Many of the jobs in business courier services are entry-level positions in administration or package handling. Advance your career in courier services by looking for management, airline regulation and international import/export rules training. Coupled with your on-the-job experience, you can find a satisfying career in the growing courier services industry.

Consider a degree to get you started and add courses from an air freight courier training service as well as through other training centers and online air freight trade groups. Take advantage of every air freight courier service course in such areas as operational and executive security, crisis management or humanitarian transport operations to find other job opportunities. Watch for training for air courier services from a number of sources.

1. Find entry-level training while you search for air courier jobs.

2. Look for advanced training to enhance your career at air courier companies.

3. Participate in trade groups to get courier services job training.

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Find online training for air courier services

While you're pursuing a career in courier services, watch for training options that are required for certain positions, such as truck driving or aircraft handling licenses. Search for courses that will provide basic introductory training for those new to the industry.

I recommend: Cargo Training International offers a number of courses from beginner’s classes for students to professional development activities for experienced pros who need training in hazardous materials handling. The DGI Training Center provides a number of basic training courses that are geared to air couriers.

Further your career with advanced business courier services training

As you progress in your career, look for advanced and professional development courses through your employer as well as off-site training centers so that you can diversify your skills to enhance your career opportunities. Hazardous materials handling is an area of specialization that you may want to pursue.

I recommend: The Bureau of Dangerous Goods provides training in hazardous or dangerous manterials handling required by regulators as well as secondary and follow-up courses. Pan American Training Institute also offers training in hazardous and dangerous materials handling.

Join associations that offer time critical delivery training to their members

Most air courier trade associations offer continuing education and professional development courses for members. Some groups can guide you to special certification courses such as those required to handle dangerous materials or biochemicals.

I recommend: Earn certifications and degrees for couriers through the International Air Transport Association. Get freight broker training and professional development training for management in the industry through the Air Forwarders Association.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you add specialized training for the air courier service industry, you give yourself a broader range of opportunities to work for larger companies. Seek out training in medical goods transport to make yourself invaluable to potential employers.

When you need to get a package delivered cross-country or overseas today, you need an air courier. Courier services often hand carry time-sensitive packages and documents directly to the recipient. Courier services use commercial flights to transport your package.

Business courier services get packages through customs much quicker than standard shipping methods. Instead of a package spending days or even weeks in customs, the package is cleared as part of the courier's luggage. In addition, the package bypasses the typical sorting and loading processes at a carrier's transportation hub. Some things to keep in mind when choosing an air courier service:

1. For the security of your package, choose a company that uses only screened personnel as couriers.

2. Evaluate your needs carefully since courier service costs significantly more than overnight or second-day delivery.

3. Work closely with the air courier service to make sure all paperwork is complete for international shipments; otherwise you could still end up with the package stuck in customs.

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Trust the big guys to get your package there on time

Air courier services in the past relied on networks of individuals who wanted to travel cheap; courier services matched them up with companies that needed time critical delivery of a package. Today, the major package carriers all offer domestic and international courier service. You can get door-to-door or counter-to-counter service almost anywhere in the world.

I recommend: UPS and FedEx both offer hand-carry courier services. Due to the personal nature of the service, you'll need to call the companies to make arrangements to ship your package. Both companies provide a courier who stays in possession of your package from pick-up to delivery.

Ship large packages and freight with a dedicated air freight courier

If your package for overseas delivery is too large to transport on a commercial airline with a courier, consider using a company whose sole business is international air freight courier service. These specialized carriers maintain a network of overseas facilities that provide door-to-door service for even the largest shipments.

I recommend: OCS: Overseas Courier Service has the experience and network to get the job done. They walk your shipment through customs and deliver to your recipient. OCS has vast import/export experience; however, they're not your best bet for standard overnight delivery--stick with UPS or FedEx for those packages.

Turn to domestic air courier services to ship coast-to-coast

You can get personal, hand-carry service for packages delivered to another city. Documents, small packages and even large freight can be delivered to your client that same day.

