

Ensure your goods are fully packed, labelled and ready for loading before the driver arrives. Likewise, confirm your recipient is available and expecting the delivery. If you anticipate a delay, call us on 0330 223 4790 before the driver arrives so we can adjust the schedule where possible.

Handball Charge (Load by Hand)

A handball charge applies when the driver is required to manually carry, load or unload items that cannot be handled by standard equipment — such as heavy freight without forklift access, multiple boxes requiring manual stacking, or furniture that must be carried up stairs. This charge covers the driver's additional physical labour beyond standard vehicle loading.

Declare at booking if your load requires manual handling — we will include an appropriate loading charge in your quote. Furthermore, arranging forklift, pallet truck or dock access at your site eliminates the need for handball entirely. If you have a Luton tail-lift booked, ground-level loading is powered — however manual stacking inside the van still applies.

Remote Area Surcharge

The remote area surcharge of +£40.00 applies to collections or deliveries in locations where driver access is significantly limited or where the postcode falls outside our standard coverage density — typically rural locations, remote Scottish Highlands, islands accessible only by ferry or bridge, and postcodes with very low service frequency. The surcharge applies per collection or delivery point affected.

Remote area surcharges are identified automatically by the online booking system when you enter your postcode — so you will see the charge in your quote before confirming. If you are unsure whether your location attracts a surcharge, call 0330 223 4790 and we will confirm immediately.

Fuel Surcharge

A fuel surcharge is applied to all bookings and varies in line with prevailing UK fuel prices. The surcharge is reviewed regularly and adjusted to reflect the cost of fuel faced by our drivers. It is always included in the price shown in your online quote — it is never added as a surprise after collection. The current rate is published on our fuel surcharge page.

The fuel surcharge is calculated as a percentage of the base journey cost and is included transparently in every online quote. You do not need to calculate it separately — the total price shown at checkout is inclusive of the current fuel surcharge. View the current rate and how it is calculated on our dedicated fuel surcharge page.

Cancellation Fee

Additional Insurance Cover

Every booking includes free £5,000 Goods in Transit cover at no additional charge. This covers your consignment against loss or damage during transit up to a declared value of £5,000.

For consignments with a declared value exceeding £5,000, additional Goods in Transit cover can be arranged at booking — simply advise the declared value and we will confirm the additional premium before dispatch. Call 0330 223 4790 to discuss high-value consignment insurance.