Delivering History: The History of the Courier Industry

Posted on July 26, 2018

Delivering mail and packages is not a modern-day industry. Though it may not be what people think of when they look at the past, mail has always been around. Every queen had her crown brought to her, every general had their messages delivered, and pen-pals have existed for generations. Since the ancient times when the Egyptians needed stone brought long distances to build the pyramids or Queen Victoria wanted to taste the mangoes of India, packages were getting delivered and courier services were delivering those packages.

 

Animal Couriers

Throughout most of history animals were used to deliver packages and messages. Before the world of Harry Potter used owls, or Sansa Stark used a raven to communicate with Littlefinger, the real world used carrier pigeons to carry messages long-distances in a short amount of time. Aside from pigeons, horses were a common animal used for delivery services. The Hanseatic League and the Pony Express were a few famous examples of this. While automobiles have mostly replaced animal services in the mail industry, more rural areas in remote parts of the world still use horseback delivery for convenience.

 

20th Century

In the late 1800’s to early 1900’s, the railroad system took over the majority of transcontinental deliveries in the United States. This made the much slower Pony Express relatively obsolete. The invention of cars also turned the tides when it came to delivering packages far and wide. This is the era when speed and convenience started becoming more important to customers. The UPS, created in 1907, and the United States Postal Service were a few of the options customers had to mail packages. By the end of the 20th century, DHL, FedEx, Fast Lane Couriers, and Fleet Couriers had opened their doors for business.

 

21st Century

The internet changed the way mail exists. It went from paper to digital accessed through account online. Yahoo, Google, MSN, and AOL all created their own email platforms with other companies following. Amazon evolved from an online book-vendor to an all-purpose buying and delivering service. As Amazon continued to create Prime with free, two-day shipping and now has same-day delivery in select cities. However, the courier industry persisted and companies like UPS and FedEx still exist nationally and Fleet Couriers continue to be a quality courier service in New England.

 

Couriers and mail services have changed from the only way of delivery to a more personal form. While the internet continues to dominate these services, couriers are a safe and guaranteed form of getting your packages and messages from one place to another. Some companies, like Fleet Couriers, offer 24/7 delivery all across New England. For all our delivery needs give Fleet Couriers a call at 1-800-734-9309 and see what we can do for your today.