The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.
— Michael Altshuler
Urgency is the new normal. Especially with decentralized workforces, uncertain access to stores, buildings, offices, medical facilities, labs, pharmacies, and the list goes on. The events of the last two years are changing the way people communicate, share information, and get things done. Whether you use couriers as needed (on demand), to fulfill regularly scheduled route deliveries, last mile transportation for small unit materials, or for inter-office logistics, there has never been more important to have a workable plan.
Fortunately, MMS Courier provides just what you need. Never intimidated by onerous demands, last-minute surprises, or stringent product handling and safety requirements, delivering on time with best-in-class service is a hallmark of the Vancouver, Washington-based firm.
In business for just over eleven years, MMS Courier got its first big break taking on a particularly challenging route requiring a daily 600-mile roundtrip. Equipped with a Toyota Yaris hatchback and a love for driving, founder Michael Eshelby took on the rigorous seven-day-a-week sojourn with barely enough gas money and a heart filled with grit and determination.
“When I started the business I went door-to-door with business cards telling people I was willing to transport anything that would fit in my Yaris, legally that is,” Eshelby recalls. “I was picking up projects here and there and getting by, but just barely. Down to my last few business cards I happened into a non-descript office building and approached the receptionist. As I spoke with her there was a gentleman nearby making copies. He was intrigued by my sales pitch and told me his present courier service was dropping the ball — missing deadlines, failing to get delivery confirmations, generally providing poor service.
“We went out and inspected my car and he said the cargo would fit. I told him I was all in and he gave me that first big break. The firm is still an MMS Courier customer to this day. Of course, I no longer drive that 600-mile route seven days a week, 365 days a year. We have assembled a competent team of professional independent contract drivers that share the workload. And they are all as passionate about driving and delivering first-class service as I am.”
In fact, a love of driving is the deep-seated shared value that defines MMS Courier. The entire business model depends upon it. Moreover, the firm focuses on three additional operating principles in ensuring a love of driving remains tope of mind for every team member: agility, accuracy, and accessibility.
The passionate team of like minded professional independent contract drivers is the primary reason for the firm’s agile operations. MMS Courier partners with over 200 highly- skilled professional drivers. That makes fast and efficient scale-up or scale-down based on your delivery needs and volume possible. A situation that is a win-win for both the drivers and clients alike.
In addition, the independent contract operators primarily drive rigorously inspected, well- maintained, fuel-efficient sedans for better maneuverability in traffic and greater flexibility in accessing pick-up and delivery locations. They are also trained and compliant with OSHA, IATA, TSA, and HIPAA regulations and knowledgeable in the correct handling and transport of ambient, refrigerated, and frozen specimens.
The team is supported by a dedicated team of dispatch and operations personnel equipped with leading edge technology. The MMS customized e-courier application provides both drivers and customers with complete visibility and control over all delivery activity. As a result, related expenses and fees, expected pick–up and delivery times, routing, and location of cargo are transparent from start to finish of the process. Plus, digitized records of all shipments over time — an invaluable asset when reporting, forecasting, and budgeting for annual business plans — are maintained and available for review when and where necessary.
Accessibility is also a vital component of the MMS operation. While advanced technology for order entry, tracking, and account management is a big plus, customers and drivers appreciate the support of a fully staffed, professional customer service team at times when immediate human contact or intervention is called for. The MMS account management team offers valuable expertise and insights that ensure all courier and messenger programs — whether on-demand, scheduled route sweeps, or intra-organization logistics — achieve the best possible business outcomes.
It’s refreshing that although MMS Courier has grown into a top-ranked multi-state courier service, the same passion and commitment to service that inspired its founding remains the driving force behind the organization. Even more remarkable, you can still find Michael Eshelby behind the wheel of a car as often as you will behind a desk. “I imagine I’ve driven over a million miles growing this business,” Eshelby reflects with a bit of wonder. “We provide a valuable and in most cases mission-critical service for our clients. At the same time we are helping over 200 independent contract drivers establish and run their own business operations. I cannot think of a more rewarding vocation.”
And to think, it all began with a car, a love of driving, and clients that recognized the value of investing in people with passion.
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