I recommend: A1Express Delivery Service provides same-day local and domestic air courier service. They also offer live animal delivery and medical business courier services. Sign-up for an account with FreightQuote.com and get freight shipping quotes from multiple carriers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Compare companies and find a representative you work well with. Whether you ship via air courier frequently or infrequently, your package should be treated with the same importance.
• •  Don't let cost be the single determining factor in choosing a courier service. Look at the company's reputation, on-time delivery statistics and testimonials from other customers.

An air courier service is a company that offers businesses a chance to ship their packages at a reasonable rate by using the cargo space in a plane typically reserved for passengers. The courier will ensure that your packages arrive safely and quickly overseas instead of having to wait for any lag times experienced by traditional package delivery services.

The topic of air courier services education and training involves learning how you can secure a position in the industry and what type of training is involved once you get hired.

1. Get information on different air courier companies and their services. This can help you prepare you for a job in the industry.

2. Join an association as a way to get access to air courier positions as well as training information.

3. Get training in order to ensure that you and your deliveries remain safe during travel.

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Learn about the air courier industry

Knowing some general information about air courier services can help you prepare for a job in the industry. Look into the costs involved, package security, tracking and other components that make up the industry.

I recommend: APX International is a well known air courier service professional. You can look through their site to view shipping rates, documentation required, restrictions and more. USA Couriers has a webpage on their site that explains how the air courier delivery process works.

Get training and support through an air courier association

Most air courier companies will not require an extensive training period in order to allow you to provide business courier services. Some will only require that you are over the age of 21 and know how their deliveries work, like same day delivery, second day delivery and time critical delivery services.

I recommend: Pay an annual membership fee to International Association of Air Travel Couriers in order to get educational and training opportunities in the courier industry. If you want to view air courier companies that provide job opportunities, you can view the directory found on Manta.

Receive training in order to protect yourself while making air courier deliveries

Although most express courier services will only require that you check the shipment and make sure it's delivered safely, you may have certain sensitive deliveries that require extra caution in order to ensure the safe delivery of the items.

I recommend: World Courier offers specific safety training courses to couriers. They have courses that teach the basics of handling potentially hazardous materials, like biopharmaceutical equipment. For basic training of couriers, you can look into the course offerings from Camelot Courier Training.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Watch out for scams regarding air courier jobs and cheap flights. Make sure the position that you secure is from a reputable company.

In our rapidly-expanding global economy, it's no wonder that air courier services key terms are important to know for all types of business courier needs. Taking responsibility for ensuring that important deliveries arrive at the right destination at the right time and in the right condition is no small task. When shopping around for an air courier service to handle your precious cargo, learn the following key terms that you'll likely come across.

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Dimensional weight

Dimensional weight, sometimes referred to as dim weight or measurement weight, is the volume of the package being shipped. Couriers usually charge for their services based on either the dimensional weight or the actual gross weight, depending on which weight is higher.

I recommend: Learn about dimensional weight and how it's calculated at United Parcel Service. Check out the handy dimensional weight calculator at International Bonded Couriers.

World clock

A world clock is an Internet-based map or listing that shows the current local times for places all over the world. A world clock is handy when shipping across time zones to help you connect with your customers across the country or around the world at a time that's right for both of you.

I recommend: Check the current time worldwide using the handy world clock at DHL.

Air waybill (AWB)

The air waybill (AWB) is a bill of lading used for flights transporting goods, either domestically or internationally, to a specific destination. It serves as a shipping receipt, proof that the carrier has assumed delivery of the goods to an airport the shipper has designated.

I recommend: The International Air Transport Association explains the two types of air waybills used for international air cargo services.

Known Shipper

Because of heightened security since 2001, any individual or business that wants to ship items weighing more than one pound via a commercial air carrier must become a 'Known Shipper.' Becoming a Known Shipper involves completing and submitting an application for approval.

I recommend: Learn more about becoming a Known Shipper and see the type of information you must submit to be considered at USA Couriers.

First flight out

First flight out is a term air courier services use to communicate that they offer on-demand, same-day delivery.

I recommend: Read about the way Global Messenger positions its first flight out service.

On-board courier

An on-board courier stays with your package from pick-up through delivery, offering truly door-to-door hand-delivery service. Expect to pay a premium for this highly personalized service.

I recommend: Read about the on-board courier service offered by FedEx.