From same-day delivery to medical courier services, the courier industry has come a long way since its beginnings. The Pony Express is one of the most influential courier services in American history and has helped mold the industry as we know it today. Here at Fleet Couriers, we appreciate our forerunners and wanted to take a moment to give you a brief look inside the working of this iconic service.
The inception
As part of the American West, the Pony Express has become romanticized over time. This vision is in part due to the fact that the Pony Express was the first to demonstrate the possibility of a unified communication system that could be operated year-round between the East and West.
The approximately 1,900-mile route took riders around 10 days to complete their deliveries. Although this sounds horrible in modern times, it was quite the improvement from the previous 6 month turn-around time. The route began in St. Joseph, Missouri, and carried through to Sacramento, California, with a series of 184 relay stations in between the endpoints.
The accomplishments
During it’s short life-span from April 1860 to October 1861, the Pony Express broke new ground with its innovative delivery services. With stations ranging between 5 and 25 miles apart, approximately 120 riders, 40 horses, and several hundred general employees transferred nearly 35,000 letters and packages. This era was the beginning of the courier industry.
The relation to medical courier services
Without the Pony Express, the courier industry as we know it today may never have been. Although other services were running, such as that of Wells Fargo, the Pony Express brought standards and possibilities to new heights. Because of its dramatic impact on the country, opportunities began to open in new and innovative ways. For instance, later years would bring vast exploration within the medical field. Without the use of a medical courier, hospitals and labs across the country may not have been able to communicate results and theories with one another.
Here at Fleet Couriers, we maintain the innovative spirit of the Pony Express. However, instead of relay stations and horses, we maintain the most sophisticated technologies available in the medical courier industry. From same-day delivery services and live traffic mapping, we empower our drivers with the most efficient route possible. Our team is dedicated to precise and efficient service, especially with time-sensitive materials.
For more information on how Fleet Services may be able to help your medical delivery needs, contact us today at (800) 734-9309.