What a Familiar Courier Actually Knows
Which entrance after 5 p.m. Which dock closes early. The access code and who to ask when it's changed. That the lab is through a corridor and not at reception. That the Tuesday site is never ready before 10. That one cooler goes back and one doesn't. None of that is in a route sheet.
Why Couriers Rotate
Usually because routes are assigned to whoever is available that morning rather than owned by someone. It's cheaper to schedule and it looks identical on paper.
What to Ask
| Question | What a good answer sounds like |
|---|---|
| Who is assigned to our route? | A name |
| Who backs them up? | A second name, who has run the route |
| Has the backup actually run it? | Yes, with the primary |
| What's your turnover on routed accounts? | A number, given without hesitation |
| What happens when both are out? | A documented site profile a third courier can work from |
The Documentation Question Is the Real One
If site knowledge only lives in one person's head, you're exposed the day they leave.