For site managers, contractors and merchant counter staff
Construction Courier Guide: Getting Materials to Site the Same Day
A courier van fills the gap between a merchant's own delivery schedule and the moment a gang runs out of a fitting, a length of pipe or a fixing. This guide covers what a van can sensibly take to site, the access details that stop a wasted journey, and how unloading works.
Building sites change daily. The most common reason a site delivery fails is not the van, it is missing access information. The checklist below is written to prevent that.
Collection and delivery are required — a town, city or postcode is enough.
Same-Day / Urgent
Need construction and trade deliveries today? Collection within 60–90 minutes, direct driver, status updates — your job goes straight to the front of the queue.
Car from £1.25/mile · £55 minimum
Flexible DeliveryTypically around 30% less
Not in a rush? Flexi7 allows collection and delivery within seven days. We can match your construction and trade deliveries with suitable vehicle movements, subject to route suitability and availability.
Ideal for furniture, marketplace pickups & non-urgent freight
Typical construction and trade consignments and the van that suits them
A starting guide only. Vehicle specifications vary, so we confirm the exact vehicle against the dimensions, weight and access requirements of your job before allocation.
Fixings, fittings, sealants and small tools
Usual vehicle: Car or small van
The fastest option when the job is a trip to the merchant counter.
Boxed sanitaryware, boilers, radiators
Usual vehicle: Small or SWB van
Boilers and radiators often need two people. Say so when you book.
Pipe, conduit, trunking, timber lengths
Usual vehicle: LWB or XLWB van
Give the longest length. Lengths beyond the load bed need a different plan.
Bagged materials on a pallet
Usual vehicle: SWB van or larger
Confirm weight. Pallets need a forklift on site or a tail-lift vehicle.
Doors, windows, worktops
Usual vehicle: LWB van or Luton
Flat, fragile items travel upright and strapped. Tell us if glazed.
See vehicle sizes and starting rates on our pricing page. Website prices are shown + VAT.
Before you book: what to have ready
Having these details ready lets us allocate the right vehicle and avoid a wasted journey.
- Full site address plus the gate or compound entrance to use (what3words helps)
- Site contact who will sign, with a mobile number
- Any induction, hi-vis or PPE requirement for the driver
- Delivery window and any restrictions on vehicles entering the site
- Whether a forklift, telehandler or labour will be available to unload
- Merchant order number and the name the order is under, for counter collections
What happens on the day
1.At the merchant
The driver quotes your order number at the counter or yard, checks quantities and photographs the load. If the merchant is short, you are told before the van leaves.
2.Arriving on site
The driver uses the access route you gave and calls your site contact on approach. Unloading is to the nearest safe point the vehicle can reach.
3.Sign-off
Your site contact signs on delivery, with a photo of where the goods were left. That record is emailed to the person who booked.
Same-Day or Flexible: which to book
Book Same-Day when…
- Trades are on site and waiting for a missing item
- An inspection or concrete pour is booked and depends on the material
- A wrong item was delivered and the right one is needed today
Urgent collection is typically 60–90 minutes, subject to availability and location.
Book Flexible when…
- Returning unused or wrong stock to a merchant
- Moving tools and surplus materials between your own sites
- Delivering items for a later phase of the job
Flexible jobs are collected within an agreed window and cost less. The quote above shows both prices.
What we don't do
Knowing the limits up front saves you booking the wrong service.
- No crane, HIAB or grab lorry deliveries. Bulk aggregates and heavy plant need a merchant's own vehicle.
- We don't carry fuel, gas cylinders or other dangerous goods that need ADR.
- Drivers unload to the nearest safe point the vehicle can reach. They can't carry materials up scaffolding or into upper floors unless that labour is agreed in the quote.
Goods are normally covered under the assigned driver's goods-in-transit policy up to £5,000. Taylors Courier Service Ltd's contractual liability is capped at £250 unless otherwise agreed in writing. Additional cover can be arranged before collection. How cover works
Construction and trade deliveries: common questions
The site has no postcode yet. Can you still deliver?
Yes. Give the nearest postcode plus a what3words location or a pinned map link, and a site contact on the phone. That is usually enough for the driver to find the gate.
Do drivers need a site induction?
If your site requires one, tell us when booking. We'll check the driver can meet your rules before allocating. Some sites allow a gate-only drop with no induction.
Can you collect from a merchant who needs the account holder's name?
Yes. Give the order number and the account or customer name the order is under. Some merchants also need an authorisation from you, so call them ahead.
What if nobody is on site when the van arrives?
We'll call the contact you gave. If nobody answers, we'll only leave goods where you've authorised it in writing. Otherwise, waiting time or a return trip may be charged, as your quote explains.
Related construction and trade services
Ready to book a construction and trade delivery?
Get both prices online in under a minute, or send the job details on WhatsApp and we'll confirm the right vehicle.